Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-17
NOT A SOCIALIST.
DIR. Ely Denies the Truth of the
Charges Brought Against Him.

There has been some public attention di-
rccted toward the charges brought against
Or. Richard u. Ely of the University of
Wisconsin. TO the effect that he is q social
list. On Monday next, at Madison, Wis, an
investigation win be begun into the truth
of these charges by Superintendent Wells #
the state public schools. In this connection
Mr. Carroll ID. Wright, tie commissioner of
labor, under date. of August IL, has written
a letter TO DR.. Ely, in which he states that
i thoroughly believe that If your teachings
through your books and lectures have pro-
dGced discomfort among the workingmen
and are in any degree responsible for strikes
and violence. the whole pulpit of the coun-
try and civilization can be held equally re-
sions ible." He adds that Prof Ely has
taught equity, love and justice as the guild
ing features not only in the social order but
II the Industrial order. In the opinion of
Mr. Wright, If these lead to socialism and
anarchy, all ethical teaching and all reIis--
icus teaching ought TO be abolished at once
On tuesday last at Chautauqua, N Y a
statement prepared by DIR. Ely bearing
on this matter was read by Bishop Vincent
in the amphitheater In this statement DIR.
Ely says that he is charged with not only
believing in strikes and boycotts, but has
justified and encouraged them in having
given counsel and assistance to striking
printers in the city of Madison, Wis. and
having entertained a walking delegate AT
his house while the said delegate was man
aging the strike. He states that ii has been
further alleged that he demanded that n
printing office which was doing some print
ing for a society, of which he was secre-
tary should become a union office and that
finally he withdrew the printing when his
demands were rot acceded TO. 1t is fur
ther alleged, according to Dr. Ely, that his
opinions as expressed in his books are So
cialistic and anarchistic, affording a SEEM
ing Justification to attacks upon life and
property.
Denies the Charges.
DIR. Ely states that these are grave
charges. and if they are true that they I'M
questionably unfit him to occupy a respon-
sible position as an instructor of youth in
a great university. Taking up the series
of charges DIR. Ely denies each and every
one in each and every particular and de-
fies the author to prove one statement that
he has made. He adds that the man who
makes the charges against him lis well
known to his neiShbors politician of
the meanest sort, who, too small to ap-
preciate the most important trust ever COM
mitted to him. betrayed it in his insensate
love of notoriety."
Prof. Ely goes on to say that as to his
views he has nothing to retract. He may
have modified his opinions for, he adds only
fools never change, and as the years have
gone on he says that he has shared the
common faith and become on the whole
more conservative, but in the main he adds
the views he now holds he has held for
years. Instead of favoring strikes and boy
colts he has advised workingmen not to
strike, and urged upon employers a concili-
atory policy. AS to trade unions. he holds
that their province must be limited one
AS to socialism, he says that he is not a
socialist; ION the contrary, l have thought
that agriculture offered insuperable OBJ
stacles to it's proposed organization of in
dustry and 1 have maintained that even
could socialism be organized and put I'm
operation it would stop progress and overs
throw our civilization" He says that he
has always exposed and attacked anarchy.
urged wage-earning people to shun all con-
nection with It, and declares that it is of
hell, and its slightest touch brings disaster
to them and all others.
In conclusion, DR.. Ely enumerates the
names of some of those who have studied
under him as refutation of the charge
that the influence Of his teachings have
made his students socialists and anarchists.