Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-28
Board Has Majority Present.

SeN euteeu of the tUenty-four members
of the board of trustees were present at
the meeting. and the resignation of the
president was formally accepted. DR. Cor
don's resignation viii take effect June 20
next and he will be granted leave of alb
senc" till that time, his furlough begin
ming January l. The temporary president
of the college meanwhile will be Dean
Frederick d. Fairfield. who has acted as
president at intervals before.
1t viii be remembered that the outbreak
at the university which led TO Dr. Cor
don's resignation dates hack several weeks.
There wss a riot in the chapel one morn
ing when Dr. Gordon appeared attended
by whistles. cat-caIls and shouting Books
were thrown also, and 1J0 OF the students
marched out of the building as sign of
protest The regulations of the university
do not permit the suspension or dismissal
Of a student without the consent of the
deans. This was rot granted and DR. Cor
don said that, failing to receive the sup
port OF the board OF trustees in maintain
Ing discipline, he would be forced TO leave
the school.
TIE punishment of the students who par
ticipated in the demonstration was a rep
rlnand without any suspensions.
DR.. Gordon's Letter of Resignation.
The letter of resignation. dated December
II. which Dr. Gordon addressed to the
board was as follows:
I'm 1908 ! accepted, at your hands. the
presidency of Howard University and en-
tered upon the discharge of my duties
with firm purpose OF advancing. so far as
in my power lay, the best interests OF the
institution. In May, 1905 a committee OF
the trustees was appointed, with Dr. Gal
laudet as chairman. 10 investigate the con
dItlons of the university Up 10 the pres
ent time said committee has filed no re-
port. On the Sth of December, 1905. at
the regular chapel service there was great
disorder; the students indUlging in riotous
demonstrations and fUSnltipp rem he nd
cries directed toward the president Feel
Ing that the best interests of the uniyer-
sity could only be preserved by the exer-
else OF such discipline as would insure re-
spect to the officers having charge OF the
same called the attention of the deans of
the academic department to what has
occurred and recommended that the stu
gents engaged therein as instigators should
De punished by suspension.
The deans did not see fit to sustain me
IN the position taken and instead of sus-
pension recommended a reprimand which I
do not deem adequate Since the meeting of
the Deans l have received information that
Induces me to believe that while nv con-
quot as president is not disapproyed by the
special committee of trustees although they
are iu4y informed OF the disorders that
have taken place. they are not inclined to
sustain me III enforcing the discipline pro-
posed by me as cure for the recent de-
monstratiOn and which | believe absolutely
necessary. Believing that the best good OF
the university can only be preserved by the
exercise of such discipline as will insure
the proper working of the departments
and respect on the part of the students
for those in authority. and feeling that in
this desire | have not the support Of the
deans OF the academic departments and
fearing l have not the support of the tr,Is-
tees, without which l am powerless, l feel
constrained TO tender my resignation to
take effect at your pleasure"
This letter was signed John Gordon
president. "