The Nome daily nugget., 1914-04-07

closer ailiance.-Ketchiixan Mail.
 To what extent privato endowments tc colleges and universities aftects the teaching in those institutions is a question which is receiving considera- hle attention in the United States at the present time. While 1t h not di- rectly charged that any professor Is obliged to wear the gag. 1t is yet worth observing that the American Political science association has seen fit to appoint q committee to exam ins and report upon the present situa- ton in American institutions a. to lib- erty of thought. freedom of speecn and security of tenure 'or teachers of IUlitical science.
 To appreciate the full signincance Of this step 1t must be noted that the membership of the political science association is largel y madc up of teachers of political science in colleges and universities and the natural in- ference to be drawn h that if then freedom of speech has not already been interfered with. they have cause U apprehend that 1t will be. The ref erence to "security of tenure" would lead to the conclusion that some mem- tsrs of the association have already come into unpleasant conflict with the opinions of powerful bsnefactors of the institutions with which they are connected. Political science is a sub ject on which men have never been agreed. but 1t h easy to understand that Q teacher who wishes to give his pupils a grasp of its principles would strongly object to being compelled to present only one side of the case. and that which he might perhaps think the weaker; nor should the state per- init an institution. which. through do- nations by rich men. would be in a position to attract to its classrooms large numbers of the youth of the country to repress the freedom of thought which Is tho very essense of university training. Chicago univer- sity. for example, Is largely the crea- ton of the Rockefeller family. and if John D. Rockefeller % desired he could no doubt dictate what should be taught and what not taught in the in- stitution. but to do 1t he would have to employ professors who would be more at home in assisting him in Standard oil manipulation than in ex- pounding their subject It has never been said that MT. Rockefeller inter- feres in the teaching at Chicago. but if he did 1t would be as much the duty of the state to interfere as it tho same thing were being done in a state- controlled university. The uni- versity may be Mr. Rockefellers but the students belong to the country, and it is the duty of the country to prevent them from being taught false or narrow doctrine whether in poll tical economy or anything else. So far there has apparently been compar- ativeiy little interference. but 1t is feared by independent educationalists that as the lines of political cleavage grow moro distinct. it will be h. crs asingly difficult to maintain this at. tude of nor. interference. It is no secret, that tho mapority of tho wealthy and especially those who h''s attained to student wealth. do not the generally accepted opinions on political economy. and the political science association appears to believe that their donations to educational institutions will be followed sooner or later by attempt to have their views impressed to the greatest possioie extent on the rising generation of tho nation. Sun.