The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-12
Letter From President
Read Before Board
Of Visitors.
THINKS 1T WOULD
HELP WHOLE STATE
Opposed to Him Are Underwood
and Williams, Who Want Pres
ent Policy Continued-Board
Hears Arguments For and
Against. Proposed Co.
Ordinate School.
Especial to The Times Dispatch ]

lSBCSidi W ne -DlSpalCn.J
Charlottesville. Va, December IL
Woodrow Wilson, President of the
United States, favors the creation of
coordinate college for women at
tho University of Virginia. of which
he Is the most distinguished alumnus.
Opposing the views of the President
are Oscar w. Underwood. OF Alabama,
also an alumnus Of the university, .low
Democratic leader OF the House OF
Representatives. and Senator John
Sharp Williams, of Mississippi, who
also received his degree there
Letters from the three great national
leaders were read to-day before the
board OF visitors of the university
when 1t met to hear arguments for
and against the womans college move
mcnt President Wilson said that he
believed coordination would be OF
great value TO the women OF Virginia
and to the whole State, while Senator
Williams and Representative Under
wood stated that they favored con-
tinuation OF the policy under which
tho university has become famous
| among the great schools OF the coun-
| try.
Roth Sides Heard.
Representatives of both sides OF tho
question, those who favor co-ordi-
4
| to the university and under it's direo-
! ton and control and those who are
opposed to the establishment OF such
II college. argued before the board
| Every member Of the board was pres
| ent, and Rector Armstead c. Gordon
| presided. The hearing was enlivened
| by many witty thrusts from some of
the speakers, and the women who ar
| gued for the college were quick to
| parry them. When the hearing was
over-it lasted from 10 o'clock this
morning until 7:l5 o'clock this eyenin.
those who attended as part OF the
audience were unable to decide in
their own minds which side had won.
Both sides brought out many good
| points, eloquently phrascd and most
effectively presented The members OF
the board asked questions from time to
time. much as the Judges on the bench
| would do at an important trial The
| board went into executive session soon
! after o'clock. but did not reach a de-
cislon as to what It's recommendation
| TO the Legislature will be. deferrinG
action until the next regular meeting
CT the board on January 8.
! Richmond was we'll represented AFT
tho hearing. For the co-ordinate col
! lege the following from Richmond
spoke: Mrs. Il. b. AIunford, Roosevelt
| Page, Wyndham r. Meredith, Mrs Nor
man Randolph, Mrs. Malvern c. Pattcr-
/
st. Paul's Church; Mrs. j. l.. Spiers, j.
B. Clinedinst, State Labor Inspector.
| Those from Richmond who opposed the
| college were Henry Taylor, Jr, Eppa
Hunton, Jr., and Murray NJ. MCGUIRE 4.
| Among the others who spoke against
| tho education OF women at or near the
university In CO ordinate college were
Professor Charles y. Graves. OF the law
school OF the university, and Randolph
| Harrison. OF Lynchburg.
Professor William NJ Thornton and
/ DIR. Albert Lefevre. of the university.
spoke for the proposed college. Others
who favored the college were w. f. Nc
Kenney, of Petersburg; Mrs. j. r. Kyle,
! of Lynchburg; f. H. Russell. president
OF the Fredericksburg. Normal School,
Miss NJ l.. Cobb. of Norfolk; d. NJ.
Blanl<enship. of the State Farmers
Union; y. G. Kountz OF Newport News
| vice president of the Federation OF
Labor OF Virginia; II. T. Colvin, secre-
tary OF the State Federation OF Labor;
Miss Maria p. DuVal. OF Staunton Miss
| Virginia McKenney of Petersburg;
Miss Timberlake, OF the Mary Baldwin
Seminary.
Money Is Leaving State.
| Those who favored the college for
women to bo -ordinatcd with the
university made especial point OF
tho fact that thousands OF dollars are
being sent out of the State every year
by those who send their daughters to
Northern colleges for the higher edu-
cation that this State does not Of
| fer to girls. They also emphasized
| the fact that the daughters OF those
who cannot afford TO send them away
to college arc denied u college educa-
tion because the state has provided no
college courses for them. 1t was ar
gued that other co-ordinatc colleges
for women very successful, and
in no way harm the older parts of tho
institutions where they have been os
tablished. They also urged that tho
women of Virginia should be given tho
priceless privilege of being able to
profit by the tradi itions and fame of tho
| University of Virginia IT was argued
that tho proposed college did not mean
ultimate co-education and that. as
matter OF fact, II was the best way
| to head off education.
Those who opposed tho coordinate
college idea based their argument
| chiefly on tho belief that co-ordina-
tion would inevitably lead to co-educa-
tion. 1t would happen. they said. that
at some tino before very long tho
Legislature would ask. why give u
double appropriation when II would bo
| only in keeping with what Is happen
| ing in many other institutions To have
outright co-cducation. The present
faculty OF the university, 1t was urged,
could not possibly teach in tho co-ordi-
nate college without greatly IMPAIR
| ing the work for the men Students
There would be no economy, IL was
said. because duplication OF the appar-
atus would bc necessary. and n new
| faculty would have to he employcdss
The spirit and traditions of tho unf-
versity said the speakers. were wholly ,
against coordination or co-educations