The Washington herald., 1909-06-15

Meeting squarely the issues raised by
President Pritchett. Of the Carnegie
Foundation, and showing they were based
upon half knowledge and erroneous inter
probation. President Charles Willis Need
ham, OF George Washington University,
made a vigorous defense OF his institu-
ton last night upon his return from New
York City.
He IS determined to set the university
right before the people Of Washington
and 10 repair whatever loss OF prestige II
may have sustained by DR.. Pritchett's
sensational Indictment But the matter
viii not end there. for an extended state
ment viii be made 70 the executive com
mittee OF the Carnegie Foundation at its
fall meeting. This statement, DR.. Need
ham believes. will result in the restora-
tion OF George Washington 10 the list OF
accepted institutions.
That the action Of the Carnegie Foun-
dation IS unjust DR.. Needham proves by
a rehearsal OF the general situation.
with which. he says. DR.. Pritchett and
his confreres are entirely unacqualnted.
Furthermore. Dr. Needharn asserts. they
have made no effort 10 ascertain what
the exact facts are. They have accepted
certain plausible aspersions at their face
value.
Broad View Of Situation.
A.
this university" says DR.. Needham. viii
convince the public and the officers Of
the Carnegie Foundation that we have
done our work well One must know GER
tain things before interpreting our. recent
acts or our financial condition. I vii
deal with the 'forcible retirement of tws
professors first
When the Carnegis Foundation say.
a university has no right 70 retire pro
fessors who are stilI physically able
continue work. its position Is puzzllng-
almost indefensible. Any broad appIiea
ton Of this rule would lead TO absur
situations The fact, therefore, that D-
Gore and DR.. Sterrett were eligible IL
retirement BY reason OF length Of serve
under the rules OF the Carnegie Pounds
ton Is our reply on this score
Furthermore. both professors were er
tirely out OF sympathy and out Of he.
mony with the policy Of the universit
This is point beyond dispute. II
two men went to the trustees with
proposition 70 take the institution out
the administrators hands and throw
back upon its old commercial basis
night school system. That the truste
rejected the offer is not the point.
professors were working against the
cepted policy
Both. in addition, were men OF mes
and not in danger OF financial hardsr
should retirement come When the II
tees determined upon retrenchment
reason OF the financial situation. Il
told me 70 retire those msmbers Of
faculty CT the least service to US. NJ
Dr. Sterrett, in the last year or two
least. never had more than twelve
dents. and sometimes not even that ma
his classes were small and few.
same is true OF DR.. Gore.
In one sense, the fight upon the
was such that either the
GERS or these teachers. had To go
-ainly II was absurd to attempt to
George Washington as ar institution
'ided against itself.
Question of Endowment.
The question OF endowment IS one
which the public should have a clear
,eption. 1t is true. in one sense. We
fallen below the minimum OF produ
endowment required by the Foundai
hat is. $4,000. DR.. Pritchett find
'ur books. an endowment Of only 81 SD
There are certain reasons why thes az
Tres appear on our books.
For one thing. we have purchased real I
state and buildings which show no direct
ain. except the saving OF rent. Certain q
moneys have gone. temporarily. into non
Productive channels. Ultimate good VIII
esult from these so-called dead invest
lents. but just now. by reason Of them
re appear to have had a heavy decrease I
! endowment Had Dr. Pritchett been In
ossession Of these facts. had ne come 10
s for an explanation. I am positive he
Tould never have declared our endow-
lent was below 10000.
The radical aspersions cast upon our {
ntrance requirements are relatively IN G
'ue, unless Dr. Pritchett desires 10 draw L
p general indictment against a major 7
y OF the universities OF the United =
tates II IS true we do not always ad- =
ere to high school standard Of adnlis- =
on, but the reasons for this are obvious. "a
nd are recognized by all universities ex- $
spt Princeton. Yale. and Harvard. a
Many Of our students come from the
outh, and the South has practically no
gh schools Should we. therefore. turn
way all these young men because their
iucation does not coincide. in detail =
18th the high school standard? They =
ave generally been taught at urivata :
'ademies or preparatory schools. I will v
y that most Of them have been given T
intellectual training equal 10 that
ven In the high schools. ~
The method we follow is 70 have. each -
an examined by the dean OF the school
wishes 70 enter. II he seems to be de- le
,ient he is subjected 10 an entrance VI
animation If his preparation hts him a.
T the course he plans 10 enter. he is ~
United by the dean. When the frspec- SSSS
rs OF the foundation say they do not q
lderstand how this or that man was De