The times., 1897-09-05

Mr.. Lows most memorable public state
ment was that made at club dinner III
New York city several years ago. II
would rather be president Of Columbia
College than President OF the United
States, said he.
Yet Mr.. Low has determined to sacri.
flee his university position on the hdz ird
of being elected mayor.
II cannot do otherwise than resign irn-
mediately from the presidency Of Coum-
bia University" said Mr.. Low Il have
so decided. Beyond any other consideration
sense OF delicacy demands it Coluu-
bia has right 10 the entire services of
its president.
81 could find no justification for my
Course were | 10 so much as accept the
candidacy of public office and still re-
tain my position as president of Columbia.
/ shall STAND by the terms of my letter
of June 4 The committee OF the Citizens
Union has performed al That / requested.
1t only remains for me to do my part -
Mr.. Low has thus settled the course of
his life until after election day in Novem-
Der. 1t remains to be seen what action
the board of trustees will take.
VIII these trustees accept Mr.. Lows
Immediately to fill the office of president
of the university, or viii they choose a
president pro TEN. and forbear to MAKE
his selection permanent one Cntil the
election shall have determined whether MIR.
Lows services Will still be available to
them?
Ia the event of Mr., Lows defeat in
November it would certainly be hard lines
for the man shouIdh he, in performing what
he regards as a public duty, lose an office
which b e holds so be Of greater honor than
the Presidency of the United States. The
salary of S13, 200 a year is matter OF no
nom ent to Mr.. Low.
Mr. Low will consign his possible fate
into the hands of twenty-four men-thc
trustees of the university primarily
govern Columbia. The term of office OF
these gwenty-four trustees is for life.
They form a self-perpetuating body. The
title 10 all the property of the university
is vested in these trustees, and they ap-
point the president Of the institution, as
well as all officers Of instruction and ad.
ministration.
They are the ultimate source of author
ity in all matters pertaining to the uni
versity The president has charge OF the
educational administration of the uni
versity, and is the chairman of the HnI-
versity council and of every faculty es-
tabished by the trustees.
1t is not necessary, OF course, that the
board Of trustees accept Mr.. Lows resig-
nation. Mr.. Low IS usefulness as the head
of this great institution OF learning viii
be In no wise impaired by defeat in
November.
His disappointment at falling, if he
should fail, TO be the guiding hand in
putting in working order the complicated
machinery of the new city charter, should
he percepdtly softened could he return
to n position apparently the most accept.
able to him of any in the gift of his coun.
trymen.
President Low is now enga ged in pre-
pairing his snnual report for the hoard OF
trustees He will not leave Msine until he
shall have completed it. In the meantime
he will write his letter accepting uncondi-
tionally the nomination of the Citizens
Union.
William Fl. Beebe: secretary Of the
Columbia College, said today that there
was no special term Of office attached to
the presidency Of the college. The matter
was subject, he said to the action Of the
board Of trustees. Mr.. Beebe said that the
anousl salary of the president was 3d.
900 a year
When asked whether, If President Low
rendered his resignation to the board Of
trustees, 1t would be accepted. Mr.. Beebe