Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1921-07-01
Gard from Chancellor POlgers.
June %, 1921,


When the papers carried the pewi
that charges reflecting upon my
character were to be made by a Uni
versity Professor, ! promised tt
answer every charge that might bs
made. ] have kept this promise il
letter ana spirit.
went into the sschool-room when
a lad of eighteen years and walked
among children, seeking to teach
1 and inspire them to become high
minded, Christian men and women.
At the age Of thirty eight years,
after twerfty years of service as a
teacher in the public schools, ] was
promoted to the office of State
Superintendent of Public Education,
where / had the honor and privilege
of administering the educational af-
fairs of the State over period if
nearly eight years. Seven years
ago ! came to the exalted position !
now occupy If there had been,
through all these years, thirty-four
in number, breath of suspicion
against my character as a man, |
would never have been called to the
responsible position | have filled
/ am fifty-two years OF age. MY
life has been an open book to my
fellow-citizens. After | had reached
this ripe age, q University Professor
Il. W. Rogers, sought, assyou have
seen, to ruin my career and blast
my reputation. On more than occa-
sion, a compromise was attempted
to keep any charges against me from
being made public and to hush them
up ! scorned these efforts. The
venerable University of Mississippi,
seeker after the highest ideals, ex-
ponent Of all that is clean and noble,
was being slandered through its
Head Its good name, linked with
my own, was. at stake. There was
only one way to answer this slandcr
and remove this stain, and that was
to submit to the ordeal through
which ! have passed.
In the Hall of Representatives, in
the Capital City, before the full
membership of the Board of Trustees
Of the University and Colleges and
any citizens who might care to hear
the evidence, with full opportunity
given this Professor to press his
charges, | answered fully and com
pletely every charge made. At no
time during the trying ordeal was |
cast down. Cheerfully | sumitted
to this tesE of my character. Con-
scious of the rectitude Of my conduct
through the many years Of my ser
vice to you'll had from the beginning
not the slightest doubt of the result.
l knew a just God would not permit
the efforts to ruin me to succeed.
The stain has been removed from the
rroud escutcheon Of the University.
NY name is as free from taint as it
was before the foul calumny was
neaped upon it. Gods hand has
guided, sustained, and comforted me
it all.
have an abiding faith in all fair
justice-loving Mississippians
hat my work in the future will not
be impeded or cipcumscribed because
willingly and even cheerfully in the
sight Of God and man, met the
supreme test Of my fitness for the
nigh position l hold.
To the scores Of friends who at
ended the hearing and to those who
1ave sent me messages of comfort
md good cheer, | tender the pro
.ound gratitude of my family and
myself
! shall continue in the future as
n the past to walk among you, seek
ng to do my full part to promote,
through my work as an educator,
he welfare of our great State.
Very respectfully and gratefully ;
tours, j, N. POWERS.