The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-04

mere Ut the end of tn
campaign. is likely to injure m
with those to whom the oircum
stances are unknown, and who have n,
personal acquaintance with the hon
otapie gentlemen so asperscd. Other
Wise. l would not notice II now
note that DR. Barringer omits from
ms quotation part or the RECORDED
action of the board taken July IL
lel2-the communication OF himsel
the board desired To place on record
This may have been from excess o.
modesty on his part, but in justice
10 him and TO the board, l quote II
tull the entry OH the minutes as fol
lows:
me resignation OF DR.. p. b. Bar.
ringer as president OF the Virginir
Agricultural and Mechanical College
and Polytechnic Institute, having beer
presented to and considered py thii
BOARD. on motion. same is hereby ac.
ceptcd. In accepting this resignation,
the board desires To place ON record
It's appreciation OF the able services
OF DR.. Barringer during his incum-
bency as president OF this institution
and to express the high personal re.
gard in which he is held by each mem
Der of this board Despite the fac,
that President Bal ringers administra.
ZION has been conducted under pecu.
iarly harassing difficulties, the insti-
tuition has made decided progress in
many lines OF endeavor and the fnan.
cial management is particularly to II,
commended
That. as the selection of n success
scr 10 DIR. BarrinSer is a matter de.
serving mature consideration by tn.
board. by unanimous vote of the
board, lie is earnestly requested to re.
InS II
Anonymous Letters.
Or BarrinGcr, after saying he took
weeks time TO decide whether h,
would accept the boards invitation 10
serve another year then proceeds 10
say: OF course. l knew that tn,
board Intended to olect MIR. Egsleston
and that this time was simply extend
ed because he could not accept unit
nc had resigned his position as Super
intendent OF Public Instruction AND
membership on the board, and allowed
at least decent time TO elapse befor.
taking Office.
Dr. Barringer gives as his only au-
thority for This remarkable display ~
knowledge on his part an ANONYMOUS
letter which he received May, 1912
ana winch he quotes He further
says:
but mad received various letters be-
fore in the same handwriting, and the
predictions made in them had all been
absolutely confirmed, so / knew tina,
| mad trustworthy information"
Few people Will agree with him tina,
anonymous letter writer's can be relied
upon Tor trustworthy information, and
ms credulity in such matter would
incline one TO the belief that the refer.
''.,t, 10,
northumberland to be current
around The University Of Virginia ma,
not be so misapplied as some of us
have been inclined TO think
No one of the new appointees was
approached in any way by the Cover
nor nor by any one else and l know
that neither Mr. Smith. DR.. Turner nor
myself ever saw the Governor or had
any intimation from him of the con-
tomplatcd appointment till it was made
IN each case. / happen 10 know that
Mr. Smith and DIR. Turner were both
opposed TO the selection OF Mr.. EgSles-
ton as president.
When appointing the committee OF
three on election of president on July
IL. 1912. ! took occasion To appoint two
members whom ] knew to be opposed
to the election of Mr.. Eggleston
ala this because l had OF course, heard
the rumors--they were in print-and
felt that If he proved To be the proper
man that they would lind il out, and
tfat If they could succeed in locating
a better selection, it would be made
was afterwards added TO this commit
tee by special resolution. and the com
mittec searched the country over. and
finally decided to recommend the cleo
ton Of Mr. Egeleston, which was made
unanimously by the board.
What Cluxton Said.
Stll DR. ISarringer would have IL
that the board had agreed before it
assembled for this first meeting Il had
not until then even met DR. Harris or
DIR TurncD to select MIR. Eggleston as
his successor and that his time was
simply extended because he could not
accept until he had resigned his posi-
ton as superintendent of instruction
and membership on the board -
] suppose he would assert also that
We provided him with a more lucra
tive Federal appointment in the mean
time. as such was the position he re-
signed as superintendent to accept.
AS an additional evidence of the
inlsity of such a charge is the fact
that Or. claXton, Mr.. Egelestons SUI
perior in Washington, when passing
through Richmond some weeks before
Mr. Egglcston's election. was asked to
give an Interview, and stated to the
reporter that while he felt that Mr.
Egslcston would accept the position II
rendered unanimously by the board
that hc would not do SO if rendered by
a divided board, and as such a con-
summation seemed without the range
OF possibility, he did not expect to lose
him from his department
| consider this statement proper nj
this time in justice 10 tho Governor, &c
Mr.. Eeglcston and TO the other mem
hers OF the board, as well as to my.
self and while hold no brief for them
they Will substantive the statement
have made.
JOHN THOMPSON BROWN