Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-15
Dorden Resigns as Head
Of Virginia University

CHARLOTTESVILLE. Va,
June IA (SpeciaD Colgate w.
Darden, jr.. who worked to
make the University of Vir-
ginia the capstone Of public
education envisioned by Thorn
as Jefferson, resigned as the
uniyersity's president today to
return to private life in Norfolk.
1t may be some months. how
ever, before he can give up
his duties. The University's
Board of Visitors has persu-
AIDED him to remain until a new
president is selected. His re-
signation was submitted to the
board yesterday.
The Board Of Visitors APP
pointed a six-member commit
tee to recommend a new presi-
dent. On the committee are:
Federal District Judge Albert
". Bryan of Alexandria; Repre-
sentative Smith. Democrat of
Virginia; Frank Talbot, ir., of
Danville, rector of the Board of
Visitors; Henry F. McWane of
Lvnchburg; Norborne Berkeley
of Pennsylvania, and Herbert
c. Pollock of New York.
Meets Again in July
The committee, which met
for DE hours yesterday, will
meet again in july. 1t was esti-
mated it might take several
months to come up with a re-
placement for DR.. Darden.
The 61-year-old former Gov
ernor Of Virginia brought a
Spartan attitude to the school
that had a reputation for being
a playground for the sons of
the rich.
Time and again. he said pub
licly that he was mere inter-
ested in hard work from a stu
dent than in a brilliant mind
that has the quiet habit of
loafing."
His advocacy of some hard
knocks in formal schooling ex-
tended to the lower grades also.
He said the compulsory
attendance law should be
amended 80 that after grade
school those who have neither
the disposition nor the capac-
ity to stand the pace can be
dropped"
The tall, amiable university
president for years has been
a member in good standing in
the congenial club made up of
top leaders of the Byrd Demo-
cratic organization.
But DR.. Darden did not hest
tate to walk alone when he
thought the occasion demanded
it, and he did so with consid-
cradle aplomb.
He persisted in admiring Adj
lai Stevenson when nearly all
the other Virginia Democratic
big-wigs were swinging Dwight
d. Eisenhower.
He campaigned up and down
the State for a local option
plan which he believed was the
salvation for Virginia in the
segregation problem.
He said State leaders VIII,
tunked local option were wron,
In advocating massive resistance
land mean to say so, not il
the spirit of bitterness, but t,
let the people know why m,
feelings haven't changed"
FOrsees Segregation Shift
He also predicted then tina
the balance of sentiment" il
Charlottesville. facing Fedora
t-ordered desegregatior
will tip toward acceptance o
limited degree of integratiol
If that becomes the ALTERNATIVE
to abandonment of education
as a public function"
An intellectual corn-poppe
when it came to ideas. the sigh
of the tall. bulky ex-Governo
hurrying across Capitol Squar
would draw reporters from a
directions.
He always has been read
with a lively diSquisition o
anything from the fall of tn
Roman Empire to the rise {
the Byrd machine.
Reporters still talk about tn
definition of States rights ths
he gave them years ago befoi
the segregation storm broke O
Virginia.
When you hear a politica
talk about States rights,
said, what he often means
the States right to do nothin
DR.. Darden took over as pres
dent of the university on Jun
%, l947, succeeding DR.. Jot
Lloyd Newcomb.
A former member Of Il
House of Delegates. and Il
House of Representatives, Z
Darden was elected Govern
of Virginia in l941 and too
Office for four-year term {
January 81. 1912.
Stops Senate Draft
After a prominent polite
career, most observers felt
would soon leave the universe
and re-enter politics. A dra
movement after he left d
Governors mansion to send hi
to the United States Sena
to fill the seat of the la
Senator Carter Glass W
stopped dead by DR.. Darde
and in 1856 he turned doy
bids from at least three grou
which wanted him to see t
governorShip again.
DR.. Darden left the Governo
mansion in 1916 and return
to his Norfolk home. He "
elected chancellor of the c.
lege of William and Mary
october 10. 1916. ard resign
the post one day less than
wear later. after he had he