The morning journal-courier., 1908-11-05
ELIOT RESIGNS AS HEAD OF HARVARD President of University for Nearly Forty Years Will
 Step Out in May of
 Next Year,
LOWELL MAY SUCCEED HIM
Eliot Considered by Leaders of Euro pcan Thought as the Greatest American. Says Professor
 Munsterbers.

Boston, Nov, i,---Charles W, Eliot, for nearly forty years president of Har- yard university, has tcndered his re- sIgnation to take effect May 10, 1909. according to an announcement made today by the Harvard board of over- seers, The resignation has been ac- cepted
 Announcement of the resignation was made at the conclusion of q special meeting of the board of overseers held today The statement which was is- sued bearing on the subject said:
 At a meeting of the president and fellows of Harvard college held in Bos- ton, october 2s, 1908. the president pre- scented the following letter:
 "Gentlemen--T hereby resign the of- fee Of president of Harvard University. the resignation to take effect al your convenience. but not later than May l9 1909.
 
 with the other members of the corpora ton In common service to the univer- sity is one of the most precious priv. Ileges of his highly privileged office. For this association with fifteen friends who are dead and seven who are liv- ing, I shall always be profoundly grate- ful.
 "Congratulating you on your labors and satisfaction in the past, and on the sure prospect of greater labors and satisfactlons to come, am, with high respect,
 Your friend and servant,
 CHARLES w. ELIOT" October 10. 1908"
 "Whereupon 1t was voted that the presidents resignation he regretfully accepted to take effect May l9, 1909
 Continuing. the statement is to the effect that President Eliot came in from his home In Cambridge during the forenoon, and reached the business of. flee of the university on State street just after the meeting of the board ot overseers had dissolved He refused tt comment upon his action and referred all inquiries 10 the officers Of the llni- versity and of the board of overseers.
 It has heeu known among those 1T ] close touch with the university thu 1 lt had been President El!ots desire fo some time to relinqulsh the duties Q 1 his office, and to retire to private life l In fact, the possibility of such actior had been SO definite that some of th more prominent alumni had discusset | the question of successor. Among tho alumni mention has heel made of Prof A. Lawrence Lowell wht occupies the chair of science of gov crnment, and brother of Perciva Lowell, the astronomer, as the probable choice 10 fll the vacancy
 Election Of successor 10 Presiden l Eliot will engage tho attention Q l the governing boards during th l time that remains before the expiration of President Ellots term of service In accordance with the establlshe, procedure the election will be made b, l the corporation, and their choice wil | be communicated 10 the board of over seers for thcir consent on May lf President Eliot will complete fort, l years spent In the service of Harvard
 President Elints resignation came t | the corporation without previous no tice on his part and to the unanmou regret of the members of tho board After two weeks of conference tn resignation was accepted the boar having with the utmost difficulty, ar rived al the conclusion that prope regard for the presidents wishes TO 1 quircd them to relieve him of the ardu ous duties of his office
 Professor Hugo Munsterberg th well known psychologist and membe of the Harvard faculty said:
 Americans are hardly aware wha President Eliots name has meant { Europe, Certainly tho European masse know more about President Roosevelt but the leaders of European though have considered President Eliot fo years as tho greatest and most Import ant American. They fell that his wis dom and idealism, his strength an judgment were the deciding forces fo real progress in inc intellectual Tiff of this country The feeling of a
 rreparable loss. which has overhun us all to-day, will spread over th whole of western civilization"