The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-04
TRYING TO DOWN HARDNESS.
Colonel Fred Croker and the Railroad
People Join the Opposition
Forces.

10 SUPPORTED ny iHdiIJ WHO nave AtIGlO-
fore been with the veteran president
Even Colonel Fred Croker and all the
railroad men are not only not supporting
him but, are doing good woman service
for Molera who has been put up against
him. Charges and counter-charges are
being made.
The ticket put up by the opposition is
the same as that put up by the old-timers,
except four names.
For corresponding secretary ]. OBJ.
Gum was put up against Theodore HittelI
Charles A. Keller for librarian instead of
Carlos Troyer, Z. j. Molera for trustee
instead of DR.. Hardness, and H. H. Behr
for second vice president. For the other
offices the candidates on both tickets are:
President, David Starr Jordan; first vice
president William E. Ritter; recording
secretary, G. 7. Rixford treasurer, LuciuS
Davis; trustees. w. C. Burnett, w. S.
Chapman, Charles f. Crocker, w. S.
Keyes. George G. Perkins and G. ".
Stewart
The principal fight is being waged on
DIR. darkness and Theodore Hitteu by the
opposition. Against DR.. Hardness is being
told the old, old story of Palo Altos bones.
They say that when the late Senator Stan
ford presented the skeleton of the King of
the Turf to the academy they were turned
over to an incompetent man to boil, and
when he ruined them search was made
of the equine boneyards for other bones to
put in their place. Then that good old
story about DIR. Hardness Homo Nevaden-
SIS is again brought out to do service.
Last Wednesday evening a meeting of
members of the opposition was held, at
tended by Professor Davidson, Colonel
Fred Croker, Louis Sloss Professor O. B.
Christie, w. G. w. Hartford, E. j. Molera,
Walter E. Bryant, Captain l. E.
Thayer, II. E. Matthews, DR.. Behr, John
D D. v. s. Chapman, e. F. Lorquin,
Gersjle and others. The four nominations
named were made and a committee ap-
pointed to draw up a manifesto. The fol-
lowing was the result of their work:
When the Academy of Sciences moved into
the palace provided by the munificence of
James Lick it was promised, and naturally ex-
pected, that It's membership would be in
creased so that the sphere of its work would
be extended and made more thorough along
all the zines OF scientific research.
But all promises have been broken. In 1889
there were 25S mem bers on the roll and to-day
there are but 1873, while the number of active
scientific members has decreased IN & much
greater ratio. OF the 1913 ninety-eight are life
members and OF the 100 contributing mem
Ders thlrty-tWo have had their dues RENTED
by the council.
been creditable to a scientific organization
with the income and opportunities of this So
clety' ana some OF the papers have been con-
tributed by non-members. In the last eight
years the president of the academy has himself
presented but one paper.
Furthermore, the work accomplished has
been upon very narrow lines. The exact and
applied sciences. mathematics, astronomy,
physics, chemistry and engineering have TO all
practical intents been ignored.
Among the many causes that have contrib
these ho
mentioned:
The head of the council has caused scientific
men OF rerute TO be blackballed because they
were suspected to be not in sympathy with
the present administration. Other scientific
workers who formerly contributed valuable
papers have either withdrawn altogether from
membership, or have ceased to take any inter-
est in the academy.
Owing 10 a system of patronage, the power
of renting dues and giving life memberships
and the appointing OF the nominating com
mittee by the officers themselves, they have
succeeded in perpetuating their rule, and this
evil has become chronic
Political methods have been introduced, and
personal solicitation and intimidation have
been resorted TO in order to carry the elections
and In short, the academy has become close
corporation.
When these conditions have been pointed
out to the president of the academy he has
year after year announced his intention to
Withdraw from Office in order that change OF
policy might be made. Now that he has
withdrawn as candidate for the presidency
he seeks to become member of the board OF
trustees in order that he may continue to
control the policy OF the academy.
To prevent this state of affairs in future this
committee recommends the adoption OF the
policy followed by the most successful scien-
lific bodies IN this and foreign countries
namely, the office of president shall be given
year by year to men distinguished in the diff
ferent branches of science
This committee has wholly and solely the
good OF this academy at heart, ana in order to
raise its efficiency to the high and broad
standard which it should maintain submits
the inclosed ticket for your serious considera-
ton and for your active support at the annual
election for officers, to be held on Monday jan
uary 6, 1896. Respectfully.
LOUIS SLoSs,
GEORGE DAVIDSON,
CHARLES f. CROKER,
S. B. CHRIsTY.
For a long time DIR. Hardness has
claimed the support of Colonel Croker
and the railroad people in the academy
and most of the capitalists. But Colonel
Croker at Wednesdays meeting was one
of the most outspoken against him, and
said that for years the doctor had prom
lsed to withdraw from the presidency, and
each time after being put up had said
that he could not control the nominating
committee.
Professor Davidson, who was the candi-
date against Dr. darkness last year, said
last evening: 'We think that we are
going to beat them. The scientific status
of the academy has sunk down in the
estimation of people in the East and
Europe. The work has got into narrow
grooves. They have entirely left out the
exact sciences. They have to appeal to
non-members for material and some of it
is very poor.
"a map was lately published giving the
rainfall in Lower California, which is sim
ply made-up thing without any data.
I'VE propose, If we get in, 10 broaden
the drift of research and to see that
it is all done in a scientific manner.
We propose to see that the cabinets are ar
rayed in scientific order and not simply for
beauty. We propose that the papers read
shall be the results of scientific investiga-
ton, and will command the attendance of
members and the public to the meetings"
AS to Mr.. Hittell, the regular candidate
for corresponding secretary, Professor
Davidson said: 1--WE consider that Hittell
holds Hardness between his thumb and
foreflnger and plays upon his weaknesses
and vanities, and is going to try to run the
whole institute