The Topeka state journal., 1897-07-26
DID NOT BARTER FREEDOM
How President Andrews was Forced
Out TO Conciliate Rockefeller.

favored restraining President E. Ben
Jamfn Andrews from giving public ut
terances on some economic questions,
and which eliminated in the unexpect-
ed announcement of his resignation, has
been more fully explained by the pub
lication of the correspondence concern
ing the trouble.
The principal thing which disturbed
Congressman Walker and others prom
inent in the conduct of the university
was the attitude of President Andrews
on the silver question, he being an out
and-out free silver advocate, and his
utterances having tended, they assert
ed, to deprive the university of a ST.
100000 gift from John D. Rockefeller,
besides other gifts and legacies which
had been promised.
The criticism was made while he was
in England, just about to return home
after almost a year abroad on leave of
absence with a view to regaining his
lost health. The trustees and fellows
almost unanimously indorsed Congress
man. Walkers utterances, and then ap-
pointed a special committee to deal with
President Andrews and to rebuke him
for his public expression of views on
national issues. This committee con-
sisted of William Goddard, the chan
cellOr of the university; ex-Chief JUS
tice Thomas Durfee of the Rhode ISL
and supreme court and Prof Francis
Wayland of New Haven.
Immediately upon President An
drews' return home the latter part of
June he sat to work to get at the real
nature of the attack made upon him
during his absence, and requested a
conference with the special committee.
Their reply was in the form of the fol-
lowing letter dictated by Chancellor
Goddard and signed by Messrs. Durfee
and Wayland:
ITO the Rev. E. Benjamin Andrews, D.
d, President Brown University:
I'm compliance with your request, the
undersigned members of a committee
appointed at a recent meeting of the
corporation of Brown university, make
the following statement:
THE committee was appointed under
the following resolution, to-wit:
" Resolved, That a committee con-
sisting of the chancellor, Judge Durfee
and Prof. Wayland be appointed to
confer with the president in regard to
the interests of the university
THE resolution was passed under re-
marks from several members of the
corporation showing more. specifically
the reason for it. The makers of these
remarks expressed the highest appre-
citation of the services rendered by the
president in increasing and diversity
ing the educa ationa1 facilities and eff
cheney of the university and in multi
plying the number of the students re-
sorting to it, and at the same time pro-
fessed for him personally the Warmest
admiration and regard.
They signified a wish for a change
in only one particular, having reference
to his views upon question which con-
stituted the leading issue il. the recent
presidential election, and which is still
predominant in national politics, name
ly, that of the free coinage of silver as
legal tender at a ratio of 16 ounces of
silver to one of gold. They considered
that the views of the president as made
public by him from time to time, favor
ed resumption of such coinage, and
expressed the belief that these views
were so contrary to the views general
ly held by the friends of the university
that the university had already lost
gifts and Iegacies which would other
wise have come or have been assured
to it, and that without change it would
in the future fail to receive the pecu-
mary support which is requisite TO en-
able it to prosecute with success the
grand work on which it has entered.
1.-The change hoped for by them, they
proceed to explain, is not a remuneration
of these views as honestly entertained
by him, but a forbearance out Of regard
for the interests of the university to
promulgate them, especially when to
promulgate them will appeal most
strongly to the passions and prejudices
of the public.
''The subscribers understand that was
in pursuance of this hope that the reso-
luton appointing them committee to
confer with the president was passed,
and passed, too, it may be added, with
out a single dissenting voice or vote.
civilian GODDARD.
''THOS. DURFEE.
"FRANCIS WAYLAND.
July 16, 1897
President Andrews reply was his let
ter of resignation, written the next day.
1t was as follows:
To the Advisory and Executive Com
mittee of the Corporation of Brown
University:
Gentlemen:-Believin that. howev-
er much I might desire to do so, I should
find myself unable to meet the wishes
of the corporation, as explained by the
special committee recently appointed to
confer with me on the interests of the
university, without Surrenderings that
Ii hi h
nv predecessors, my faculty colleagues
and myself have hitherto enjoyed, and
in the absence of which the most ample
endowment for an educa tional inStitu-
ton would have but little worth, I re-
spectfully resign the presidency of this
university and also my profeSsorship
therein, to take effect not later than the
1st day of the approaching September
regret the brevity of the intervening
time, but am acting al the earliest pos
sible moment after securing an inter
view with the committee.
Thanking you, gentlemen, and all
the other members of the corpora ton,
for the good will toward me personally,
which has been. expressed in so many
ways, and cherishing the best wishes
for the prosperity of the university, L
am yours, with sincere esteem,
"E. BENJAMIN ANDREWS"
The corporation committee, through
Secretary J. c. B. Woods acknowledge
ed the receipt of the resignation with
the most profound regret" and an
nounced that it would be brought be-
fore the annual meeting September L
President Andrews action is deeply
regretted by everybo and the senti-
ment is freely expressed that he has
beeen forced out by those who desire to
conciliate Mr.. Rockefeller, whose son
was graduated from Brown this year.
1t was officially announced that Prof.
Wheeler of Cornell would succeed Pres
ident Andrews on September l. he being
the unanimous choice of the corporation
on a priyate canvass of members
$40 so to Chicago.
And proportionately reduced rates to
points east Tickets sold July 16 to 21
Inclusive: July 23 &C. 80; August 2 g.