The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-29
Does the v. r. I. Need Technic al
Man for President?

To the Editor of The Times Dispatch
Sir,-The word "Silitary' in the
name Virginia Military Institute in
dicates the distinctive feature of
this great school. the word 'polytech
mic" in the name Virginia Polytechnic
Institute suggests that this school is
an institution of many arts that
not only arc technical subjects taught.
having 20 do with young man .
complete education. The cultural sub
jccts of study are given due emphasis
in order 70 make, not narrow special
ists of It's students. but broad, all
round. educated men. The important
question of securing at this critical
time the right man for the presidency
of the V. J.. I. is one for the whole
State of Virginia 10 consider. A
great responsibility rests upon the
board OF trustees i'm making a seiec-
ton 1t is hoped they will go slowly
and decide wisely.
In view of the polytechnic charac-
ter of the V. p l.. the question natural
~ comes up. Is d technical man best
fitted for the presidency, To THE
many viii answer. No. An ex-prcsi-
dent of great technical and indus
trial school says the '. p. /. does
does not need now with its multi
ferrous subjects a technical man for
president. Prominent men IN educa-
ton and in other Fields OF work in
Virginia are of the same opinion.
There is no technical man that can be
found who can possibly know all, or
even Il few. of the technical suhjec
taught 1t seems fair. then. 10 rea-
son that a man of technical training
in one particular line--uniess he be
exceptionally broad-is apt 10 give
undue emphasis to that branch.
or college. be il chemistry. civil engi-
neering. agriculture. or what not
- srr{s@ faa ~ rr.l
yet il would be difficult not to stress
the special subject TO the detrimcrt
perhaps of other important subjects.
If one Will scan in the catalogue of the
V. =. I. the long faculty list. ne Will
find that there are many specialists
there in technical iines-specialists
in agriculture. engineering. geology,
mincralogy. chemistry. etc.
For the school to do its best work in
all its various lines, to stand out boldly
a. d great educational factor in the
state it would seem wise to have some
other than a technical rnan-aithough
interested in technical educational
the head of the V =. 7. The profess
sors there now are experts or specialists
in their separate fields of labor. The
president over them all needs to be
Iran broad minded, practical or learned.
of administrative ability. and large
enough to see the value of each subject.
10 unity his forces, correlate the many
interests. and who, by experience. char
acter and influence. will send out
upon the world graduates who are we'll
rounded educated men, rather than
mere narrow specialists
Can such a man be fOundr The many
qualities that Dr. 8 c. Mitchell pos
sesses At him for the place. He has had
a long experience in educational work
in Virginia and elsewhere. AS president
Of the University of South Carolina he
has succeeded admirably Because of
his learning. wide sympatbies and ex-
perience. ne believes in making OF stu
dents broad minded. many-sided men,
and he IL interested in all ciasscs-the
engineer the farmer. the chemist. the
manufacturer. the rich and the poor
boy The recent invitation to DR. Nit
cheII noticed in the daily press. to deliver
the chief address at the thirty-seventh
anniversary of the founding of Johns
Hopkins University. in Baltimore. Feb
ruary p. indicates the prominence Of
the man. II would be welk we think.
for the board 20 carry out ats policy
of seeing him face TO face and see what
the possibilities are
The V. p. I. under his able admins
tration would. in my view. increase
rapidly in student attendance. and rise
TO "a yet higher point Of popularity.
dignity and efficiency A b c
Rfchnond