Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-25
BRYAN AND PROFESSORS CLASH
Argument Comes ON Carnegie Pension
Bill.

"
Argument Comes ON Carnegie Pension
bill.
(From a Staff Correspondent
LINCOLN. Feb. 24-Cspecisl)- To defeat
the passage of the bill giving permission
to the TEACHERS Of the State university to
participate in the Carnegie pension fund
Mr.. Bryan appeared before the committee
on miscellaneous subjects this afternoon.
To offset the calm. d~ignified argument Of
Prof. Caldwell and Prof. Howard OF the
State university, Mr.. Bryan used all of his
eloquence in delivering a stump speech and
holding UP before the committee the hor-
rors of a Tteel trust controlled university
with every graduate full of the trust mi
crobe.
The university professors were not In the
least awed by the presidential candidate,
and Prof Howard referred to the fact
that some OF the distinguished gentlemen
in Lincoln had helped to secure a Carnegie
library for Lincoln" and that its influence
had not been for the bad!
'eThe Carnegie of that day and the
Carnegie of today" Mr.. Bryan explained,
"were not the same. The Carnegie that
established the libraries was an iron
master, but the Carnegie who estab-
llshed the pensions for teachers IL a
steel magnate."
TT seems to me there is no difference
in the Carnegie of 1899 and the Carnegie
OF 1907 said Prof. Caldwell.
During the course of his remarks Prof.
Howard ~eulogized President Eliot of
Harvard, concluding with the statement
that he retires in June on a $4,000 Car
negie pension. Some suggested when the
professor had finish ed that he should
nave said Mr.. Eliot is a democrat, and
Mr.. Howard so announced to the com
mittee.
do you know how he voted?' inter-
rupted Mr.. Bryan.
Very slowly Prof. Howard arose and,
looking directly at Mr.. Bryan, said: He
voted conscientiously and 1 suppose he
has not always voted the democratic
ticket"
"You don't know how he voted" said
Mr.. Bryan.
81 know that L voted for you, Mr.. Bryan,
and 1 hope to do so again. replied How
ard.
After two or three such set-to with the
university professors Mr.. Bryan demanded
to know of Prof. Caldwe If he was get
ting enough salary.
Yes sir" repliede Caldwell,
AiG yOus hV VI ONhAd
IT say I am not" said the professor, and
again the committee laughed.
Mr.. Bryan got a chance to ask the ques-
tons, expecting OF course to embarrass the
teachers, when Mr.. Howard mentioned how
the university compared with other uni
v~ersities in point Of salaries paid. Mr.
Howard argued that the pension fund
would be an inducement for the teachers
to remain here. though the salary was less
than could be earned in some other states
Mr.. Bryan showed considerable spirit
when he had been called by Profs. Howard
and Caldwell for repeatedly making the
statement that they would be influenced
by the fact they were to be beneficiaries
of the Carnegie fund, and in one Of his
bursts of eloquence he said: "If this pen.
sion is accepted l never expect to hear any
professor in the university denounce the
Steel trust to his classes
do you mean to impune the character Of
the teachers In the university? 2" said Prof
Caldwell.
mo. sir" said Bryan.
Come to my classes and you will hear
the Steel trust denounced" said Howard.
The professors explained that the pension
was in the hands of a board Of trustee.
which perpetuated itself. That the moee,
was invested in steel bonds. which were II
no way dependent upon the success Of thu
steel corporations; that the trustees had tn,
I right to change the investment; that M
? obligation was placed upon the teacher
who participated in the pension; that Iowa
5 Minnesota. Missouri. Indiana, Massachu
sets and other states now participated IL
the fund.
Mr.. Bryan attempted to frighten the com
a mittee by telling the members they would
I better go home with good arguments II
favor Of accepting the pension should the!
! decide to favor the bill. He told the com
: mittee that the fight against the trust ha,
just begun and that he intended now t
3 flight it right here in Nebraska.
Senators Tibbets and Buck also spoke 70
the bill. The COMMITTEES did not act on tn
: measure.