New-York tribune., 1901-10-08
COLUMBIA LETS HIM GO.
MR. LOWS RESIGNATION AS PRESIDENT
OF THE UNIVERSITY is AC-
CEPTED BY THE TRUSTEES.

CEPTED BY THE TRUSTEES
So confident is Seth Low that he is to be the
next Mayor of New-York that he yesterday
resigned completely and Internationally his
cherished place president o. Columbia Uni
versity. Once before, when he entered upon
the mayoralty contest against Van Wyck and
Tracy. Mr.. Low resigned this honorable office.
but the university trustees did not act upon
it till the campaign over, and then they
declined to accept the resignation. This time
however. Mr.. Low accompanied his resignation
by an earnest request to the trustees to accept
1t at once. and this they did later in the day.
Nicholas Murray Butler the professor of phil
osophy and education being selected tempo
rary president, to act until a permanent sue
cessor to Mr.. Low shall be selected.
Mr.. Low has thus abandoned the presidency
of Columbia for good, or, to use his own words.
has burned his bridges behind him. This he
has done not without genuine regret, since the
ties which bind him to the university strong
ones. but Mr. Low has put his duty TO the city
ahead of his personal inclinations, and is now
free to devote himself heart and soul to the
anti-Tammany campaign, without a side issue
of any kind to form drag upon his energies
The fusion candidates purpose to take this
step has been generally known for some time.
but the formal announcement came yesterday
morning in valedctory address which Mr. Low
made to the trustees. faculty and students of
the university. who gathered to celebrate the
beginning of the 14Sth academic year Of the
institution.
A FAREWELL ADDRESS.
The retiring presidents voice was tlnged with
sadness as he said:
For myself and for the sake of the cause rep
resent want to go into This eampaisn as man
VINO has burned his bridges behind HIM, so that L
D
out the fear that in doing SO may compromise
am entirely confident that 1t should now be placed
0i an %o IS s likely se TO be TO daa
upon TO divide his time and thoughts between the
need scarcely say to you that have not reached
this decision lightly or unadvisedy. cannot CON
have given the last twelve years of my life. with
OUT, 0ur teeins EEL & OF sadness AKIN n 10 Solemnity The
fun of pain. Ny separato from the young. alert.
source of profound regret But Columbia Univer-
sity has no more important duty than TO teach
patriotism. and. therefore. Columoias president
This emergency has befaIen the university so
suddenly that take 1t for granted the trustees will
be Obliged to appoint acting president
successor, should go into this campaign with far
eysy Of s hee@ and df the ossy and an
enthusiasm of her students. beg every one of
alike. that under the circumstances a part OF the
responsibility for the safe conduct of Columbia that
every OF YOU. Hold up the hands of the acting
president when he Is appointed. and give to him
be. the same loyal. afectionate and strong support
presume it is no secret to any of YOU that this
afternoon my resignnSn n on OF the presidency OF Co
and that. at my request, ii will be accepted Four
he o W veTg eren ir The
the university was confronted by many unsolved
son to believe that. if / We're defeated / might
continue to serve the university indentely without
cumstances wholly beyond any ones control have
and, in the mean while, the university problems
that before We're pending have been substantially
for the university and for me. that in responding
nently from the presidency or the university
About seven hundred people. mostly students
had assembled in the temporary chapel to hear
Mr. Low and at the close of his address the Co
lumbia College veil repeated again and
again. mingled with cheers and the waving of
hats and handkerchiefs. and good wishes for
Mr. Lows success.
THE TRUSTEES TRIBUTE.
The trustees of Columbia University did
accept President Lows resignation without sim
cere regret and ii is doubtful if they would
have done at all had he not requested 1t. In
complying with that wish. they adopted reso-
luton paying a glowing tribute to the noble
work he has done for the university. 1t was
worded thus:
The trustees with the e
of president of this university. They appreciate.
however. the patriotic purposes which have induced
him 10 retire from his present post and they recog-
nize the delicacy and unselhshness which have
dictated his request that his resignation be con-
sidered final and that 1t be accepted to take effect
Immediately. REQUESTS so made cannot be ignored
constrained comply with Mr.. Lows wishes and
TO accept his resignation at this present meeting.
In doing they deem II proper TO enter upon
their minutes a record of their affectionae regard
for Mr. Low personally, and of their high opinion
of the value OF his services to the university. Mr.
Low has served trustee for twenty years
He has served as president tor exaeay twelve s
marked by changes of the utmost Importance,
which may fairly be said to have created a new
Columbia. A great university has been organized
a of unrelated schools 1t has been
moved o and generous quarters that worthily
accommodate il and that invite the large expan-
sion which is certainly before IT, II has established
intimate satisfactory affiliations with Barnard
College and Teachers College Its educational or
ganization is thorough and effective; a strong.
thusastic common life now pervades and inspires
dents was never large; its educational prestige
was probably higher. and in every quarter.
both inside and outside the university. the utmost
goodwill prevails
In Mr.. Lows letter to the trustees he made
this reference to the finances of the university:
In now surrendering my charge into the hands of
the trustees am glad to believe that almost all or
the special problems that have commanded my at
tention have been solved. The only large question
necessarily incurred a consequence OF removal
site. In all probability our resources
within the six or seven years VIII increase 10
a point where that burden VIII cease 10 be felt
NEw-YORK DAY AT THE PAN-AMERICAN.S 4
r. r. Stations foot Barclay and Christopher Sts.. I
40 1.ls3 B'way.-Adyt