The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-02-26
Statement Made That Earl
ham Faculty Has Not Con-
sidered Action Because
Professor Voted "Wet."
VETERAN INSTRUCTOR
CAUSED A SENSATION
While a Prohibitionist He Op-
posed Local Option and
A Storm of DisapprovaI
Among Quakers Resulted.

That the board Of trustees of Earl
ham college has considered requesting
the resignation of William H. True
blood, head of the department of liter
ature, because of his attitude upon the
local option question, was denied by 4
member Of the board today. Greatly
to the surprise of the board of trustees
and the other members of the college
faculty, Prof. Trueblood was not an ad
vocate Of local option and it is believ-
ed that at the recent election in
Wayne county he voted against it. He
Is known as free thinker and pre-
vious to the election. stated his objec-
tion to local option in way that was
not to be misconstrued.
Meets Disapproval.
It is known positively that the act
ion of Prof. Trueblood was greeted by
expressions of disapproval Members
of the college faculty were not the only
ones surprised The constituency of
the institution which is composed
mainly of members of the Friends
church. was shocked and demonstrated
by letters. It is declared that pro-
tests were received by members of the
board of trustees and others from all
sections Of the country.
p
Subject Of Comment.
The professors stand was the sub
ject for comment throughout the city.
Members of churches other than the
Friends were surprised to such an ex-
tent that the subject was one of gen.
eral comment. 1t was openly assert.
ed that for college professor to ally
himself against the subject of temper
ance as represented by local option,
was grave mistake But Prof. True
blood is a temperance man, and is
known as such. He opposed local op-
tion, because he did not believe that
was the proper way to promote the
temperance cause, to gain the best re-
suits. He was talked to by members
of the board of trustees of Earlham
and other Friends, but their arguments
did not alter his position on the sub
feet In the least.
A Current Report.
The report has been current for
bome time. that the resignation OF Prof
Trueblood had been asked for. or that
1t had been intimated to him 1t would
be accepted. That the matter has
been considered in any way affecting
his continuance with the college was
denied by the trustee. I'VE regret
that he did not see the same way we
did, but IL there has been anything
buggested as to his resignation, have
not heard OF 1t. l believe am In
position such that I would know il
the proposition were considered" re-
marked the trustee.
Truebiood Popular.
There is no member of the Earlham
college faculty more endeared to the
pupils who have studied under him
than Prof w. N. Trueblood. The
storm that was raised because he saw
Fit to oppose local option would have
been as but gentle summer zehyr
compared to a Kansas cyclone had the
college authorities seen fit to ask his
fesigna.io The conscientiousness
pf the man never has been doubted.
His friends know that if he opposes a
subject he does so from his own con-
FICTION that 1t is not right, as he sees
It. It has been this characteristic Of
bincerity that has brought to him the
love Of those who have been his pupils
His classes always are the largest at
the college He is a keen judge of
the ability OF a student and his fair
mindedness Is unquestioned. He is
bne Of the Oldest members of the fac
blty and has done as much or more to-
ward upholding the standards OF the
institution as any man connected with
1t In any department. The plodding
student looks upon him as friend and
the star" of the classroom always re-
members there is planet of far great
er magnitude, when in the recitation
room.
It 10 believed by some OF the profes-
bor'S friends that he may have erred
IN Judgment on the local option ques-
tion, but censure is known to be unde-
berved. The statement by the trustee
that there is no prospect of any inter-
tuption Of Prof Trueblood's connec-
lion with Earlham. will be greeted
With JOY by those who know him best.
WAS STRICKEN 0lIT