The Bryan eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1880-1913, 1911-03-30
CALLS ON COLQU|TT
FOR AN EXPLANATION
prof Harris Wants the Public to
Know Why He Was Removed
from Presidency OF San
Marcos Normal.
[By Associated Press.l

san MarCOs, ieAaS' '
Prof. T. G. Harris today issued a long
letter to Governor Colquitt asking him
to make a public explanation OF tAe
cause of Harris removal as president
of the Southwest Texas Normal lnsu'
tute.
The letter follows.
Harris Letter to the Governor
San Marcos, Texas, March %, 1911.
Governor o. B. Colquitt, Austin, Texas.
Dear Sir-On the tenth day OF this
month the Austin correspondents OF
the great daily newspapers of Texas
reported to their several papers that
the state board of education, OF which
you are chairman, had on that day de-
cided by vote of two to one to re-
move me from the principalship OF the
Southwest Texas State Normal School
at the close of this school year, These
correspondents further stated that you
and your secretary OF state (McDon-
add voted for my removal and that
Comptroller Lane voted against 1t.
While | have received no official mott
fication confirming these reports,
presume they are correct, as | nave
seen no contradictory official state
ment.
Just little bit of sober thinking
leads me TO the conclusion that you
have either done too much or too little
in this case If you had no valid
ground on which to base such action,
then you have done too much. H. on
the other hand, you had such reasons
as would Justify your action, then you
have done too little. In,this latter case
you owe it to the people OF IeXas 10
make your reasons public. From my
point of view, no thinking citizen OF
Texas can question the correctness OF
the conclusions have just stated.
But you may possibly not think my
point Of view correct. la fact, there
seems to be evidence that you-a ana !
do not look at the administration OF
public affairs from the same stand
point Let us see. When you and |
were young men that great democratic
leader. Grover Cleveland, announced
this doctrine: "A public office Is a
public trust" For a quarter OF a cen
fury / have not only believed that
doctrine to be thoroughly sound in
every way, but ! have regarded 1t as a
fundamental principle in representa-
tive government. Do you endorse inns
doctrine in theory and in practice! II
So all right. We agree once, and are
ready now to take another step. Let
us see if we can step together, From
Clevelands doctrine these corollarles
are easily deduced:
l. All public institutions belong 10
the people who establish and support
them, and not to officers CT employees
elective or appointive.
2. All governmental rights are H.
herent in the people and are inallen-
able.
: 3. The people have right to know
what motives influence and determine
the public acts of their onicers.
This last named corollary is appli-
cable under all ordinary clrculh.
stances: but it has peculiar force ana
significance when a public officer re-
sorts to extreme measures or an I'M
usual character. AS you OF course
know. since the first state normal was
established in Texas in the admins
tration of Governor Roberts, no incom'
ing governor has disturbed, or sough;
TO disturb, the organization OF any
normal school in this state. Hence
your action in removing me from thls
nosition must be characterized as Dotn
extreme and unusual. To justify your
action in this case you ought to have
reasons that will satisfy the honest
intelligent. patriotic citizens OF Texas
If YOU have such reasons IL is your
duty to make them known 10 the peo
nile whose taxes pay for the support
and maintenance of this school, anC
TO the people whose sons and daugh
ters have attended or may attend TINS
school. | repeat. in other words, ina
the neople 10 whom this school ana al
other public schools belong have {
right TO know what considerations III
fuenced you to take this action. Ah'
this is a time when YOU can not aHorC
m hesitate on account of any delicat'
regard YOU may have for my FEELINGS
IF YOUR publishing valid reasons 10
nv removal would embarras or humll
late me lQaJ NOulu We ny -N''
not YOUR fault, however much yo
might regret it. Hence J recognize
as your right your privilege, and you
duty to take the people of Texas INT
vour confidence and tell them IN
, truth. the whole truth and nothing Du
the truth.
A great and fundamental princlpl
is involved The fate of our publ
school system depends upon tn
! proper settlement of the questions
: issue In such cases individual me
must be forgotten. The political an
profes sional fortunes of partlcul'
men are of small importance. !
;, the destiny of great public Insult
. ton of learning that is at stake III
!, YOUR fate or mine. Hence | say
- YOU. Spare me not, but come out WI
!, a true and full explanation.
4 Inasmuch as this is a matter IN
g concerns all the people of Texas, al
II inasmuch as it has already had co
" siderable publicity through the n
II dunn of the press, am taking the Il
~ 20 erty of sending copies OF this letter
y. several of the leading daily papers
% the state, and | shall not object
IN your giving your reply to the read
,a public in the same way WIN