The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-06-22
President Whitman Will Go to Wash.
ingtOn.
THE DETERMINATION REACHED
LAST EVENING,
So mething About the Columbian Universi-
ty and the New Presidents Plans for
His Work There-A Press Correspon
ESPECIAL TO THE pREss.]

Waterville, June 21.-President Whit
man of Colby University, arrived home
this afternoon and presided at a meeting
of the faculty this evening. After the
meeting, he made the announcement to
the PRESS correspondent that he had de-
cided to accept the offer of the presidency
of the Columbian University at Washing
ton. Dr. Whitman did not reach his final
decision until this evening" letters which
he found upon his arrival here settling
the matter. He said that he had supposed
that when last fall he declined the first
offer of the Washington position, that the
matter was ended so far as he was con-
cerned When however, the offer was re-
newed he regarded it as only fair to the
makers that he should go to Washington
and see for himself the situation there
He was then lead to believe that perhaps
the Washington field offered opportunities
for work which it was his duty to under
take. President Whitman said he had in
tended to explain the situation to the
trustees, and then announce his his resig-
nation, but the facts of the case had been
already SO fully reported in the papers
that he should now content himself with
writing letter of resignation to Hon..
Josiah H. Drummond of the Board of
Trustees President Whitman did not
think there would be special meeting
of the board as it is now so near the COM
mencement meeting.
A correspondent of the PRESS rode
from Portland to Wateryille with Presi-
don't Whitman N fb iCt taf ftnr-nnAI1 Tlr Whit-
man talked freely about his plans for his
work at Washington, should he accept the
offer which, as he said was at that time
still in doubt. President Whitman said
that should he accept the place it would
be with feelings of keen re gret at leaving
Maine During the three years of his
presidency of Colby, his relations to
been of the pleasantest The faculty had
given him hearty support and there had
been no friction of any kind. President
Whitman spoke in words of high praise
of the character of his students at Colby
and said that in all the three years, while
of course there had been occasional
pranks played by the boys, he had yet to
mean.
President Whitman then spoke of the
Columbian University and his plans for
work there. The university is an institu-
tion of about the same age as Colby. 1t
includes law, medical and dental schools,
the Corcoran Scientific school, the college
undergraduate department. and the
academical departments This year the
enrolment of pupils makes a total of 800,
but this includes 81 students of the
academical department, who would not
be counted under the system usual in
New England as members of the univer-
sity, but would be credited to the
academy or fitting school. The university
owns several buildings in the section of
Washington in which is the treasury, but
it has no campus and consequently no
centre for the undergraduates. 1t is
among President Whitman's aims to
secure campus with the necessary school
buildings and dormitories, and develope
the undergraduate department. He has
assurances that the university will soon
be in a position to do this. The law and
medical schools have for many years
afforded an excellent opportunity to the
clerks in the government departments
who wished to enter professional life, and
many OF their students have been drawn
from this class. President Whitman
wants also to see the academical branch
made into fitting school or academy
under the control of the university, much
as the Coburn Classical Institute is now
a fitting school for Colby. If these plans
should be carried out the university
would have it's fitting school, separate
and yet a part of it, It's undergraduates
department with its buildings and
campus, and then the graduates and pro-
fessional schools carrying on the same
work which they have done so successful
ly in the past.
The Columbian University, situated in
the rapidly growing city, which is the
nation capital, should, President Whit
man feels, take a leading place among
the educational institutions of the
country. 1t is in position to avail itself
of the services of eminent men who could
not be procured if it was located else
where. Thus Justices Harland and
Brewer of the United States Supreme
court, and Justices Cox and Bradley of
the District Supreme court, are among
the professors of the law school.
In speaking of the University it may
be interesting to Portland people to recall
that the father of the Rev. Mr.. Samson,
pastor OF the Free street church, was once
the president of the university.
President Whitman will begin his new
duties in the fall giving up the European
"TRIP Tor Which he has been arranging.
COMPLIMENTARY TO PRESIDENT
WHIT MAN.
His Acceptance Will Result in the Raising