New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-22
PRINCETON KNOWS LITTLE.
Details of Wyman Gift Expected
Through Dean West.

Princeton. N J., May 21.-President
woodrow Wilson Of Princeton University,
when informed OF Mr.. Wyman's bequest
said he knew nothing definite OF the terms
OF the gift. but had heard only report
that the money was coming TO Princeton.
He said he was unable TO make any fur
ther statement.
Inquiry among prominent university men
tonight disclosed the fact that Mr.. wy
man and Dean West OF the graduate
school had been close friends for years.
Dean West is in Boston and will return
TO Princeton on Monday. 1t is understood
that further announcement regarding the
gift viii be made through him.
The question of establishing a graduate
school at Princeton University led to one
OF the bitterest controversies in American
educational circles in recent years, in con-
nection with the offer Of s5oO,0e0 for that
purpose by William Cooper Proctor. The
plans for enlargement of the university
equipment were begun in 1896. Dean West
became head of a loosely organized grad
uate- department. In 1905 its students, until
then scattered about the campus or through
the toxin without community life, were
chartered temporarily in Merwick, hall
half mile away from the college campus
In 1905 Mrs Josephine Thomson-Swann be-
oueathed TO the university $4,000 for
school, to be known as the John r. Thorn
son Graduate College, TO be upon the
grounds Of the university, with the pro-
vision that rooms not needed for graduates
should be used by college upper classmen-
With that the plans for the graduate
school were turned into an apparently fixed
channel. The school was 10 be organically
and locally merged with the present uni
xersity. according to the trend OF the plans
UP 10 that time.
Then. in MAY. 1909. Mr.. Proctor appeared
on the scene In a letter to Dean West he
Endorsed the deans views calling for a de-
teched graduate school and offered S5eoe0
ito be expended for such objects in fur
therance Of the plans as l may designate
provided an equal sum be. obtained by May
!, 1910" He added that, in his opinion, the
site at Prospect suggested by President
Wilson was not suitable for such pur-
pose.
And there the trouble began. on the one
hand was President Wilson favoring strong
~ the campus site and solidarity on the
other were Dean West and large body OF
alumni who had pledged money TO dupIi-
cate the Proctor gift. Mr.. Proctor urged
the Merwick site. but would accept the golt
links. provided a suitable approach could De
obtained.
Apparently N1r Procter's gift was ac-
cepted Moses Taylor Pyne, Of the trus-
ices. appears to have so Informed MI
Proctor Then came the question of what
TO do with the other gift that made site
on the campus compulsory. For three
months the matter was at a standstill In
October 1859 at President Wilson's re-
Quest. The faculty committee on the gradu-
ate school presented 20 the trustees a ma
1oritv report signed by Professors Fare,
Capps Conklin and Daniels, THE Wilson
men" favoring central location, and MI
rority report signed by Dean West and
Professor Hibben, favoring segregation.
It was then voted TO accept Mrs. Swami
money also. provided il could legally be eA-
pended on the golf links.
In January, Mr.. Proctor. in q letter TO Mr..
Pyne offered 10 accept the compromise and
make his gift independent of the other A
committee OF five of the trustees cOmmuni-
Gated with Mr.. Proctor, and as result he
withdrew his gift
Closely involved in this question was the
fight over the quad system as favored by
President Wilson and opposed by many Of
the alumni The opposition have bitterly
criticised DR.. Wilson for, as they say, hav-
ing forced the rejection Of the Proctor gift
20 further his own plans for the college.