, 1904-04-07
LETTER
FROM DR.. ELMER e. sLoSSON &C.
COMPLAINING RESIGNATION
As MEMBER OF FACULTY.
Takes That Occasion To Make Few
Remarks Regarding Relations With
Trustees, and Pays Them High
compliment-Was Elected as I'm
known and Reelected.

The following characteristic letter
Hebard. secretary of the board of trus-
tees of the University of Wyoming,
accompanying his resignation as pro-
fessor of chemistry in the university
was read at the meeting of the eXecu'
tive committee of the board Tuesday
afternoon:
Dear Ma'lam.-I herewith tender to
the board of trustees my resignation
as professor of chemistry in the Uni
versity Of Wyoming.
1t is only because | think in my new
work there are o opportunities for
advancement that l take this step, and
| wish to thank the board for their
kind and generous treatment of me.
Since there are o on the board no
members who were there when I was
elected, | take this occasion to make
a few statements in regard to my re-
lation to the trustees of the university.
| do this because we have so many
complaints n charges of tyranny on
the part of governing bodies in other
c'u'otioial liSiiNulioho olu vi iilNSl
ference with the personal freedom of
instructors.
1t is nearly thirteen years since |
sent in an application for the posi-
ton of assistant chemist of the uni
versity, accompanied with a statement
of my work and a few testimonials.
| was without pull or political infu-
a-oD. orl ,,Dtbi,r u,o, lrDurp ,f ~
religious or party preferences, yet a
few weeks later. hen sitting i'll a
tent in a fossil quarry in the Great
American desert, | received news of
appointment. Since that time | have
been reelected each year and my sal
airy has been raised four times with
out any request or effort on my part.
| have never found it necessary to do
any lobbying for the interests of my
self or Of my departing: :, nor have
I eve found it necessary to ingrati-
ate myself with any member Of the
board or to cultivate his acquaintance
for diplomatic purposes. I have nev-
er had to make a personal request of
the board except for the present leave
of absence.
The department of chemistry when
l came occupied one basement room
and there was less apparatus than is
now supplied to one of the students.
Now there are eight well equipped
Yet l have never had an ap-
preparation refused or cut down with
out my previous consent and approval.
All needed means have been granted
on plain statement of what they were,
and my plans for the development of
the department have never been in
terfered with. l have never receiv-
ed a hint or suggestion as to where it
would be advisable to purchase sup
plies or within I should hire
assistants. There has never
been an attempt at dictation as to the
choice of textbooks or methods of in
struction. In voting IN matters OF dis
cipline I have V taken the views
Of the trustees into consideration in
any way.
have held some unconventional
and radical views on social. political
and religious questions and l have ex-
pressed them through the medium OF
the press, the pulpit and the platform
in as forcible language as l could con-
trive, and it has we been limited
to me by any member of the board that
a modification in my opinions or more
in expressing them would be
desirable.
l wish especially to express my graf
itude to you personally as secretary
of the board for it is largely through
tactfulness my relations with the
board have been so pleasant and if 1t
had not been for frequent calls On your
and efficiency l should have
made many more mistakes than
have. Yours respectfully
E. E. SLOSSON.