The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-04
Mr.. BROWN COMES
At DIR. bARR|NGER
IN HOT REJ0|NDtR
No Party to Amy Scheme" to
Replace Him by Electing
Mr.. Eggleston
DENIES A SANDER
OF LONG STANDING
Two or Three Members of Sc
Letting Committee Were
Named Because They
Opposed Him

commissioner Of agriculture, yesteri
day read in the Times Dispatch ~
statement of several columns IN ~
length. made by DIR. Paul Barring. An
fromer president of " P. l.. in VIII
Dir. Barrlnger attacks Governor M !
and explains his agreement" witt
the governor TO resign from the presi.
dency OF '. +. I. as soon as the gov4.
ernor should fill vacancies on the
board by appointing men favorable to
him, with the understanding that his
resignation would not be accepted for
a year.
After reading this statr Mr..
Brown go busy with his type. ritter.
He happens to he one Of the men
named and he objects to the way in
which he is brought into the affair.
Mr.. Browns Statement
Mr. Brown last night issued the fol-
lowing statement:
Editor IL The Richmond virginian,
Richmond. Va:
While / have nothing, to do with
any agreement that was entered into
by DIR. f3arringer and the governor
under which tho former was to tender
his resignation as president Of the
Virginia Polytechnic institute. upon
the appointment Of the new board.
provided certain gentlemen who had
been inimicai 70 DR.. Barringer were
not reappeinted. have got word to
say when DIR. Barringer attempts TO
connect me. az his published letter
would seem TO do. with being party
to any scheme to sunplant him by the
election 90 Mr.. Eggleston
As matter of fact DR.. Fernev-
hough, "a whom Or. Barringer refers
as special messenger" and agent"
of the governor happens to be
warm personal friend of mine land
there is no more correct man in the
State, nor one more Iayal to his
friends). and I did know from him,
before II was contaminated by DR..
Barringer's actual resignation. that
Or Barringer had made this volun-
tary agreement with the governor.
Or. Ferneyhough had stood DR. Bar
ringers staunch friend through all
the vicissitudes during his presidency
of V. p I when he was attacked 80
vigorously by members of the alumni
supported by the members of the
board To whom he refers. know
that Dr, Ferneyhough acted through
ont the negotiations between the gov
ernor ami DR. Rarringer as the friend
of the latter. | know too that after
the said agreement was reached DIR.
Ferneyhough was hopeful of securing
my appointment on the V. r. 7. board
by the governor. and in discussing the
matter with him 7 expressed the opin-
ion that Dr. Rarrineer should be ask
ed To retain the presidency for year
in order H. give proper time TO select
his successor.
If DR. Barringer had in mind any
idea that his resignation was to be
accepted by n Packed" board / am
more than surprised at his agreeing to
tender the. should have then ex-
posed the enormity, and if such was
his idea I am sure he was surprised
indeed when the governors selections
were made public. 1t is matter OF
fact perhaps that each member then
appointed did learn that DR.. Bar
ringer had agreed to resign. provided
he could retire gracefully from posi-
ton that was embarrassing to him. to
say the least. and this is the sum and
substance OF all the talk that has been
INDUCED in. and which comes now
with bad grace from DIR. Barringer.
who quotes the Times Dispatch which
printed the names of the newly APP
pointed members saying THE entire
board is now friendly to him tB)."
Such indeed was the fact. and what
more friendly act than to help him to
carry out his own voluntary agree
ment as to his esignation--surely he
would not have withdrawn 1t then
even at the request Of the new board
after the governor had carried out in
good faith his part of said agree
ment.
I am glad indeed that I was not .
member of the V. p. !. during the
four years of DIR. Barringer's strenu-
Gus experiences with the two menu
bers of his board and the protestin48
alumni, for. though DR. Barringer may
4 A1He
regard him as a square man and
consider that he certainly labored
under very Instantaneous condt-
tians. t., @was.. ,tbesefore,e glad when
his resignation to extend
the commentator the board did to
his work and to ask him to remain
for year till we could select his sue
cessor.
With this long preamble ! come to
the reasons for my appearance In this
IL is simply to deny tho
repeated Islander that the board was
appointed with any understanding, ex-
press or implied. that Mr.. Eggleston
was to be chosen president. Such q
charge would not be considered
Harris Senator Watkins, Mr.. Smith
myself or DIR. Jos. A. Turner. Of Hol-
Inns, who was appointed when Mr.
refused to accept the ap-
poIntment rendered. but the promin-
ence given 1t by DIR. Barringer In his
TRADE just published here at the end
Of the campaign Is likely to inJure me-
with those to whom the circumstances
are unknown and who have no per-
sonal acquaintance with the honor.
able gentlemen so aspersed. Others
wise would not notice Ii now.
note that DR.. BarrfnGer Omfta
from his quotation q part Of the re-
corded action Of the board. taken N
July IL, 1sl2-the commendAti0n " 4
himself the board desired to place 61Sss
record This may have been frcua 01e
cess Of modesty on his parE ~ a