The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-04-10
DR.. THOMAS REsENrs ATTACK
President of Mddlebury Replies to
Anonymous Criticism.

hSlClIlHS W al dluuN lNOuS COHl-
munlcation appearing in a Burlington
newspaper and purporting to have
been written by a Middlebury resident
in which the statement was made that
President Thomas of Middlebury col
lege would have accepted the commits
sionership of education, if he could
have gotten $4,000 a year, Dr. Thomas
makes a statement in part as follows.
81 did not suggest $4,000 or any 9th
er amount as salary as commission
er of education. In my negotiations
with the board of education no fig
ures were mentioned on either side.
81 regret that my name was made
public in this connection, but since
have been publicly accused OF mer-
cenary motives, it is only fair to me
that the public be given an opportuni-
ty to read in full the letter in which
declined the commissionership.
The letter follows.
November G. 1915
Hon. Frank II. Brooks,
st. Johnsbury, Vermont
My Dear Mr. Brooks;
The proposition made to me in be-
half of the State board of education in
our interview some weeks ago has
been much on my mind and have
tried to give to it the careful and con
scientious consideration which it de-
| serves. | think can now foresee
what my final decision will be, no mat
ter how long | think of it nor what
further considerations may be ad-
vanced, and owe it to your board not
to delay my reply longer
My judgment is that | can not ac-
cept the position and that in the end
| | can best serve the State of Vermont
! by remaining in Middlebury College
I trust | appreciate the opportunities
afforded by the commissionership and
the far.reaching possibilities of the
| position. The needs of the 10000
| children of Vermont, the evils from
| which they are suffering from lack OF
| efficient administration of their school
| system, and the benefits which might
come to them through high.minded
| purpose and enkindling inspiration in
| State leadership in education, impress
| me most deeply. | know perfectly well
that new enthusiasm could 20 forth
from the position you hold before me
that would reach every last hamlet in
/ ,,.tst 60 L.,
and nobler life, and that in few
| years through its schools the State il
| self could be brought to a higher Level
both In economic efficiency and in
| moral welfare. | am convinced thai
radical change is necessary to bring
about harmony and unity OF effort, as
well as to usher in large-minded en-
| deavor for improvement, free from
petty jealousies and personal politics
With such feelings as to the needs
and possibilities. how can put the re
| sponsibility aside? A little over sever
| years ago began my work for Mid
! dlebury College. | found il after los
| years still feeble, weak in resources
meagre in curriculum, its alumni pro
nouncing its very name with apology
I brought to it no experience and little
wisdom, but a great pride in the tradi
tion of the college as had learned II
when a child, and an unshakable con
yiction that the true and rightlul po
sition of Middlebury College is along
side Dartmouth and Williams, Am
herst and Bowdoin, as strong New
England college, one OF those honor
able institutions destined to maintain
the tradition of Puritan worth for tn,
saving of the American nation.
That felt my weakness before tn,
great work of bringing the college t
her own, and still feel it, you can wei
imagine. But ! can not deny the fac
that a substantial beginning has beer
made. In these seven years the re
sources of the college have bee
doubled, The campus of 80 acres wit
five buildings has grown to 144, wit
l3. The faculty has trebled and tn
student body increased 80 per cent
Better than ALL there is a new spiri
of faith and courage and the old nam
which used to he spoken hesitatingl
now rings out with challenge. TIL
college Is on its way to its hstori
, level, to take its place once NOR
among the leaders in the higher edl
| catona life of America.
. ] can not deny that those who mus
! continue this work, if it is to be cor
, | tinued. look to me to proceed with tn
task. My own heart and conscienc
l have been so thoroughly imbued wit
| the spirit and enthusiasm of this wor
that can not bring myself to tram
E fer of sphere. know 1t would still h
, for Vermont my ultimate aim her
2 but providence has laid upon me tn
work for Vermont, and it seems to m
+ that can not do better than lay m
{ bones beneath larger and bette
v Middlebury College, the door of hoI
r and opportunity for Nermonts bo,
! and girls, and that in bringing 1t to Il
n best estate can is the highest servit
+ can render to the State. This wol
d can be done only by one to the mani
l. born, while the other can be accol
S plished without the peculiar attac
+ ments of association which have stot
il me in such good stead here.
n Faithfully yours,
John NJ. Thomas
Z The larger your ambition,