The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-13
BOARD WILL ELECT
V.P.L. HEAD TODAY
J. d. I1ggleston Expected to Be
Unanimous Choice for
President.
Opposition HAS sUBslDED
Committee OF Visitors Unable to
Find Better Equipped
Manfor Place.
OPPOSITION HAS sUBsIDED

Unless all signs fall long -dra WI
agitation that has divided the State
into two camps will be amicably con-
cluded to-day. when the board of WISH
tors ofthc Virginia Polytechnic 1nsti-
tute meets at noon in the Corporation
Commission courtroom in tho Capitol to
elect Il successor to DIR. Paul Il. Bar
ringer. the retiring president. 1t seems
assured that j. ID. l;ggleston, formerly
state superintendent OF Public In
struction. and now connected with the
United States Bureau OF Education,
Will be the unanimous choice of the
board.
this coveted position has been vigorous
ly contested ever since his name was
first mentioned as q possible successor
to pr BarrinGer. The principle OBJ
lection advanced against his candidacy
was supposed lack on Mr.. Eggleston's
part OF that deeree of expert agricul-
turai training which should he pas
sesscd by the head of the Virginia
Polytechnic Institute, but apparently
his other qualities outweighed this OBJ
lection, and opposition gradually died
down.
Searched without Avail.
When ii became evident that Mr..
ESglcston's election would he fought
| by alumni OF the institute. the board
began to look about for other possible
candidates for the Office. but one after
another was proposed and discarded as
lacking in the qualities demanded for
the president Of the Virginia Polytech-
mic Institute BY Il process OF elimina :
ton the committee on nominations.
step by step. came back TO the point
from which il started. facing Mr.. ES-
pleston rs the logical successor of DIR.
Sarringer. In the meanwhile, opposi-
ton in the board itself to Mr.. Eggles-
ton has subsidc1, and the members
have, il is understood, become prac-
tically of one mind fol- his election.
Mr.. Egglcston resigned his position
as the head OF the States Department
of Public instruction several months
ago TO become chief OF the field work
among rural schools for the United
States Department of Education His
appointment TO the Office was only tenn
porary. pending competitive eXamina :
ton held on January 3, 1913. in Wash
ington by the Civil Service Commits
sion. Along with more than 100 other
applicants. MIR. Eggleston took the ex
animation in January. No permanent
appointment has been made. In these
circumstances. Mr.. Eggleston feels
that he will be acting in perfect good
faith toward the Bureau of Education
TO accept the election as president of
the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, pro
Nided II comes TO him on his own terms;
that is 10 say, without serious opposi-
tion on the board.
The probable successor of DR. Bar
ringer is not III Richmond at this time
ana viii take no part in the action Of
the board to-day. The nomination will
be presented by a committee composed
OF j. Thompson Brown, Senator John g.
Watkins. B +. Kirkpatrick and H. NJ
smith, Jr. Three of these men are
known TO support Mr.. Eggleston's can
didacy. and the fourth has said that
after searching the field he has found
no available person who is so well
qualified.
The board is made up of j. Thomp-
son Brown. rector: Pcyton f.. St Clair
1 Colonel \. NJ. Bowman, Is. F. Kirk pat
rick DIR. w. 4. Harris, j. A. Turner
senator John t. Watkins, H. NJ Smith
jr, with 6. w Koincr. Commissioner
Of Agriculture. and r. &. Stearnos. Sin
perintendent of Public instruction. as
~ -officio members.