The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1914-08-27
Long Communication Appears
In Two Of the Leading
Daily Papers.
DEFENDS LOCAL COLLEGE


The following is the article as
II appeared in the Commercial
Appeal and Jackson Daily News:
Having been a member of the
State Senate from the County OF
Lowndes during the legislative
session of 1884, at which the act
TO create and establish "The IN
dustrial Institute and College for
the Education of the White Girls
of the State of Mississippi in the
Arts and Sciences (Pamp. Acts
1884, p so ct seq.) was enacted;
and having from the opening pro-
ceedings of the college, on Oct.
%, 1885, when, in its new chapel
the writer delivered the address
Of welcome to the assembled dig
nltarleS OF the state among whom
modestly sat Mrs. Annie c. Pey-
ton,the cynosure of all eyes-rad-
liant with the glow of satisfied am
bition; and having years ago in
my pride for all concerning the
newly launched institution pre-
pared for perpetual reference an
historical sketch of its establish.
ment and location at Columbus,
together with some unrecorded
secret history pertaining thereto"
which sketch is in the possession
OF its president; and having in my
interest for the enduring welfare
of the college clipped from news
papers and arranged chronology
cally in scrapbook form for ready
reference, and labeled: THE |. l..
and c., Its Friction and Results in
$780," in which form both sides
of the controversy are set forth, in
justice to all and that truth may
prevail, | shall as clearly as pos
sible present to the public the
salient facts.
In the first-source material
have in hand all phases of the con-
troversy are thoroughly sifted, in
elusive of the charges brought
against that refined, Christian
gentleman and educator, President
Chas. H. Cooke, and inclusive of
the finding of the board of trus-
tees generating him therefrom;
and the latter's calm reserve dur
ing the humiliating investigation,
followed by his dignified resigna.
ton next after his vindication; the
enactment Of a rule requiring in
the future the resignation of all
the faculty at the close Of each
session, and finally what is desig-
mated the "WOman's Protest.
yea, a protest by the ladies Of Co.
lumbus against the unjust and
cruel charges brought against
President Cooke by some disaf.
fected teachers, alumnae and stu.
dents, instigated, as believed, by
artful designers. Said scrapbooks
giving. as they do, both sides OF
the controversy as viewed by re.
spective newspapers, towit: the
Columbus Dispatch, then edited
by one Charles M. Hayes, as the
organ of the disaffected teachers
and others, and the Columbus In.
dex, edited by R. w. Banks, a.
the organ of President Cooke anc
his adherents, make, | am bold tC
say, interesting reading at this
time OF recent renewal oi
trouble by disaffected few, who
through disappointed and un
scrupulous ambition are endeav
oring to injure, if not wreck, oul
noble institution of learning. ant
bring shame and dishonor to it.
now splendid and hitherto un
equa ed faculty, presided over b,
an educator so far superior in in
tellig nee and adaptability for hi.
work to hi persistent detractor,
Of to discourage intelligent OBJ
servers, versed in the merits o
the ! resent and late controversy
Such being the case, ! propose a
briefly as possible to examine an,
comment on a few of the state
ments made by the dissentients il