Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-02-04
PRES. JOHN M. THOMAS RESIGNS;
WILL Be HEAD OF PENN STATE COLLEGE
News of Executives Action Comes Complete Surprise to Faculty
and Students

At Ais o'clock Friday afternoon a
bulletin posted in the window Of the
Register office announced the resigna-
ton of President John M. Thomas of
Middlebury College. The news pread
like wild fire and the editor wis be-
sieged with requests from faculty and
students alike for more information.
The Associated Press office in Boston
had telephoned the editor, who is heir
local correspondent, for these same
particulars for which Middlebury raw
ed. The terse note that had been
flashed with right of way privileges
'over the eastern circuits of that the
greatest of news gathering agencieswas
a general surprise. "Dr. John MArtin
Thomas, president of Middlebury Col
lege in Mddlebury, Vermont, ance
1908, has resigned that position ami his
resignation has been accepted, it was
announced today by trustees of the
institution" The doctor would nd re-
turn from New York until Sunda, so
no particulars were available Until
then
Doctor Collins Expresses Surprise
So completely unexpected wal the
news that DR.. E. w. Collins, PIT bvost
of the College, and its acting head in
the absence of the president, cam. into
the Register office a few momentslafter
the bulletin had been posted AMI an
grily queried the authority for tie no.
tice, When informed, his confidence
in the reliability of the Associated
Press satisfied him of the probability
of what he with great difficulty could
believe.
1t was not until Saturday morning
when the daily papers arrived that
anything definite could be learred of
the reasons of the doctors action. Miss
Muriel Vittum had told the Re,ister
Friday evening that Mr.. Thomas had
planned to confer with the trustees of
another institution but would say no
more Mrs. Thomas herself said that
she could say nothing definite lbout
her husbands plans. Students and
professors formed in little groups on
the streets and campus in discussing
the various angles of their leaders ac-
ton. The opinions varied from one
extreme to another. Recent visits to
Middlebury of different men of promi-
nence in the. collegiate and political
worlds were all reviewed in an effort
to find a reasonable cause for the re-
signation The gamut was run from
the presidency of Yale to a position
of great responsibility in Washington.
May Leave in April
President Thomas told the Register
desire to go to Pennsylvania in April
if possible so that he might have the
advantage of Cquaintanoeshlp with
students and faculty prior to the be-
ginning of the September term. His
successor here would also appreciate a
similar opportunity of experience be-
fore the opening of the new scholastic
year At all events he will go to
Penn State not later than July |.
No other reason than that of greater
President Thomas for his resignation.
He said that he felt very keen regret
in leaving Middebury and the state
of Vermont He had studied here at
college, he had married here and three
of his children had been born here, all
reasons for his attachment to the vii
lage as his hometown" The people
had been kind to him, he said, and he
wished it published that he deeply ap-
preciated all that they had done to
assist him in the better fulillment Of
the duties of his office.
The trustees have appointed the fol-
lowing committee to secure a new
president for Middlebury: DR. James
L. Barton of New York, chairman,
who is secretary Of the American Board
of Commissioners for Foreign Missions,
and a graduate of the class of 81;
James M. Clifford, prominent New
York attorney, class of II; Frank c.
Partridge of Proctor, ex-'Sl; Hall P.
Mccullough of North Bennington, a
lawyer of prominence practising i'll
New York; Percival Wilds of New
York, 02; and Sanford H. Lane Of the
American Bank Note Company, New
York. 'O2.
The life of President Thomas is rela-
lively well known to readers of the
Register. That and his accomplish
ments at Middlebury can be deferred
to form another chapter for future re-