New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-06
VASSAR TROUBLE DENIED
Retirement Not Due to Eric.
tion. Says DR.. Taylor.
ALUMNE WANT A VOICE
Miss Julia G. Lathrop and Dean
Ida Shaw King Mentioned
for the Presidency.
rBy telegraph TO The Tribune.

IS eleE ldDil 10 ne FlbuUe.
Poughkeepsie. y. Y, March DIR.
James NJ. TAYLOR, president OF Vassar
College. i'm an interview with the CORE
spondent of The Tribune. explained in
detail to-day the cause of his recent res
ignation. He said that he had told the
trustees that he would like 10 retain his
post until February. 1914 unless in the
mean time they chose to install his sue
cessor Dr. Taylor added that he had no
intention Of leaving Vassar this June, as
had been reported. When finally he did
lay down his work. he declared. he want
ed to go abroad FOR rest. and probably
would live for some time in Italy.
1T is almost impossible to rest I'm this
country" said Dr. Taylor. In a jocose
manner. one has to go abroad for that
purpose"
When asked If lac knew anything about
move on the part Of the alumne to
share in appointing his successor. the
president said he had heard OF no SUCH
action. From other sources. however. II
was learned yesterday that definite
movement was Oh foot which would
eventually result in petition to the trus-
tees requesting that the a.umn# be heard
in the matter Of selecting a new presi-
dent. Among the candidates suggested
by alumnp are Miss Julia G. Lathrop
mead of the federal Chidren's Bureau, IN
Washington, who is at present one OF
the board OF trustees or the college. She
was graduated from Vassar in 1880. An
other person mentioned by alumne is
Dean Ida Shaw King. of Brown Uni
versity.
Averse TO Waiting Until He Is Seventy
Speaking Of his decision to resign DR..
: Taylor said:
1t was brought about by no friction.
The reports TO that effect are fiction.
decided last summer 10 retire from the
presidency II was decided after long
deliberation I am now sixty-fve years
old and feel / should have a rest There
was another element To be considered
also. TWO years from now the college
will celebrate It's nftieth anniversary. II
! remained at the head OF the college until
theu IL would mean that probably would
have To stay longer. In other words. in
stead Of being able 10 retire at sixty-iive.
II resigned at the time Of the fiftieth
anniversary. which will bc an occasion OF
great rejoicing. IL might look as II !
wanted 10 claim a large share OF atten-
ton ~ that event All those things were
considered and ! decided To hand In my
resignation AZ the time ! did / did not
suggest To- the trustees that ! wanted 10
leave IN June. There are at present some
problems confronting the college. such
a. appointing wardens FOR the different
halls. which would make IL unwise "a
change horses in midstream. For that
reason ] suggested next February a. the
time when il would be best TO let me 20
tire"
Dr TAYLOR said a committee had been
appointed to- ash him to reconsider. When
kcd II there was a possibility OF such
action on his part. he said that persons
who knew him also knew that his decision
20 resign would not be- withdrawn
Persistent reports that he had been
forced to ign because of friction IN the
college. Dr. TAYLOR declared, had even
caused enc Of tho trustees At distance
to communicate with him 90 know II II
We're really true.
II have also been reported as going to
Italy as ambassador. he added. When !
20 10 Italy IL viii be 10 escape pressing
duties, not 10 look for them.
other reports that the students al Vas
sar-three-quarters OF them-wcre social
lists or sunraSists President Taylor add
ed. had been circulated throughout the
country and had resulted iu humorous ~
we'll a. serious appe ais being made to MN
H. learn II such Were the case.