The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-09-02
PORTLAND MAINE, THURSDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER

of all well-wishers to Brown Uniyersit,
in particular.
remain, with great respect,
Yours very truly,
RICHARD OLNEY.
The protest of 25 members of the facul
ty Of Brown and number, of petitions,
including one from the heads of the lead.
Ing educational institutions in the coun.
try, asking for the retention of President
Andrews, were presented and considered
At the close of the first session, the fol.
lowing elections were announced: Chan.
cellor, Col. VIM. Goddard; treasurer, A.
b. Chase. The election OF a fellow to
succeed Mr.. Olney was postponed. Alvah
Hovey presided over the board of fellows
and A. B. Chace over the board OF trus.
tees.
The corporation of Brown University
voted after a long meeting to request
Of President Andrews that he withdraw
his resignation as President of the insti-
tuition. The request was embodied in a
resolution containing the following let
ter:
To the President of Brown University:
The corporation of Brown University
has this day received with the greatest
regret your resignation as President. 1t
most earnestly desires that you will with
draw 1t. 1t conceives that 1t was written
without knowledge of the position of the
corporation. With the earnest hope that
a statement by 1t bearing the formal
sanction and approval of the governing
body of the University, may bring
tion desires to assure you that it in no
way sought the severance of our official
relations which, SO far as 1t knows, have
been most cordial from the time of your
acceptance of the presidency OF the Uni
versity.
The vote and only expression hitherto
made by the corporation bearing upon
the question at issue was at the last June
meeting and consisted of the appoint
ment of committee to "confer with you
as to the interests of the university. :"
The extent of authority thus given it's
committee was that of conference.
1t is perfectly true that the vote in
question was Occasioned by the differ
ent views entertained on the one hand
by you and on the other hand by most
and probably all of the members of the
corporation as to the free and unlimited
coinage of silver by the United States SO
far at least as affecting the interests of
the University and the fear that your
views with reference to it publicly known
or expressed, might perhaps.in some de-
gree, be assumed to be representative
and not merely individual.
Having, as 1t believes, removed the mis-
on this question represent those of the
corporation and the University for which
misaprehension you are not responsible
and which 1t knows you too seek to dis
pei, ..the corporation cannot feel that the
divergence of views upon the silver
question" and of its effects upon the
University between you and the mem
bers of the corporation is an adequate
cause of separation between u.s. for the
corporation is profoundly appreciative Of
the great service you have rendered to the
University and Of your great sacrifice
and love for it. It, therefore, reneWs its
assurances Of highest respect for you and
expresses the confident hope that you will
Withdraw your resignation.
The vote on the subject was practically
unanimous and was taken after speeches
had been made by nearly every member
of the corporation. Hon. Joseph H. Walk
er advocated the action in the following
words: 1.-THE committee of conference
report that they regard the paper they
presentedfto President Andrews as pri .
vate paper presented as basis of pri-
vate interview between the corporation
and its president. I understood that the
appointment of the committee of three
was decided upon rather than any writ
ten. communication be made to President
Andrews in order that our action should
take an official aspect that mightssbe mis-
understood rather than friendly confer
ence on matters of grave import to the
University"
A letter was received by the corpora
tion from DR.. Andrews explaining his
views of the silver question and stating
the position he had taken with reference
to the request of the committee that was
appointed last June to confer with him.
This letter was presented previous to the
general discussion.
The protest which has created SO much
attention In educational circles was
as follows:
To the Corporation Of Brown University
The undersigned respectfully ask the
privilege of expressing their opinion that
under all the actual circumstances of
the case known to the public, the future
Of the American Universities and the
interests. Of free thought and free speech
under just sense Of accountability
would be promoted by such action on the
part of the corporation as might natural
ly lead to the withdrawal of the resig
nation of President Andrews.
This was assigned by nearly all the
prominent college presidents in the coun-
try.