The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-02
CASE OF PROF. BEMIS
WHY HE Was DISMISSED FROM THE
UNIVERSITY Of CHICAGO.
President Harper Makes an Explnna-
ton, but the Professor Docs Not
Think 1t Is Clear.

CHICAGO, Ill.,, Oct. president Har-
per, at the convocation of the University
of Chicago to-day, made his first explana-
tion>in the case of Professor Bemis. Here
tofore he had refused, in spite of the
charges made on every hand, to give his
reasons for dismissing Prof. Bemis from
the chair of political economy and sociol-
ogy In his address he said: From the be-
ginning the university has believed in the
policy of appointing TO positions in the
same department men who represent differ
ent points of view. This policy has been gen.
orally adopted, and, consequently, in many
departments students have the privilege of
electing the courses of that professor whose
point of view is deemed preferable. 1t is
evident, therefore, that instructor in
the university has been or will be asked
to separate himself from the university
because his views on a particular question
differ from those of another member of the
same department, even though that men,
ber be the head. From the be-
ginning of the university there
has never been an occasion for
condemning the utterances of any professor
on any subject nor has any objection been
taken i'm any case to the teachings of a
professor. Naturally there have been cases
in which the president of the university
and the head of the department have
deemed it wise to consider the methods
employed by given instructor. but, in ref
erence to the particular teachings OF an
instructor, no interference has ever taken
place. The university has been in a con-
spicuous way the recipient of large gifts of
money from wealthy men. To these men
it owes a debt of sincere gratitude. This
debt is all the greater, moreover, because
in absolutely no single case has any man
who has given as much as one dollar to
the university sought by word or act either
" n
influence the policy of the university In
reference to the teachings of its professors.
the snd of the n m par bay
pressed wish TO know the truth in re-
spect to the charges made and i'm part also
because there has seemed to be an inclina-
tion on the part Of the public TO forget
/ that on every suitable occasion the policy
of the university as to the freedom of its
professors and of its students in matters
of opinion. has been strongly emphasized
This public statement is made because the
counter statement has been published far
and wide. and because II Is clear that a
higher education IL the impression should
prevail that in a university, as distin-
largest possible freedom of expression-a
freedom entirely unhampered by either
or mo5esaSy dsd ys rat
cation. but was sought out at his house
and shown the Presidents statement. Read
dsg ing 81 over a ne sla ne prssi
say. But / am unable TO find any explana-
tion of the point at issue in what he has
to say" Further than this. he had nothing
to say on the subject and when asked
whether a reply to the presidents charges
would be Forthcoming, he said: "As to
that, / would rather not say anything as
yet"
There was considerable excitement among
the Greeks over the declaration of the
president that the way the fraternities were
run was not satisfactory 20 the university
authorities.
President Harper also announced that
Mrs. Esther Reynolds. widow of Diamond
joe Reynolds. the well-known Mississippi
steamboat man, had given $250,0D to the
university Ito be used for educational pur-
poses in such manner as shall commem-
crate the name of her husband"