The Washington herald., 1910-04-29
DR.. NEEDHAM ANNOUNCES
REASONS FOR RETIRING

IN MS statement or resignation. PreSl-
dent Needham said.
After esht years Of serhcc as president, I offer
my resignation Of this high ctioe. This Do from
keen ssnse o; personal loyalty 10 the institution
Difficulties have ARISEN which IN my Own opinion
and In the opinion q some ~ nay friends In whom
have the greatest confidence can ouly b. solved
by d n-su coming % this Jfice who CAL undertake
the task free from ell 5ouCCtiOn with the past. II
therefore becomes ny duty 20 make clear the way
for The Nppointr.en; q sch man. I stated az
the time I accepted this position that ny task
would be 70 lay the foundations and complete the
organization q a university doing work % uni
versity gTade in ~ The departments q higher
learning; that vhn the foundations Of such an
organization were cu1lple.-d would step aside and
give The place 90 man SPECIALLY trained for such
Administrative work.
Regret TO Needham.
L Is matter q slncere regret TO ne that an
no, able 70 complete my part q the Work.
When Ee failed 70 obtain eHdOWnertS for He
larger university. The lRsSagr a the bill giving the
Disr.t the benefit q the Morrill, acts and de-isnst-
ing this university the agency 70 administer
those funds foT tho District was fixed il ny mind
a. fair oonsgmmaJion Il nv plans But this
legislation Is delayed and ] an constrained %
conclude my work this year.
The period during which I have served as prosi-
dent has been one the Ike a which can never. I
beero, occur again IN the life q the university
Il has hen 4 time during which the unworthy has
constitution. and the pan which Il y destined %
play IN The future Of thA the leading ERtion Of
the world We have carefully studied and modified
lie charter % give wider representation in SIS
ascmtnt; have enlarged the scope q is work
along and toward University ideals; have expert
mgnted and aSc.Tuined the educational needs Of the
District.
IN the opinion q EonN w have failed in the
opinion q Others, among whom believe I may
include ever member ot the board and myself We
have srcceeded In the highest sense. At the veTy
moment when 10 may appear that the university IS
almost uprUotnd- il IL. ] believe, taking deeper
root in the minds and hearts q the people o.
the District and Of the nation.
The university viii live. because il IS founded
upon night principles. Avoiding the one
hand, the dangers which might arise 70 the
public from a university wholly maintained by the
national government Knd on the other dangers
ot 4 great university AZ the seat a the national
government endowed wholly from private means 20
propagate sectsrian. partisan. class ideas, the
George Washington University. protected in some
measure BY the great name 10 bears. holds the safe
middle ground on which alone complete academic
freedom az the seat Of national power may 20 pr.
served.
Through academic freedom Il may and viii be
come mighty instrument for UNFOLDING the great
fundamental principles q the repubic and in eI-
tending % the rrSt a the world those wise and
conservative and universal principles Of govern.
ment on which this nation is based
For Others Benefit.
This great function 1t nay perform. il viSeiy d.
rected. not only without injury 20 the other uni
rersitieS q the country, but 20 their beuedt, The
Work q the university a. the seat u government
should in a measure. supplement all other educa,
tional efforts b. opening this rich field Of research
10 all students who desire 20 come here and do
work under academic direction. II must not ever
attempt TO EIpplant OF weaken thu efforts OF work
Of other universities It's work must always be con-
structive and helpful 10 every other educational
endeavcr
We have been met BY opposition Lcs US learn
from IL how 20 build properly 80 that opposition
may be converted Into friendly cooperation. For the
present the WORK must be simply that Of caring for
the needs Of the District Whether wider and
greater responsibilities may be laid upon the uni
Versity must Be determined By. or conc as the re-
suit of, the public sentiment q the whole nation
The time Will como when such public Sentiment
viii exist and when such responsibilities may Do
laid upon the university.
rejoice to have had a share in this great work
] have stood at al times for the maintenance Of
the institution as true university for / hare felt
that once this idea was lost, all was lost. Thoao
whom have opposed have opposed from DO per
sonal motives. but beauso feared that their ideas
II allowed 20 gain headWny. might reduce the insti-
tuition 70 the level Of a college. and thus WORK 4
destruction Of the institution sc 4 university Mis-
takes Of Judgment mistakes Of fact and errors have
been made. undoubtedly have been made. but BE-
aeTe have made no mistake In my general posi-
uon-that tho institution sh0pld be elevated and
preserved as a true university under all circum-
Ttanccs-
Judged by Results.
The rarious board Of trustees with which have
been connected have stood Loyalty By this position
We shall all be Judged in the long run BY the
general results Of actions. and these acts will
ultimately be found 10 make for the general good
The purpose q the donors oS that great fund
which was destined to mako a university out Of the
old Columbian College. has besn fulfilled though
20 accomplish their general purpose their subsidiary
purposes have been temporarily dis-egarded. A
great and necessary institution has been preserved
IN the face Of obstacles otherwise insurmOuntable
Let posterity Judge whether we have dono right.
The time has arrived in the growth Of the
nation when the people q the whole country are
besinnlng 10 App@ee4ats The Nahonal Capital, and
its inSdmtonS We may confidently hope that IN
tho near future adequate support viii be given for
true university at the Capital. bearing the name
Ct Washington and having the form Of orgsniza-
tiou and the scope Of influence which he desired.
The work Of placing the institution on a firm
baGis. which viii make Il the model and pride Of
all a. institution Of higher learning, must be
undertaken and prosecuted with Untiring energy.
II has already been begun. and Is well upon the
way. That the board q trustees and its success
sorS will OHry this work % a successful Issue l
confidently believe. Ny hopes and efforts viii al
ways bo to aid il the accomplishment Of this great
f,ff,- -,