The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-10
Voice of the People
RE Presidency Of the PoIytecA,ie In

The PresaAeney Of the PolytecAnie In
stitSte.
To the Editor OF The Times Dispatch:
Ar.-Dr. Barringer1 resignation
brings to the trustees OF our agricul-
turaI and mechanical college rare
opportunity to serve their State and it
brings them also q corresponding obli-
cation to nnd q successor Mt for the
great task that awaits him. This
school, in larger measure than any
other Of our institutions of higher
learning. stands for the things that
bear intimately on the material well
fare of the Commonwealth. The fun
damental Importance OF agriculture
places the tilling OF the soil always
foremost among the material interests
OF civilization: but the backward state
OF this calling, with the consequent
volume OF the movement from coun-
try to town. which IL sapping the very
foundations OF our economic structure.
makes the problem of the farm the
overshadowing problem Of our genera
ton. Now the agricultural and me-
chanicAl college Is the only school We
have that stands for the advancement
the service rendered by the schoo!
must depend upon the qualifications OF
its head Save that Of Superintendent
Of Public Instruction, there to no other
tally related to its wen-beins and
progress And 20 II becomes matter
Of first moment TO find a man OF as
sured qualifications. be he never SO
hard TO find The man who Is mt for
a place like this viii nos be apt 10
As to his qualifications. they must
be qualifications Of power and Qualih-
cations Of character. He must De a
man Of demonstrated executive abuity'
10 Tor
He must be able to estimate men fairy
and accurately, and so his mind must
be open. clear and honest He must
have the power OF initiative. ano 20 ne
must be q man OF Ssf.rsscn, .S Sa.S,v
ruts of tradition. He must be man
Of large heart and broad sympathtes,
so that he may get close 70 those w"
whom ne works and draw them close
TO himself. and he must be . man OF
mand the respect and the loyaity OF 2
worthy faculty He must be saturaxeo
with the spirit Of service, ana. nnasy,
he must embody the rare como'nau1a
sreen Of his personality % Inspire.
tjousi % TO desermine every BOY tnst
co1neo within the range OF his snuu
ence both to do and to oe a" very "
sSea q man % this may not be easy
70 and. but u 10 poesible. and worth
sgyin@ Dr.. q c, Mitchell late OF
Richmond. now In Columbia. s. g, has
Ali the oualthcatioas mentioned, ana
more For what he has done ne ~
known throughout virginia and fr0m
Nsssachusetts 20 TEXAS - Wen Hss
unrna tched leadership was shown N
the great educational ewakenine tn -
mere than ten years ago osesn ~
march over virginia ana reecae0 oy.
"a Al the other states Of the South y
80 he mat conceived and set At wcrk
the Co-operative Education AssccaS.
ssce a YfrItusa. IN organization wuscn
ssiii p rendertne high service ~ HeeS
- alive poOu.ar Interest IN Tue
"r<ansa. TIE eanual education cos
~~csSon witch has come 70 Dc one
- ar e~fs 6lished educational torce
&c scosher q the many prc0ucts %
S,s mHsssrly tuisSssive- ne having -
S~,,Ss6 me art two end carries tne@
sr.n,,Cn wftS results siugulsriy feS-
.ssSSyc. IN the strengthening OF 9or
cducationaI system TIE e es
80 he r. was that Get In operation "
vsrvsris the vreoens system Of cemes-
s,.sssor farm Work. now carried on
-. ,rs ,usryces Of the Cnited SteSss
IT, ysmcne a. AgYieulsure.
vrtsS . man like this at tse nee1
,ss .crcc, would meet the needs ~
wsrt, the pride Of the peop'e
I. only sasr 20 say that thss sru.
- &c s~,.~rS o. Or. Mitchell.
",SScre HoBEET FRAzER