The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-03-24
HAND Is RRELEASED.
Anderson Board OF Trustees Grants
Petiti0n-WiIi Continue the
Work.
The State.

The State.
Anderson. March 2l-At a special
meeting OF the executive committee OF
Anderson college late this afternoon,
the petition Of Prof. w. H. Hand to
be released from his contract to serve
as president OF Anderson college was
unanimously granted. While only the
local members OF executive committee
were present, the votes Of practically
all the other members Of the board
were in hand and were recorded as
favoring this release.
1t will be recalled that some days
ago a committee Of educators came TO
Anderson to request this release, stat
ing at the time that they were acting
entirely on their own initiative and
not at the suggestion Of Prof. Hand.
After discussion with this commit
tee, the local representatives of the
Anderson board felt that they had
convinced. these visitors that their re-
quest ought not to be granted, both
because of-superior claims OF Ander-
son college and because of the great
Importance of It's work.
Later Prof. Hand himself asked for
an interview with the local members
cf the executive committee and at
this interview, On Thursday night Of
last week, he stated that he had de-
cided to ask for his release, and
stated fully his reasons for so doing.
However, after going over the matter
with the committee, he decided to
withhold his application, for further
consideration; but on last Monday
morning the chairman of board re-
ceived his formal written request for
release A letter was prepared and
sent to the out-of-tOwn members of
the board, fully explaining the situa-
ton and they were asked to record
their votes by telegram The replies
were presented to the meeting this
afternoon. with the result stated
above Among the reasons assigned
by Prof. Hand for desiring his re-
lease were the following: At the time
Of his acceptance Of his election to
the presidency Of the college it mad
been announced that the funds for
continuing his present work would be
withdrawn at the end Of the present
session. Since then he has been as
sured that these funds will be avail
able not only for another year, but
for several years to come. He has
received numerous letters from edu-
Gators within and without the State,
arguing that it would be very detri-
mental to tie progress of constructive
work in which he has been engaged
for him to lay it down at this time.
The writer's of these letters all were
OF opinion that his present work was
the most important single piece Of
constructive work for education that
is now being done in the State. The
pressure was so great that Prof. Hand
became convinced that he ought to
ask for his release in order to further
conduct this work He stated TO the
board that he felt that the work he
is now engaged in was so important
to all the colleges of the State, as
we'll as to high schools, that Anderson
college would suffer greatly along
with other colleges if ne should aban-
don his present work. In addition to
this, Prof. Hand urged that his lack
of experience in college work made
him fearful of undertaking the duties
OF organization and conducting col
lege work along the ideals of stand
ard college Of TIE high grade Of An
derson college. In preferring his re-
quest, Prof. Hand stated his desire
to be of continued permanent service
of Anderson college, and Of his desire
to aid it TO the extent OF his ability
in the future.
In the face of this request, and with
the reasons assigned, the board felt
that it could not do otherwise than
grant the petition.