The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-14
HOLD HEDDING
ANSWER;MEET
IN GALESBURG
Trustees Adjourn But Invite Hear
ing In Two Weeks I'm SNeu-
trail City,

ed session In the First Methodist
church, Galsburg, Tuesday, Feb. %,
at 1870 O'Clock in the afternoon, at
which it is hoped final decision will
be made on the 100000 offer made
by Rock Island through the Cham
Der of Commerce for the removal
of the institution to this location.
This action OF the board was in
corporated in an official letter to
]. J. Burgess. president, signed in
behalf of the board by Rev. M. L.
O'Harra, chairman, and Rev. w. B.
Shoop, secretary.
The trustees state in the COM
munication that the action above
outlined was occasioned by ting fact
that several members of the board
were absent, and the issues in
volved were considered too momen-
tuouS to be acted upon hastily.
The Rock Island Chamber of
Commerce is requested to send a
committee to meet with the trus-
tees at the Galesburg adjourned
session.
1t is understood that the trustees
feel that the Rock Island offer
should have behind it, not only the
directors of the Chamber of Com
merce but the membership in gen.
eraI. and it is believed further that
the board would feel more attract
ed by the offer if it was backed by
the quad-cities generally and by
resolutions expressive of the posi-
ton of the Methodist churches of
the community.
Trustees of Hedding college, Abb
ingdon, left Rock Island today with
out arriving at a decision regarding
the offer made through the Rock Is
land Chamber of Commerce for re-
moyal to this city.
E. c. Fisher, superintendent of
city schools, outlined the Rock Is
land offer in detail at a special ses-
sion of the trustees in the First
Methodist church last night. He
stressed the fact that the proxim-
ity of Hedding college to similar
institutions had proved a detriment
to the growth of the student enroll
ment. Knox, Lombard and Western
Normal are within a short dis
lance from Abingdon.
The many advantages of Rock Is
land were, dwelt upon, and in par
ticular the point was made that To-
cation of the college here would
mean that the school could appeal
to a population of 100000 people To-
Gated within a radius of so or sc
miles.
In addition to Mr.. Fisher, the
Rock Island delegation was made
up of j. j. Burgess, ]. F. Witter
c. A Beers and J. W. Potter, all Of
whom contributed to the discus
sion.
DR.. M. l.. OHarra of Galesbure
presided at the session of the trus-
tees. DIR. W. H. Craine of Monmouth
was secretary.
DR.. Clarence W. Greene, presi-
dent of Hedding college, attended
and all but six of the trustees were
present. Mrs. Margaret McHard
OF Aledo, a generous benefactor OF
the institution, was represented by
Rev. Samuel Van Pelt of Aledo as
proxy. Jesse A. Barlow of Abing
don, was not able to be present as
he IS in California 1t was his in
tention to attend and he had plan
ned to make the journey home for
that purpose but circumstances
prevented Mayor Slough of Alb
ingdon, who has been very active in
his endeavors to retain Hedding
college, was not present.
Those from Abingdon attending
the board session were members OF
the board of trustees, and included
Rev. John w. Ferris, B. P. Baird
and T. E Burnside.
Rev. John w. Ferris made the
point that most universities were
located in small towns. During the
Spanish-American war he was
chaplain of the 9Th Illinois regiment
to which several Rock Islanders
were attached.
The board went into executive
session at 9 O'Clock and continued
until after midnight. 1t is under
stood that the trustees resident in
Abingdon made a strong plea that
action upon the Rock Island offer
be deferred.
The board reconvened at $3.50
O'Clock this morning, DR.. NJ. l..
O.Harra, Galesburg, presiding, with
Rev. W. B. Shoop, Pekin, secretary.
An animated discussion developed
and a strong sentiment was shown
in favor of deferring action on the
Rock Island offer until a subse
quent meeting can be arranged at
some neutral point, preferably
Galesburg.
The argument was made that in
Difference to Mr.. Barlow of Abing-
: don. who had always been staunch
friend of Hedding, an opportunity
be given him to attend the meet
ing. 1t was urged also that Alb
fngdon be given a chance to make
a more detailed argument for the
retention of the school.
If the board decides favorabiy
upon the Rock Island offer and To-
cation. the action will be presented
as a recommendation to that effect
TO the Central Illinois conference.
In that case, Bishop Thomas
Nicholson of Chicago will call a
special session of the conference.
That body is scheduled to meet in
Rock Island in September, but in
order to promote action in the rails
ing of the 100000 endowment a
special session would be necessi-
tated.