The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-02
PROBE is URGED
Washburn Faculty Adopts ResO.
IutiOns-Up to Trustees.
Latter VIII Stand Behind
WOmer, Is the Forecast.

RESOLVED: That the affairs OF
Washburn college be investigated;
That the personnel of the investi-
eating committee and the authority of
the same be left to a joint conference
OF alumni, faculty and the board of
trustees.
The foregoing resolution, adopted
this morning at a meeting of the
Washburn faculty, was to be present
ed at the annual meeting of the board
of trustees of the college late this
afternoon and was expected to pre-
cipitated a heated discussion. A
strong minority opposed the resolu-
ton at the faculty meeting.
The rumor still persisted prior to
the meeting that the resignation of
President r. P. Womer would be pre-
sented to the trustees, but this report
could not be confirmed by faculty
members or trustees and President
Womer himself refused to discuss the
matter in advance.
1t was understood, however, that if
Womer should offer his resignation to
the trustees, it would not be accepted.
The resignation of another member
Of the Washburn faculty, Prof. Horace
Gunthorpe, of the zoology depart
ment. was rumored on the campus
today, When questioned, Professor
Gunthorpe denied he had resigned,
but would not say that he did not
intend to do so.
"I am very sure that all the trus-
tees of the college would refuse to ac-
cept President Womer's resignation" "
a trustee said this morning. I'VE hope
that he will not offer TO resign"
President Womer has not an
nounced his intended course of action.
1t has been an insistent rumor that he
would tender his resignation at to-
days meeting, as the final outcome
of the bitter anonymous attack last
week upon his leadership, and as a
,fe-{,-r
tive difficulty of the college.
The proposal to make Womer nom
inally president of the college, with
the duties of financial secretary, with
the direct administrative affairs in the
| hands of certain selected faculty
memb bers, will not be approved by the
board of trustees, it is emphatically
stated by members of that body. The
above suggestion to work out the ad-
ministrative problem was made by a
committee of twelve members of the
] faculty. including a number of men,
| bers who have been strongly in sup
port of the president in the contro-
! versy. The committee is composed OF
Dean D. L. McEachron. vice -presideni
of the colleges DIR. D. NJ. Fisk, Prof
W. A. Harshbarger. Miss Charlotte
Leavitt, Miss Jessie Dean. Miss Sarah
]. E. Hollingsworth. Prof. Thomas E
Virgins, Prof. Ralph E. Scammell and
Prof. w. C. Wheeler.
Professor Virgins Resigns.
Professor Virgins. instructor ir
journalism, presented his resignation
Tuesday night after the close of the
meeting of the faculty committee.
My resignation is sent as a protes
against the heedlessness of the board
of trustees" Virgins said in his state
ment of resignation. mo possible
solution of the Washburn troubles i
possible so long as the trustees insis
on smoothing over of the surface IL
a shortsighted attempt to sacrifice al
for the sake of the financial situation
however serious it may be-"
In closing his statement Professo,
Virgins said:
MY resignation is meant to be 1
protest against the almost callous in
difference of the trustees to the un
: bearable teaching conditions at Wash
burn