Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-06-26
Dr.. f. D. Blakeslee to Leave Iowa
,s Wesleyan University. B.
RESIGNATION SURPRISE TOEVERYONE
Declines to submit to the lndignities
Heaped Upon Him by Students
Accepts Presidency okan
Eastern Academy.

DR.. =. D. Blakeslee, president of the
Town Wesleyan university, has rendered
his resignation as president of the
school and the resignation has been ac-
cepted.
In regard to the resignation the
Daily News, Of Mt. Pleasant, says:,g
The determination of DR.. Blakeslee to
resign was complete surprise to every
one, from the trustees to the faculty.
There was not the slightest inkling
that he had premeditated seyering
his relations with the college. So far
sas was known he was satisfied with
the results of his first years work
and pleased with the prospects that the
future held out.
The first: intimation that was had Of
his intention to resign was the calling
of special meeting of the executive
committee Wednesday afternoon at
the dormitory. Even then the mem
bers of the committee were not aware
of the step that was to be taken until
the resignation was presented. Tt was
made perfectly plain to the commit
tee that there was nothing to do but
accept the situation as DIR. Blakeslee
had positively determined not to re-
turn next year. This being the case
the resignation was at once accepted
and a, committee appointed to take
steps to secure new president.
DR.. Blakeslee will remain here until
the 10th Of July when he will leave for
Syracuse, New York, to assume the
,principalship of the Cazenovia Semin-
airy, one Of the celebrated academies
of the east, and n position quite as
desirable as the presidency of the I. w.
u. The position is especially desira-
bile as Mrs. Blakeslee's parents live
In the immediate vicinity, and it is
4 her wish to live near them.
1t is known that the class day exer-
cises had something to do with the
resignation of DIR. Blakesiee. While
he was loyal to the. school, Of which
he was the head, he was also loyal to
his own family which has been Bit
terly hurt by the unjust and brutal
criticisms eliminating in the class day
exercises. The ridicule to which they
have been subjected by the class was
more than they proposed tot submit
to, and it was determined to leave the
school as soon as possible.
4 DR.. Blakeslee has been obliged to
submit to the same treatment that
all other presidents have submitted to.
DIR. Mcfarland, the ablest head the
school ever had was forced to resign
by the bitter opposition of faction
ssof students and town people. His
successor, DR.. Stafford, met the same
fate and was driven out OF office after
giving the school eight of the best
years OF his life. DR.. Rlakeslee does
not propose to suffer the indignities
that were heaped upon his predeces-
lsors and as soon as he saw that there
was a faction working against him
he promptly. resigned.
Among the real friends in the school
there will be genuine regret over the
action OF President Blakeslee. He
made great many very warm friends
turnout the conference, and in Mt.
Pleasant he is held in the highest
respect and esteem. He worked faith
fully and diligently for the interests of
the school and goes sway with the
knowledge that he did his duty.
Until a new president is secured the
interests Of the school will be looked
after by the dean of the faculty, Prof.
Fiersel. The executive committee, con-
Eisting of Mr., Geo. Haw. of Ottumwa,
and Messrs. Babb, Withrow and Ny
ers, OF this city, will at once look after
a new president and it hopes to be able
to secure the right man for the open
ing Of the school year.