The Topeka state journal., 1901-11-14
Gates DENIES IT.
Says He Hasn't Accepted P0-
mona Presidency.
He Would Much Rather Come
to Washburn.
ONLY ONE THOUGHT.
That Is For Health of His
Wife.
Does Not Yet Know What He
Will DO.

The following dispatch was received
| concerning the Rev. Geo. A. Gates, who
is at present in Topeka comforting with
| the authorities of Washburn college
| relative to the acceptance of the presi-
dency of Washburn:
e'Des Moines. Ia, Nov. President
head of the Iowa college at Grinnell, this
tonai church U@ at ess cheyen1e. ne we Wyo has been
eelcted to the presidency of the Pomona
university at Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. Gates
elected to the presidency of the Washburn
sition.''
Mr.. Gates was seen at L o'clock to-
| day, after he had made his speech in
the Washburn chapel, and denied the
| truth of the statements made in the
| above dispatch.
Il have accepted neither the offer of
Pomona nor Washburn, said Mr.
Gates. Il will say frankly that my de-
sire is to come to Washburn- The only
| thing which makes me hesitate in ac-
i cepting the offer of the presidency here
is the effect of the climate on my wifes
| health. l find that / can get any sort
of an opinion l want from doctors, but
| the consensus of opinion is that the
| only way to find out is to try The only
| possible reason that could influence me
| in going to the California college is that
| doctors should tell me that the chances
| are 100 to that my wife would be well
tional medical opinion that the risk
would be great in coming to Topeka"
DR.. Gates further stated that if he
| should accept the Pomona presidency It
would be at considerable personal sac
rifice. Pomona is not as large a school
as Washburn, and does not compare
| with the Topeka college in equipment
and opportunities.
Within ten days at the outside
said Dr. Gates today to a reporter for
the State Journal, Il will either accept
or decline the presidency of Washburp.
1 have notified my Cheyenne congrega-
tion that I am going to resign. That
much is settled. / will consider it a
great honor to be connected with Wash
burn. like the spirit of the school and
1 deeply admire DR.. Fisk, DR.. Plass,
and all the other able instructors and
workers in the interests of the college.
1t will be a great sorrow to me if
feel obliged to decline to come here
The feeling of the Washburn trustees
and professors is one of great hope
They believe that DIR. Gates will accept
the offer made by Washburn.
DR. Gates was asked today to state
the reason for further delay in an
nouncing his decision. Il want time to
think it over,' said DR.. Gates. Il also
have a number of letters out to which
I expect answers, which may influence
me- There is no pressing need for an
instant decision. No one can be more
anxious to have the matter decided
than / am"
Mr. and Mrs. Gates will leave at $40
this evening for Cheyenne Mr.. Gates
expects to continue preaching at Chey-
enne for some time.
Speaking of the report that the trus-
tees of the college were dissatisfied
with DR.. Gates action in neglecting to
write to them for two or three weeks
after the presidency had been rendered
him, DR.. Gates said:
Il do not blame the trustees for feel
ing that they should have had an an
swer to their letters. However. 1 ex-
planned the reason for my seeming neg
lect to the trustees at their meeting
yesterday afternoon, and they passed a
resolution fully exonerating me from all
blame for the occurrence. Circumstance
prevented my communica ting with the
trustees, and 1 know that the trustees
are fully satisfied that 1 had no inten-
tion of playing fast and loose with
Them
DIR. GATES TO STUDENTS.
Washburn chapel was crowded this
morning with students and outsiders to
hear the informal address which DR..
Gates delivered The president-elect of
Washburn certainly made a very favor
able impression with the large audi
ence-
special programme was given, con-
siSting of music by a mixed quartette
and a ladies' sextette. The quartette
was composed of Misses Wood and
Morton and Messrs. Sutton and Allen
Inc Sextette was composed OF MISSES
Morton Wood, Davies, Day. Hemming,
and Greenwood. The Rev D. M. Fisk
pronounced the invocation. Acting
President D. Y. McEachron presided
over the exercises
When DIR. Gates entered the audi
torium, escorted by DR.. Fisk, he was
greeted with nearly applause
DR.. Gates, in opening his address,
which was about 80 minutes in length,
apologized for the husky condition of
his voice. due to a bad cold. Il did
not catch the cold in Kansas" said DR..
Gates. L don't believe you have any
cold here
Continuing, DR.. Gates said: 1.-The few
words l shall speak shall he entirely
informal. 1 wish I could say the words
that are in my heart. If there is any
delay in speaking those words 1 as
sure you it has not been my fault. But
there is necessity of still further delay.
There is even possibility that 1 must
say no. My answer will hinge the
contingency which is we'll known to
you 1t drove me away from Iowa
do not want it to drive me away from
Kansas.
L believe this kind of work to be
mine 1 love it above all positions.
There is nothing like college work.
There is nothing to equal it in politi-
cal place this side of the Mississippi.
Il would be dull and unresponsive if
did not see that the action of the truS-
tees in offering this position at
faculty and students What could
man do if he should meet with the at
titude of distrust on the part of the
faculty and students? / know that the
students of a college can think of more
unique and picturesque ways of show
ing their disapproval of things than
any other class of people on earth. But
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