The San Francisco call., 1908-08-26
F[UD STIRS
THE FACULTY
AT UNIVERSITY
Onsted Instructor Will Press
Charges Preferred Against
Professor Magee
Accuses Physical Culture Ex-
pert of Intoxication and
Neglect of Duty
Says His Own Popularity Was
Cause of His Superior's
Enmity

BERKELEY, Aug. 25.-A sensational
| upheaval in the university faculty
which threatens to overtop the famous
! Schilling- -Centner controversy of year
ago has supplied morsel for campus
gossip, involving the grave charges of
intoxication and Incompetence filed
some months ago with President Wheel
| er against Prof. Walter f. Magee, head
of the department of physical culture
and one of the most popular men on
the campus, by James w. Rhodes on
account of his dismissal from the de-
partment of physical culture.
Because of the prominence of Pro-
fessor Magee and James Rhodes, the
principals in the controversy, the
campus is agog with excitement and
eagerly awaits moro details of the fac
ulty war, which, although started last
May, has been smoldering since then,
with an outbreak threatened at any
minute.
RECALLS CENTNEf. AFFAIR
Changes In the department of physi-
cal culture made last May when Prof.
| Walter E. Magee, its head, refused to
reappoint ]. w. Rhodes as an instructor
! in the department, call to mind the
famous Schilling-Centner affair, when
| Martin Centner was retired by Pro-
fessor Schilling from the German de-
partment. The campus was flooded with
petitions in Centner's behalf but the
university authorities stood by the head
of the German department. in face of
the charges of Centner, an instructor
in the department, and after the affair
had been aired In public for months 1t
1 was dropped, with President Wheeler
! and Professor Schiiiing triumphant.
! Professor Magee is well liked by the
student body and has been at the head
of the department Of physical culture
for many years. He is alleged by
Rhodes to have neglected his duties.
/ He is accused of having become so
fearful of Rhodes influence and popu-
larity with the student body that he
deposed Rhodes on account OF an in
sane jealousy. Rhodes was summarily
removed without hearing and in spite
of the petitions of his friends and the
students of the university.
Professor Magee was also said by
| Rhodes to have been seen Intoxicated
a number of times in the gymnasium
while ostensibly on duty, and it was
/ alleged that he had worn his gymna-
sium suit but twice during the entire
| year, whereas Rhodes was compelled
| to take charge of the negligent pro-
| fessor's classes.
.LIAR- Is MAGEE'S REPLY
Professor Magee smiled when asked
about Rhodes charges filed with the
university authorities. He declared
that the man was such liar that he
could not be believed under oath. He
said:
| II gave Rhodes the greatest chance
of a lifetime in this department If he
a 70 hrfCf II
was continually late and could not be
depended upon. President Wheeler and
have been trying for a year to get
rid of him without hurting his feelings.
II was informed of the charges and
also that the students had petitions cir
culated and signed by 141 of their
number for Rhodes reinstatement L
was called upon to look over the petit
tions and found the names of but five
students who had actually taken work
in his classes.
II admit that I wore my gymnasium
suit on only a few occasions last year.
but that was on account of the foot
ball practice, of which 1 had charge
AS far as my drinking is concerned. he
knows nothing about it at all How
can he judge that?"
DIR. wHEELER's ATTITUDE
AS in the case OF the Centner con-
troversy President Wheeler has al
ways relied on the heads of the de-
partmcnts for the appointment of their
assistants He refused to take any
action in the present controversy and
| turned over the petitions to Professor
Magee.
The friends of Rhodes are determined
not to let the matter drop and If neces
sary he will be called to this city TO
make further charges against PRO-
fessor Magee. 1t was charged that
Professor Magee had hatched another
Il plot by recommending Rhodes for an
pointment as head of the department.
of the University of Montana at Mis-
Il soula, Mont Rhodes left for that place
/ August Is and will assume his duties
at the state university there Septem
ber /.
Mrs. ]. H. Rhodes. his mother. de-
clared that her son had been badlv
treated by Professor Magee on account
of a petty jealousy due to his ponu
larity with the students on the campus.
She made th0 following statement to-
day:
iMy son has been connected with the
university since his graduation four
years ago. He has kept further in tha
| background account of Professor
Magee's desire to have the credit for
everything. AS to his being incomne-
/ tent. that charge is absolutely false
II will leave the matter 70 +ba
students in a spirit of fairness and Iet
them report as to his competency. He
/ has been self-sacrificing and alwavs
4 considered the university first. we q -
reluctant to make any charges. but tba
matter will be fought to a finish ~
I necessary"
4 RHODES WANTS REVENGE
Just before his departure for his nAw
post Rhodes declared that he had been
g to-. 81.
fessor Magee and that he intendad ~
return to the university at some future
4 time to settle old scores. He said.
4 "a case similar to mine came m ~