The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-12-22
Nd CHANGE IN PLAN OF
HISTORY COMMISSION

Ia order that those who are inter
ested in the work OF the Virginia War
History Commission might know that
no change has been made in the plans
of the commission. the following
statement has been issued.
No change has been made in the
plans and personnel OF the Virginia
War History Commission but an i'm
portant addition has been made TO
these plans
This addition is a tentative but
definite plan for publication. a mat
ter not acted on before this time, Up
to the last meeting the scope Of the
work OF the commission was limited
TO collecting and editing" War HIS
tory material as directed by Governor
Davis. But the new resolutions set as
the present objective of the history
work the publication of three GOO
page volumes, two OF them devoted
10 the military and one to the civilian
activities
There Was full discussion Of the
work already done, which seemed TO
have the general approval Of the
commission There we're also many
conflicting opinions as to the wisdom
Of adopting at this time q proposal
fixing definite limits for the treatment
Of material not yet collected. Many
Of the ahleSt men of the commission
offered resolutions tn defer the ques-
ton. 10 enlarge the proposed limit of
three volumes or to refer The matter
of printing TO the Legislature. \
majority of the sixteen commissioners
present opposed the resolutions
However, a Majority Of the commits
sionors aud associates present. voted
for the new plan Of a three volume
history. with the understanding
that extensions may be made by the
comm iSSion.
one point should be made perfect
ly clear The motion made ut the
quarterly meeting to drop the local
histories from the work of the com
mission was not adopted and was
neVc.' renewed.
On the contrary, tho opinion was
unanimous at the special meeting that
the work of the local branches should
he continued as an integral and es-
sontial part OF the work of the COM
mission and that the local material
collected by them should be stored
and edited under the plan already
adopted
Thus the net result OF the prolonged
discussion sets definite goat of
printing three volumes OF Virginia
history AS our present objective.
Whatever individual members OF the
commission may think. this decision
stands as representing the will of the
majority of the commissioners and
that was in keeping with the high
character of the assembly. The de-
bate was not curtailed as the propon-
ents OF the resolution courteously
withdrew n motion for the previous
question when the chairman suggest
ed that perhaps other members
wished TO be heard.
Hence, this decision should have no
strings for any member Of the History
Conn mission There can he no doubt
that many Were not satisfied with the
former tentative assignment of one
volume TO be prepared by each sec
tion. Instead of this vague minimum
OF some fifteen volumes to be edited
from the material collected we have
now definite minimum OF three vol
umes to be published. Additions or
changes may be made II desired.
Whether changes or additions are
made or not, the work of the local
branches and of the sections has the
unanimous backing Of the commits
sion.