The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-03-28
CHAPTER TX.
The Graduate College Contest.

T~ IHE story now becomes CON-
pIicated through the injec
EsrS:sSl ton Of another issue that.
- namely. of the graduate col
iege. some time before the election
of Professor Wilson 10 the presidency
Professor Andrew +. West. brilliant
and persuasive member cf the faculty.
With ambitions, had been given the
title Of dean of tile graduate school.
together with 9n appropriation of S.
600 To tee Used III studying graduate
systems of Instruction in various uni
yersities Dean West went TO Europe
for year. returned and published a
sumptnous little volume containing an
elaborate anu highly illustrated scheme
for a 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 1905 Mrs. J. A
Thompson Swami. dying. left S25o.Do
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
fuence of Dean West, Mr.. William G.
Proctor of Cincinnati offered 100000
for the graduate college on condition
that 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. It also condemned the site
chosen for the graduate college by the
trustees In his second letter address
ed to President Wilson Mr.. Proctor
named two locations which alone would
| be acceptable to him.
So long as Dean Vests scheme for
graduate school was a paper plan
only, it had received no special exami-
nation. But when these two requests
made its realization possible the plan
was given scrutiny. 1t 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 A
special committee Of five. appointed by
the president of the board Of trustees,
reported against the unconditional ao-
ceptance of Mr. proctor's gift.
Mr. Proctor's answer was a with
drawal of his offer.
The withdrawal naturally caused
sensation and brought down upon the
head of President Wilson all the walls
OF wrath that had not been already
emptied upon him. 1t was ineonceiv
able TO some in the board of trustees.
30 10, <1F he 81, "a 20
portion of the faculty that gift of
100000 carrying with it indeed the
prospect of another 100000. for this
had already been nearly subscribedI
could be rejected on any consideration
whatsoever But in view of the per-
fectly clear position taken by Presi-
dent Wilson. backed at that time by
the majority of the trustees. the pas
sionate outcry against them shown by
some Princetonians of general repute
for Intelligence and conscience does
seem inexplicable. 1t was a perfectly
clear case. President Wilson and the
trustees were no doubt infinitely oblig-|
ed 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
university's policy In SO grave matter
as that of its graduate school. 1t was
they who were charged with the duty
of administering the university, not
Mr.. Proctor
Furthermore, the particular plan
which unconditional acceptance Of Mr..
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 advane
ing
To President Wilson its details were
altogether obnoxious Since the sub
ject of graduate study had been taken
up the dean and the president had
moved in opposite directions. one to-
ward segregation aud exclusiveness.
the other toward an organic whole co
operative. shot through with a com
mon motive and spirit and stimulated