Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-10-11


weeks out Of the year from raising fund
and endowing a college to impert that
sort Of instruction. But we do believe
that the people have right to know the
purpose Of such an institution and not be
led to send their children to it under the
impression that it's teachings will be Sab
batarian.
1t is quite evident that people object to
being humbugged in any such manner,
and so when Prof Edward W. Bemis was
dropped from the list of instructors OF
Chicago University, presumably because
he had advocated theories hostile to the
sch emes of some of the trust magnates,
who were or were expected to be donors
of the university the public commented.
The press quite generally criticised the
removal of Prof. Bemis quite sharply.
He did not rush into print to affirm or
deny; neither did President Harper Of the
university. But as criticism became
more general the latter evidently thought
|
that Mr.. Rockefeller, the oil trust mil
| lionaire and most liberal donor of the
university, or Mr.. Yerkes, the great
street railway king, or any other
donor of the university, had sought
the dismissal Of Prof. Bemis, or that any
OF them had interfered with the indepen-
dence of the college. There was nothing
left for the public but to suppose there
were other and good reasons for the dis
missal. What these reasons might be
President Harper left the world to sur
mise. And Low Prot. Bemis has replied
as any man of spirit and case would do
He says that President Harper aside
| from his recent statement has intimated
| that If he were disposed to tell the facts
he could ruin the dismissed instructor
he now has liberty to do so if he can for
the challenge thrown down is unmistak-
able. Prof Bcmis prints extracts from
letters of the president in which the latter
speaks in the highest terms of the profess
sor. He also quotes statements, which
he says President Harper has made con-
corning the matter, and in which he up
held Prof Bemis' character and teachings.
In one letter the president writes: II am
personally very much attached to you;
in another: 81 have great respect for you
and your work. In letter written last
March he says: at is not question of
competency, simply, the general situation
is against you here OF course you are
| an A man just as much as when we got
you, but you are misf1t here" Perhaps
| President Harper can explain away these
letters. Certainly his reply will be
awaited with interest
| Prof. Bemis declares that when he left
Vanderbilt University to go to Chicago
there was no time limit set and it was
definitely understood that he should have
gradual increase of inside work. He
says that in 1894 President Harper wrote
him he hoped there would be opportunity
for doing more university work proper
OF this Prof. Bemis in his statement has
the following to say:
"Now what wish the president to dc
Is not to give general denial Of Mr..
Rockefeller having criticised any theory
advanced by any professor, but to explain
why the above hope and understanding
WAS not carried out, and what he meant by
che following in the letter above quoted
Instead of the opportunity becoming bet
Ter for work on your part In the univer
| sity proper, the doors seem to be closing.
| I am persuaded that In the
| long run you can do ia another institu
ton, because of this peculiar ciroumstan-
,es here, better and more satisfactory
| work to yourself than you can do here.
am personally very much attached to you
"You are, however man Of the world
enough to know that, unless one is in the
best environment, he cannot work to thu
best advantage. You are so well known
and your ability SO widely recognized
| that there will surely be no difficulty IL
securing for you good position, one II
which you will be monarch, and one II
which you will be, above all things else
independent.
II have never had occasion to doubt thu
presidents implication above that tn
peculiar circumstances, and the 'envir
onment' at the university were the tru
explanation Of It's action"
"On receipt Of this letter should hav
resigned had I not very soon been led T.
believe. enormously as 1t proved, that tn
situation was improving"
Farther on in his statement Prof
Bemis says:
IL am not a socialist. but I am be
lever In the wisdom Of gradual takin
over of some of our local monopolies b.
cities, rs In Glasgow and Birmingham
but have never urged that 1t should ID
done at once in all places, and have he'll
that many cities cannot be urged to 9
further at present than the leasing TO
: moderate periods, as has been done wit
|, the street car lines in Toronto, Canada
with ample provision for city OWNERSHIP
on easy terms at the close Of the lease,
then desired by the citizens. Yet the the
: president of the so-calledo gas trust {
Chicago, refused in 1898 to render
, financial favor to the university because
was on the faculty. President Harpe
has since denied that he was influence
thereby.