Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-02-20

lege. Some time before the election
of Professor Wilson to the presidency
Professor Andrew II. West. n brilliant
and persuasive member Of the faculty,
with ambitions, had been given the
title of dean OF the graduate school,
together with m appropriation OF 81
800 to be used In studying graduate
systems OF instruction IN various uni
versltes Dean West went to Europe
for year, returned and published n
sumptuous little volume containing an
elaborate and highly illustrated scheme
for graduate college. 1t was never
seen by the faculty The book was
sent by Dean West to likely contrib
utors among the alumni
In December of 1906 Mrs. j. A.
Thompson Swami. dying, left $3.50, 600
for the beginning OF graduate college
Among the conditions OF the gift was
the provision that the new college
should be located upon grounds OF the
university.
In the spring Of 1909, through the In.
fluencc of Dean West, Mr. william q.
Proctor OF Cincinnati offered $500 900
TINT another half million dollars be
raised. Mr. Proctor's letter seemed to
imply that the money must be used in
carrying out the scheme formulated by
Dean West. 1t also condemned the site
chosen for the graduate college by the
trustees In his second letter address.
ed to President Wilson Mr. Proctor
ttrhi MI
he acceptable to him
So long ms Dean Vests scheme for
h graduate school was n paper plan
only, 1t hnd received no special exnmi-
nation. But when these two requests
made Its realization possible the plan
was given scrutiny It was apparent
to many OF the trustees and faculty
that Dean Vests elaborate plan was
not one to which they were prepared
to commit themselves definitely.
special committee Of five, appointed by
the president OF the board Of trustees,
reported against the unconditional nc
Ceptance OF Mr. rroctor's gift.
MIR. Proctor's answer was with
drawal of his offer
The withdrawal naturally caused n
sensation and brought down upon the
head OF President Wilson all the Walls
OF wrath that had not been already
emptied upon him. II was nconcev-
able to some In the board OF trustees.
to a large number OF the alumni and to
portion OF the faculty that gift of
x5OO,O00 carrying with II indeed the
prospect OF another $5o0,00O, for this
had already been nearly subscribed
could be rejected on any consideration
whatsoever, But In view of the per
fectly clear position taken by presi-
dent Wilson, backed ut that time by
the majority of the trustees. the pas
slonate cutlery against them shown by
some Princetonlans of general repute
for Intelligence and conscience does
seem inexplicable. II was perfectly
clear case President Wilson and the
trustees were no doubt Infinitely oblig-
cd to Mr.. Proctor: they were eager to
accept his gift, but they simply could
not abrogate the duties of their office
they simply could not surrender to
any donor the right to determine the
universty's policy in so grave n matter
ms that OF its graduate school 1t was
they who were charged with the duty
of administering the university, not
MIR. Proctor
Furthermore, the particular plan
which unconditional acceptance OF MIR
Proctor's gift would have forced ON
Princeton was one utterly opposed to
the principles In devotion to which
the university under its presidents
guidance was now so happily advanc.
iug
10 President Wilson its details were
at'v@"ther obnoxious Since the sub,
jv,' of graduate study had been taken
w the dean and the president had
ward segregation and exrlusiveness.
the other toward an organic whole co
operative, shot through with com
mon motive and spirit and stimulated
ny a common life OF give and take
President Wilson had his own plan for
a graduate school--a plan that sprang
naturally out Of the new system OF
studies and the preceptorial organiza
ton-but 1t was Il plan that contem-
plated corps of highly competent
graduate instructors, proper laborato-
ries, an adequate library and the prac-
teal essentials OF study rather than
the embroidery of tine buildings and
seclusiOn. "A university does not con
sist of buildings or OF apparatus" he
said. "A university consists OF stu.
dents and teachers"
The fact of the matter is he didn't
want hundred nice young gentlemen
to come to Princeton and live apart