The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1913-05-29
DIR. ]. /. KIRKLAND
DECLINES POSITION
But HE MAY YET ACCEPT
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENCY HAS
BEARING ON THAT OF HEN
DRIX COLLEGE.

| Chancellor ]. H. Kirkland of Van
derbilt University formally has de-
clined the presidency of Arkansas
! University, according to this morn
ing's Arkansas Gazette. A letter to
this. effect has been received by the
secretary and one or two members of
the board of trustees of the univers-
. ity, and by Attorney General Moose.
Chancellor kirkland had determined
fully, it is said, to accept the presi-
dency and come to Arkansas at once,
/ but while in New York recently a
large sum of money was rendered him
to endow the medical school of Van
derbilt University. The gift has some
conditions which members of the
board do not approve, and it is posi-
bic it may not be accepted by the
board of trustees when it meets at
Nashville, June 16 The persons who
are offering this donation to the Van
derbilt medical school insist that
Chancellor Kirkland shall remain at
Vanderbilt long enough to put the
medical school on a firm footing. His
friends at Nashville also insist that he
Us under obligation to remain there
temporarily, and the chancellor him
self has come to the conclusion that
his leaving at this time would make
him liable to the accusation of prefer
ring his own personal interests to the
good of Vanderbilt.
If the board of trustees next month
should refuse to accept the gift for
the medical school, DR.. Kirkland, it is
said, will resign at once and come to
Arkansas. If the donation should be
accepted and the presidency of the
Arkansas University can be left open
for him, he will assume the duties of
this office January l, 1914, or, at the
latest, July l, 1914. He very much
desires, it is said, to come to Arkan-
sas, and has many plans for the de-
velopment of the university and the
building up of all the educational in
situations Of the state. He is regard
ed by many who know him Intimately
as the greatest university president in
the south. He not only is a great
scholar but a great administrator
and one of the most eloquent public
speakers in Tennessee. If it is posi-
bic to obtain his services, the board of
trustees of the university probably will
not elect a permanent president until
Chancellor Kirkland has declined to
accept.
Conditions under which Chancellor
Kirkland has declined to accept the
presidency were made known here
when DR.. A. U. Purdue, state geolo-
gist of Tennessee and formerly a
member of the university faculty,
came here from Nashville. DR.. Pur-
due, while a resident of Tennessee,
still is interested in Arkansas, and
thinks that by all means the Arkan-
sas University should obtain the ser
vices of Chancellor Kirkland.
The acceptance or rejection of the
University presidency will, it is
thought, have bearing on the election
of a president of Hendrix College,
though nothing official to this effect
has been announced. 1t is known that
the nominating committee of the Hen
dirk board of trustees is in favor of
the election of Dr. J. H. Reynolds, now
acting president of the University, to
succeed DR.. A. c. Millar, provided DR..
Reynolds can be induced to accept 1t
is believed, however, that if DR.. Kirk
land declines the University presiden-
cy DR.. Reynolds will be elected to the
position and would not accent the