The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1895-09-05
THE VICTIM
OF MONOPOLY.
Prof. E. W. Eemis, of the Chicago
University, Asked to Resign
On Account of His
Principles.
DOESN'T SUIT THE GOLDBUGS

His Views at Variance with Those Of
RockefelIer-who Founded the Institu-
tions-Devoted to the Interests of the
People and AntsgonistIc to Jobbery
and Trasts.
The CAUCASIAN has recently no.
ticed many references in the press
to certain gifts and endowments to
various large educational" institu-
tions by the millionaires of the
country. In every instance great
praise is lavished upon the givers
for their great and magnificent gen.
erosity and philanthropy.
We do not wish to attempt to take
away or doubt any credit or honor
that may be justly due to anybody
who has made such donations.
The power of money, however, is
great for good or evil in college or
church, as it may be used; and with
this statement we wish to submit an
account of a recent occurrence which
constitutes subject for much con-
sideration. Here is the occurrence:
CHICAGO, Aug. 17.--Edward w.
Bemis, Professor of Political Econ
omy in the Chicago University, sew
cred his relations with that institu-
ton last week. Prof. Bemis ire
signed" because his resignation was
desired. His scalp bangles at the
belt Of monopoly. Because he op-
posed the greed Of corporations, and
argued against
THE LAWLESSNESS OF TRUSTS,
his chair will be filled by another.
The issue raised by the case of
Prof. Bemis is already fruitful
topic in all the seats of learning.
There is crisis at hand among ed
ucators. 1t is the old story of capt.
tai agoinst labor, only now it has in
vaded the universities. The gold
bugs and monopolists are trying to
control the colleges. The case of
Prof. Ely, of the University of Wis
consin, is an illustration. He was
charged with being a Socialist be-
cause he wrote
| AGAINST THE PRESENT ORDER
of things. He was tried and vindi.
Gated. Prof, Bemis is not as ag.
gressive as Prof. Ely, though he
studied under him at Johns Hopkins
University.
Prof. Bemis is quiet man, per.
sistent, but not aggressive, and a
hard worker. He is recognized
among economists as one of the
wheel horses in the work of gather.
ing material for the revision Of the
principles of economic science or
inductive methods. He is not known
by any one as a crusader against es
tablished order. He believes thai
such natural monopolies as gas, wa
ter and street transportation shoulG
be owned and
OPERATED BY AND FOR THE PUBLIC
though he does not hold that the
change should come at once, or per
haps. ever universally.
The Chicago University was
founded and has been richly en-
dowed by John D. Rockefeller, wht
has given 50, 600. 900 to it. Rockefel
ler has made $75,0OO,OO0 in thirty
years. The methods by which thi'
great wealth was acquired have beer
strikingly presented in Henry D
Lloyd's book, Wealth Agains
Commonwealth" Mr.. Lloyd showed
1t to be the product of mer
ciiess, industrial warfare, lawles
conspiracy and abuse of municipa
franchise. Mr.. Yerkes, the stree
railway magnate, is another bene
factor of the university. He ha
given $5O0,O0O to the university il
the form of telescope. Mr.. Yerke
has made $l0,000,OO0 in ten yeals
1t was said at the time that in Civ
ing the telescope MI. Yerkes desire'
to concentrate the gaze of the peo
pie on the heavens.
AND AWAY FROM THE STREETS.
The resentment against Prof. Be
mis- was aroused by his sturdy con
demnatlon of the abuse of munici
pal franchise. He holds strong con
: yictions regarding the robbery of tn
| public by corporations and city au
! thorities. He has made long, per
l sonal investigation of economi
problems, as presented in the large
5 cities, and he has given his convic
1 tions to students at the university
3 and to the big university extensio
t following in this part of the State
Y He did not indorse the PulIma
I. strike, but he
DOES FAVOR LABOR UNIONS.
: After the strike he delivered an &C
: = dress to number of millionaires i
y DR.. Barrow's church, and criticise
the strikers. ''The railroads, too,
!, said he, "are law-breakers, and mu!
be made to obey the Interstate Con
merce act. They are, in fact, 8
much lawbreakers as the strikers.
: At this point Marvin Hughitt, Pre-
. ident of the Chica go and Northwes
- ern Railway, stepped up to the pu
pit and shouted: II consider tn,
language an outrage. To imply tn,
;, the railroads cannot come into cou
was doubtless
. ONE REASON FOR HIS DISMISSAL.
n Prof. Bemis is popular with Il
j. students, who all sympathize Wi
o. him. He was seen to-day by II
n World correspondent. he said tn
e he preferred not to speak of his i
,s terviews with the university autho
o tiles, but as the reports had spre,
that he was radical in his econom
views, he would say that he was
N substantial agreement with SUI
le economists as Seligman, Ely, A
a drews and Walker, though not goil
e. so far in some directions as Pro
d, Ely. He believed that a universi
e. should be in close touch with the
~ Dor movement and municipal a
! IL -