The Green Forest tribune., 1912-07-05
STATE CAPITOL
 NEWS AND NOTES Chancellor Kirkland Declines to Head University of
 Arkansas. MADE VISIT TO FAYETTEVILLE Says Prospects for University in Fl. nanciaI Way Are to Uncertain
 for the Future.
MADE VISIT TO FAYETTEVILLE
Western Newspaper Union News Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service
 Little Rock. - In all probability Chancellor J. H. Kirkland, now head of Vanderbilt university of Nashville, will not be president of the Arkansas university this year.
 This conclusion was reached when the Tenness educator refused to ac- cept the presidency, on the grounds that the finances of the state were in such bad condition at the present time that he could see no possibility of improvement in the work of the university in at least three years.
 This action was taken at a meet Ing of the board of trustees of the university
 q came to Arkansas at the invita- tion of Governor Donaghey, and so far my trip has been a most enjoy able one. The hospitality extended me while in Fayetteville was such as I have never before experienced, and I consider it quite an honor to be among Arkansas people.
 q am fully aware of the conditions now existing in the state, in finan- cial way, and that is the one ques- tion that now confronts me. At pres ent, from the findings l have made, there can be no possible improve ment in the work of the university for at least a year, and it will be at least three years, if appropriations are made by the legislature, before tIo will ho a right plane.
 At present 1 can see no reason why I should relinquish something that is already important and great to take hold of something that is comparatively immature, and I con sider three years to be too long a wait"
 A motion was made and passed to the effect that the matter of elect ing a president of the university be deferred for sevral days in order to give the chancellor a chance to re- consider his action and to give. more time to the consideration of the prop osition, but it was stated by Dr, Kirkland that if the board has any other man in mind for that position, 1t was his advice to the board not to let him stand in the way of any de- cision that might be reached by them.
 At the meeting of the board Dr. Morgan Smith, prominent physician of this city, was elected dean of the medical department of the univer- sity. The action taken by the board in this matter was based on the re- port of the committee appointed to investigate the conditions existing at the medical department, and make recommendations.
 However, a committee representing 26 members of the faculty of the med ical department appeared recently at the statehouse and asked per mission to enter protest before the board, against the election of Dr. Morgan Smith as dean.
 A committee composed of a dozen or more prominent ministers of this ly and entered a protest against the action taken by the board in granting permission to the Christian church to establish a chair of Bibli- cal literature in the university. The grounds upon which was based the protest of the preachers were that the chair should not be rlued by any denomination.
 It was explained, however, by Pres ident John N Tillman, who was pres ent that the board had no intentions of letting any denomination control the chair, but that it merely wanted to have the Bible taught in the uni versity.
 The pastors were very emphatic in protesting against the action of the board.
 Guard Orders Issued.
 Little Rock.-The various compa- nies of the Arkansas National Guard were detailed for target practice in an order issued by Adjutant General B. w. Green The order makes strict provisions for the regulation of the camps and the conduct of the men.
 The Donaghey trophy will be award ed to the company making the highest figure of merit, no company with less than 36 men on the range being eligi- ble. The two trophies given by a powder company will be awarded to the companies making the highest and next highest figures of merit. Com, panies competing for these trophies, however, must have 5S men and three oFfioarc rrocpnt