XXXVI11 CHARLES OTIS WHITMAN 
by Professor Whitman, that the places of the ‘former trustees’ 
were taken by well-known naturalists, and that the progress of 
the Laboratory was not seriously interrupted even by so serious 
a controversy, constitute a sufficient vindication for Whitman. 
This struggle was unfortunately necessary to establish the 
national, representative and democratic character of the institu- 
tion, a character that grows with the years and which commands 
the loyalty and devotion of the present members, both of the 
Corporation and of the board of trustees. 
Once again it was necessary for Whitman to take a firm stand 
to maintain the fundamental ideals of organization of the Labor- 
atory. ‘This was when the newly organized Carnegie Institution 
of Washington offered in 1902 to take the Laboratory as a depart- 
ment. This would have permanently solved the difficult prob- 
lem of maintenance, but Whitman was convinced that it would 
destroy the representative democratic character of the institu- 
tion, although every possible concession to the existing form of 
organization was generously offered by the Carnegie Institution. 
In this opinion he stood nearly alone, but none the less firmly, 
and it was his insistence that finally brought about a delay of the 
decision with an annual grant of $10,000 a year for a period of 
three years (1903-1905) from the Carnegie Institution in the 
form of a subscription to twenty work rooms. At the end of 
this period a very notable petition signed not only by all members 
of the laboratory, but also by a large number of representative 
naturalists, for the continuation of the temporary arrangement 
was not granted by the trustees of the Carnegie Institution, and 
the original proposal lapsed. The independence of the Labora- 
tory had been maintained, but it was apparently as far from a 
stable basis of financial support as ever. 
Following this, Whitman gradually withdrew from active par- 
ticipation in the management of the Laboratory, although he 
retained the title of Director until 1908. However, he no longer 
attended meetings, and was even absent from the Laboratory 
for two successive seasons, 1904 and 1905. The house which 
he had occupied at Woods Hole burned down in the winter of 1905- 
1906; and, fearing that this would make his return impossible 
