The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-31
ADVISES ALUMNI
TO UPHOLD BOARD
ISAAC DIGGs DECLINES TO TAKE
PART IN MEETING TO PROTEST
AGAINST EGGLEsToN.
END F ACTIONALIS Nj
SAYS ALUMNI SHOULD SUPPORT
BOARD OF GOVERNORS IN IT'S
SELECTION OF A PREsI-
DENT.
END FACTIONALIS Nj

Isaac Diggs. of Richmond, a mem
Der OF the v. p. /. Alumni Associa-
ton, has written letter to Professor
fJ. s. A. johnson, secretary Of the as
ISOLATION, declining to attend the
meeting scheduled to be held in Roa-
noke tomorrow to protest against the
election of Hon. J. d. Eggieston as
president Of the institute.
Mr.. Diggs advises the association to
leave the matter of selecting presi-
dent to the board, on which the alum
nj association is represented. and to
prepare to back the board In its action
and to put an end to the factionalism
which has caused trouble at v. p. /.
ever since it's establishment The let
ter follows:
Mr.. Digs Letter.
Richmond, Va. Jan. 80. 1913.
| Prof. j. s. A. johnson, Secretary Gen.
| eral Alumni Association, Virginia
| Polytechnic Institute. Biacksburg,
| Va.
| My Dear Professor,--I am in re-
ceipt Of your postal of the zfth IN
slant. notifying me Of the meeting OF
the General Alumni association in
Roanoke. Va, on February LIST ito
| IoHStAGi iudItsIS Oh flAdi anu 1tikttAc~
date Importance" to the college. /
also notice. from the publications in
the press, that the object OF this
meeting is to vigorously protest against
| the election of Mr.. ]. d. Eggieston as
president of the institution. 1t would
be very serious mistake. in my judy
ment, for the alumni association to
take such step al this. In the first
place. we do not know that the board
1 rf Nt0ktnrQ nf tho NnI1aHa havA
idea of electing Mr.. Eggleston. am
informed that a committee has been
appointed by the board to look UP a
good president. and think we should
await their action. In the next place,
the alumni association Ia in no better
position to judge of the qualifications
of president than the board. The
board of visitors is composed of hon.
orable men, selected by the governor
with view to their fitness and quail
citations to manage the affairs Of the
college and to further its interest. It
Is. therefore, a serious mistake for the
alumni to think that they know bet
ter how to manage the college, or are
more interested i'm its welfare than
the board. II. after careful consid-
Grafton of numerous names, the board
shau decide that Mr.. Eggieston IL the
proper man, I think he should be
elected. and / think the alumni. in
stead Of putting itself in opposition to
the board. should do what it can to
uphold It.
History Of Warfare.
1t has been more than thirty years
since left the Institution, but my In
terest therein has not abated by this
lapse OF time. The Agricultural and
Mechanical college, OF which ". F. /.
| Ia the successor, was born in fractional
Tight, and 1t seems to be doomed to
| that fate continuously. The Agricul-
tural and Mechanical college took
over the old Preston and DIN insti-
tute. of which DIR. Thomas N. Conrad
was the president He and his friends
thought that he should have been Sc
lected for the president Of the new
college. The board of visitors, how
ever, thought differently and selected
DR.. Charles l. c. Minor, q most ac-
compiished gentleman and teacher
of long experience. This was a cauEus
beili. and the hostiiities continued I'M
til DIR. Conrad was selected az pro-
fessor in the college. 1t did not take
long, however, for a faction to be
formed, led by DIR. Conrad, to make
war on DIR. Minor. the president, This
factional fight continued until II cui-
minated (whiie was at the tnstttu-
tionl In an open nght In the faculty
and an airing In the courts. This
camp and rasulfeS A.
OF the faculty and the election Of DIR.
John l. Buchanan n president The
college moved successfully under his
administration uFsr1I ss.sT ~ y
| .read3usted. II and elected DR. Con-
rad president Their administrAti ton
was of short duration. and when the
Democrats came back into power
there was a reorganization. and Gen
eral l. l.. Lomax was elected presi-
dent. For some reason hostilities
were renewed. General LomAx and
several other professors were retired
by the board. and DR.. Mcbride was
elected president. His administrative
ability was SO marked and the sue
cess OF the college was so phenome-
nal that criticism found NO fAvor. al
though there were continued mutter-
ings, even during his successful ad-
ministration. Upon his retirement
the alumni association seems to have
organized itself into militant force to
fight every step taken by the board OF
visitors This, in my Judgment. as
serious mistake. II WAS through the
fundamentally of the alumni that the
legislature decided to make graduates
OF the college eligible to the board OF
visitora 4 know this to be true. be-,
cause I was q memhers Of the COM
mtttee from the alumni to memorial
Ire the legislature. Since then the
governor Of Virginia has always re-
spected that provision and has named
representatives Of the alumni on the
board Of visitors. This should Insure
to the alumni that the board viii act
In the interest Of the institution and
will give careful confederation to the
Interest OF the alumni. I for ono be-
lieve that we should leave the interest
OF the alumni association to our rep
resentatives on the board OF visitors.
and should not undertake to dictate.
forestall or in any manner impede
the action OF the board Of visitors.
VIII Not Attend.
/ will be unable to attend the meet
ing on February LIST. and ! am taking
this method OF expressing my views
TO YOU. wish to state. however, that
this letter Is not written In the inter-
est OF Mr.. Eggleston ffor ! scarcely
know hirn} or of any candidate, but In
interest OF the institution. I am for
peace and believe the alumni can
bring IL about.
with kindest regards for yourself
and with best wishes for the success
and best interest Of our alma mater. 1