The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-04-28
Trustees May Not Accept
Resignation Unless O. w
u. Head Insists.
MEMBERS OF BOARD
EXPRESS REGRET
No Consideration Given TO QueS-
ton of Successor-ReasOns
for Action Set Forth.

whether or not the trustees Of the
George Washington University accept
the resignation Of President Charles
". Needham-and there is strong rea-
son 10 believe they viii not accept
unless he insists upon it-they viii not
permit him 10 leave the institution
until the close OF the present scholas-
tic year
The resignation Of the president
presented al a meeting Of the board
yesterday took the trustees completely
by surprise and none OF them Is today
prepared to say what action will be
taken or when the matter will be con-
sidered II was agreed that nothing
should be said about il until Monday,
when a meeting to consider the subject
had been called
The premature announcement made
this morning may hurry anal decision
however. and IL was thought barely
possible that some discussion OF II
would be had at a meeting This after
non TO consider another subject
Trustees Are Silent
whatever action is taken. the mem
bers of the board individually decline
to discuss the situation today and in
innate that they have been taken 50
completely by surprise that they nave
not vet come TO a definite understand
ing Of what can be done to conserve
hest the interests OF the university
That the resignation from the eNecu-
tive chair Of the university by Dr- Need
ham is a distinct loss 10 the university
and 70 the community az large is tAe
unanimous opinion OF sucl OF the Ir-ls-
tees as could be persuaded 10 discuss
that phase OF the situation tnlS morning
Former COmmissi0ner H b J. Macfar-
land, chairman Of the board, said ne te-L
sure he voiced the sentiments Of al
ms colleagues in declaring they nae
always been 1u complete sympathy win
Dr. Needham-s plans for the upDullllTl5
Of the institution and his admlnistra-
rion Of its affairs, and that they re-
Earded IL as a severe blow 20 the uni
Tersity 10 lose his services at this time
Surprise to DI. Harlan.
Hrv 7fsc-s=s--l -- she probable a1c-
cessor Of Dr. NeeGham IS regarded as
premature The question has EOI been
given the slightest consideration by
The trustees. The name OF Jr- Richard
d Harlan has been used IN IEtS con
Derrio1 without authority Of Br- Harlan
and entirely unauthorized by any one
connected with the university Ale urSt
5ntlmatlon Lr- 1aTid1 hdd - -.--.-;J,,; ~,
Needham had presented ms fes-Si-a1io
was newspaper announcer leLlt-
Dr. Needham declined TO say any
thing further this morning regarding
the severance of his connection WIN
the university, beyond the giving Out
for publication OF his letter to the
hoard of trustees The trustees were
assembled at a special meeting yes
tarday afternoon 10 consider the re
port Of d committee on matter OF
routine which has been under con-
sideTaLiOn-
The committee was not ready to re-
mort. and when this announcement
had been made Dr. Neednam re
uuested permission TO road a letter TO
the board The permission accorded
he read his letter OF resignation me
president left the board room lmme-
diately on concluding the reading
Board Unprepared-
The board was absolutely unpre-
pared, and not a word was spoken
until tie doors closed behind Dr.
Needham- Then there was brief dis
cussion- and agreement was reached
that the matter should go over until
Monday. when special meeting
would be held Until Jhat time notn-
ing would be said regarding H. and
no statement would be made public
Dr. Needham requests the board 10
accept his resignation In oTdeT lnaL
some new man, who is bound by no
ure5rsfice and is thoroughly equipped
work Of building up the institution,
can take charge His letter which
briefly summarizes his term OF serv-
ice, follows
Letter OF Resignation
Gentlemen
AFTER eight years Of service as pres
ident I offer my resignation Of this
high Office This I do from a keen sense
Continued on Eleventh Page.)