NEW UNIVERSITY HEAD

Governor McCord returned yesterday morning from a visit to Pasadena, Cal., accompanied by Chancellor Hughes of the university, to close negotiations for securing Dr. Millard M. Parker, vice-president of Throop Polytechnic institute, as president of the territorial university. Speaking yesterday of the success of their mission, Governor McCord said.

"As is known to all who read Arizona newspapers, Rev. Howard Bliman resigned the presidency of our university several weeks ago. The board of regents accepted his resignation to take effect not later than the 15th of December, and at Mr. Bliman's request at an earlier date if a suitable successor could be found. When it became known that there was a vacancy many applications for the place came to the board. There were applications from many different states and it may almost be said the board had its choice from the best educators in the country.

"What the board wanted was an up-to-date educator, a man of good business and executive ability, a man of irreproachable character and one who has the necessary tact, and other qualifications to bring the university up to the high plane of like institutions, where it ought to be. From the testimonials sent to the board by the friends of Dr. Millard M. Parker, it was thought he was the man we were looking for.

"The board of regents, therefore, appointed ex-Governor Hughes and myself a committee to visit Pasadena, where Dr. Parker lives, and it clothed us with authority to engage him for a year if in our judgment he was the right man. We performed our mission to the best of our ability, having spent a day in Los Angeles with the leading educators of that city and another day in Pasadena, visiting the public school and the Throop institute, of which Dr. Parker is vice-president. Everywhere we went and from all of whom we inquired, we found but one response as to Dr. Parker's fitness for the place: 'He is just the man you want.'

"Ever since the university was established at Tucson, the people of that city have taken a great interest in its welfare. They have neglected no duty toward it and spared no pains or effort to make it a success. They love it and are proud of it and are exceedingly anxious to make it a great and successful institution of learning. Among all its true friends and able champions none has labored more faithfully than ex-Governor Hughes. It was for this he was appointed chancellor and recent[ly], and time will show the wisdom of that choice.

"You know, of course, that the governor by virtue of his office, is also a member of the board; he is of course evidently responsible to a certain degree for the management of the institution. I therefore naturally feel a great interest in that institution; first for the reason that I want to see it become as good and great an institution as there is of its kind anywhere, because I know it will be of great benefit in building up the territory by sending out among the people a large number of well equipped young men and young women; and second, because I believe that the success or failure of my administration is very [much] linked with the success or failure of that institution.

"I believe we have got the right man for president and I shall be greatly disappointed if the university does not make rapid forward strides in the future. Dr. Parker will take charge about the 10th instant."