The morning call., 1895-01-07
THEY WANT SUTRO
Asked to Run for the
Presidency
ON THE REFORM TICKET.
Academy of Sciences Officers
Nominated.
N THE REFORM TICKET.
A SPIRITED CONTEST PROBABLE.
The Election Takes Place To-day,
and the Opposition Is Making a
Big Effort to Win.

There promises to be spirited contest
at the election for officers Of the Academy
Of Sciences to-day. The election will be
held between the hours OF a. NJ. and .
p NJ. When the regular ticket was nomi-
mated some time ago there was quite a
forcible debate between members OF the
academy. The opposition then developed
has since crystalzed. The following cir
cular. signed by Committee for Re-
form" and addressed to the members OF
the California Academy OF Sciences, has
been issued:
The academy is now in flourishfng fnan-
cial cODd tioD, and should be an actlve, pro-
grr Ssive institution. IL is In position TO en-
der valuable service III the advancement OF
abstract and al piled science, as was evidently
the desire OF James LICK, who gave IL It's
wealth. 1t Is very apparent, however, that the
academy is not advancing in scientific work,
or membership, or public estimation. IL Is
true that most of The salaried curatCrS perform
their work in satisfactory manner, but here
IS a deD0rable lack OF such volunteer workers
in the various branches as first gave the acad-
envy the S anding which attracted the attention
Of james Lick.
There is no doubt but that IL was the Inten-
ton of this publcs pirited man, when lie so
a position 10 disseminate general scenific
knowledge, as We'll as To encourage investiga-
tion IN all branches OF science IL was also his
expressed Wish 10 have kindred institutions
brought into close connections with the acad-
envy. Valuable scientific work was expected
alter the Academy building on Market street
was completed, but 1t Is evident that these eX-
pectatlonS have not been realized.
There seems TO be no desire on the part CT the
present scientific management widen its Held
of investigation or 10 develop popular interest In
the proceedings. The papers read before the
meetings are few, very little interest is mani
tested in them and Inc atteudanc- has fallen
of. 1t has been found necessary to omit some
OF the mld-m0uthly meetings for these reasons.
The membership has pI actically remained
stationary as a whole, but decreased very
materially in Tie number OF It's volunteer scien-
liiic workers since the society has been put on
a strong financial footing. majority OF the
members OF the academy being interested in
the advancement of science and feeling that
The public should BE- benefited by the work OF
thr society consider that 4 Change 10 he coun-
ell and particularly in The office of president,
would bring about a healthier condition in the
scientific affairs of the academy.
They are aware that none of the scientists
among the members OF the institutions are
sufficiently popular 10 be certain of election II
proposed for the presidency. but they are also
of the opinion that the man al The head OF the
Institution Deeu not De SclentInc man In the
sense of being worker in some single branch,
but rather on WHO Is unseIfShly, broadly ana
actively Interested in the encourage ment OF AL
b, anches of science. They are also convinced
that only small part of his time Is required by
the academy, aud that the sclentlflc.work will
be benefited il the management of the details
of the different branches are left to the respec-
tive officers or curators.
Til gentleman proposed for the honorable
position Is AdOpn Sutro. who is widely known
TO have done much for the advancement OF sci
ence, both dir city and in connection with his
various enterprises, and whose natural in
cinatIons lead him TO encourage scientific re-
search. Mr.. Sutro 1uently converses in sew
erai languages, and is therefore able TO repre-
sent the academy with dignity when foreign
scientists come among us.
The members may feel assured that the sci
entific affairs of the acadr my, under the leader
ship OF Mr.. Sutro, Will soon be placed in eff
cienL working order, and The scientific world
and The public AT large will ultimately derive
the benefits intended for them through the gen.
erous gilt of James LlcE.
The reform ticket is as follows: Presi-
dent, Adolph Sutro; first vice-presdent,
II. ii. Behr; second vce-president. j. &.
Cooper: corresponding secretary. S. b.
Christy; recording secretary, Cuban P.
Rlxford; treasurer, L. 81. Foote: libra
ran. Thomas Price; director Of museum,
J. Il. Davis; trustees-W. c. Burnett,
Charles f. Croker, d. E. Hayes. E j.
Molera, George c. Perkins, W. S. Chap
man, j. Birmingham.