The evening world., 1911-03-09
COLUMBIA EXCITED
OVER DISMISSAL Of
PROF. SP|NGARN
Harry Thurston Peck Says DR..
Butler Is Simply Get
ting Revenge.
OFFICIAL DENIAL MADE.
1t Is Pointed Out That MI
merous Changes Have Taken
Place in a Year.
OFFICIAL DENIAL MADE.

Columbia University faculty nnd stu
Gents alike were agltated to-day by tho
news OF the relieving from duty OF
Or. Joel Elias Splngarn. twelve years
professor of comparative literature.
Prof. splngarn's friends soy re 10 a
victim OF the warfare raging between
President Nicholas Murray Butler and
Harry Thurston Peck. recently elected
from the faculty after much scandal.
academic and personal.
There are rumors hat other advocates
OF DR.. Peck and critics Of Mr.. Buffers
campaign are 70 be treated as has been
ProE ~spingarn.
Dr.. Peck was told by an Evening
World reporter o, the removal from
duty OF Prof. splngarn. Not Spingarn.'
he said; mo. no, you mean Prof. George
n eever-eighteen years professor OF
electrical sneineering."
Prot. Sever Is abroad.
Insured that tho Information regard
ing Prof. Sptngnrn was correct, ne snil
that he would not now he surprised 70
hear that Prof. Sever had also been pu'
out. NOBODY connected with the uni
verHty would say that Or. Peck's opln.
ION was correct. Prof. Sever Is abroad
on a year's leave of absence.
Prof. Spinsarn." said DR.. Peck. had
suffered because he persistently tough;
to set fair play for me. consistently
at faculty meetings ne has offered reso-
luions asking for n committee to inves-
tigate Buffers actions and learn X they
were warranted.
AT the September meeting Prof
Sp.ngern enraged Butler by offering a
resolution containing nm expression of
good will from the faculty 10 mo on the
occasion OF u separation.
"Sp!ngarn IS too brave. independent
and fair n man for Butler. lie wants
none OF that type abou him. He will
drive them all out. People DO not know
what Is going On at Columbia Univer-
sity. The news Is censorei. and only
that which pleases the Butter press hui
reau is allowed TO get out. But It IL n
shame and n pity thai so great an insti-
tuition should be- deliberately democrat
ized to crafty one man"
An officer of the university TO whom
the reporter was referred for Official
Information said
Prof. Spinssrn's trouble Is duo 70 an
insubordinate letter he wrote to the
trustees about the president. To get
rid OF him the trustees abolished the
chair which he held. The other pro-
lessons IN his department were not com
Portable with him, and his personality
created friction.
He C%rItleIses Peck.
"A great deal Is being made OF a very
ordinary event IN order to lend suppor
% Dr. Peck's attitude OF martyrdom.
He socks to cloud the Issue that ne
allowed himself. as Instructor OF youth,
to become involved IN n scandal regard
ing n woman. As a matter OF fact,
twelve professors. six associate pro,
f~essors, seven instructors, two tutors,
thirteen lecturers ana t~wenty-sevcn as.
sistants who were here a year ago are
not here now. The university IL work,
ING vigorously 20 improve It's effective,
ness. n hat Is all there is 20 IT,"
Prof. spinsarn refused 10 be inter,
viewed to-day. A an answer TO IN,
charges against him. he gave out 9
w . it bhlh ia 4404A hlt
OF his students In the graduate depart,
ment. which ran:
II was Informed this afternoon
ma your connection with the Uni
verslty Is severed and | canno, tel
how sorry | was TO hear It. 1t was
. great privilege for me 20 be able
Z o attend your course. ana in n fcw
months / had learned much that |
would not have learned from books
IN years. Your going means II srest
loss 10 me as well as to other stud
ents present and 10 come into col
unbia University
The spokesman for the University
waA told OF Or. Pecks intimatlJ
that q great many things were go.u
on IN the University % which outsider
were kept in ignorance and was asiSe
~ sixty-seven faculty changes within
year DID not rather bear MIN out
1t does not" he said Il merel
mentioned the number TO sAow ma
Prof. Sp!ngarn's separation from %
University. entirely u-u.onuer.cd VT
the Peck matter, was only ono 8
many"
MhlN hCCIIcEc ruIlpnuMht