The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-28
FISHER INQUIRY i
STIRS WESLEYAN
Suggestion That Carnegie
Foundation May Cut OFF
Pensions.
DIR. PR1TCHETT TO JUDGE
Retired Professor Mayor Talked
OF by Democrats for
Governor.
DIR. PR1TCHETT TO JUDGE

MfDpLErowN, Conn, June 21-The n,
nouncement mad. here this week ,h,,
President Henry s. Prltchett of the Ca.
negie Foundation is to conduct an invo,,,
CATION into the enforced resignation a,
Prof Willard C. Fisher of WESLEYAN t-r,
verslty has aroused a great deal Of inter.
est among university officials and friend,
OF Prof. Fisher. The interest in tho ca,s
is further increased by the news MAD.
public within the last few DAYS that PRO,
Fisher is spoken OF as the choice q, +,
large number OF Democrats in this section
of the State for Governor.
For a dozen years Prof Fisher has hss,
a prominent factor In Democratic polite,
in this city and Il was due to this political
activity more than to anything else tina,
he finally save UP his work as professor
OF economies and social science In w.s.
leyan University.
The storm broke some time early in
1918 when the professor was speaker a,
a political gathering in Hartford. In hi,
speech he made the statement that in hi,
opinion It might be better for communiti.s
at large IL the churches were closed for
a while. This statement was published
and at once church people all over the
country rose ny In arms and the attention
of President Snanklin of Wesleyan Uni.
versity was called TO the matter. Within
a short time Prof. Fisher handed in hh
resignation and the board of trustees OF
the university accepted II at once. HIS
place on the faculty was taken by Prot
William d. Bailey and Prof Henry c
Emery of the economic department Of
Yale. The trustees voted. however to
continue Prof. Fishers salary until June
1913. the end of the academic year.
In the months between his alleged
forced retirement from the Wesleyan
faculty and the end of the year stories
were circulated through the town and
eventually through the State that Prot
Fisher had N unjustly treated in being
forced to rotne, inasmuch as his work at
the university had not been criticised. In
a speech delivered in New Haven in the
latter part of 1919 Prof. Fisher, who up
to that time had been silent, bitterly at.
tackled President Shanklin.
Within IA short time friends of the pro,
fessor laid the matter before the Amer
lean Sociological Association, the Amer.
lean Economic Association and the
An. 'rirar Political Science Association.
Committees from the three societies were
appointed to investigate and at con-
ference Of these committees It was de-
cidsd TO turn the matter over 10 Presi-
dent Pritchett of the Carnegie Founda.
ton.
Wesleyan was placed on the eligible
list of the Carnegie Foundation SONS
years ago. There Is now considerable
speculation as to the outcome " President
Pritchett should uphold Prof. Fisher
Friends of the latter say that In that
event It is likely that Wesleyan mish.
be taken or the list Of universities whose
aIinihIe In nan.
sions on account of its religious views.
Although always interested in civic
matters and public questions he was
heard of little in local politics until 1908,
when he was elected councilman for he
city of Middletown. During his term as
councilman he was constantly before the
public. his position as a member OF the
Wesleyan faculty increasing his prom
hence. In 1906 he was elected Mayor Of
Middletown on the Democratic ticket He
served for two years and In 1910 was re-
elected for two years more.
No action was taken by the trustees Of
the university either indorsing or con.
demning his activity In politics.
Under the rules of the trustees Of Wee
leyan a professorship is a position for
life during good behavior. Neither Presi.
dent Shanklin nor the board OF trustees
can remove any member of the faculty
without preferring charges against him
and giving the defendant an opportunity
to present his side. No charges were
ever brought against Prof Fisher. ], IS
understood that his resignation was ten
dered voluntarily" after consultation
with President Shanklin.
According to a prominent alumnus d
Wesleyan who Is a close friend OF Prof..
Fisher and is also In touch with the oif'
Gals of the university, the correspondents
which took place between Prof. Fisher
and President Shanklin was amcable,
One of his associates had this TO 'a1
of his retirement
while Prof Fishers statement is de.
batable. It raises the question TO wha
extent a college professor may express
his views In public Wesleyan was founded
as were most OF the New England colleges.
by church people and has had the support
OF the churches The college formerly
was distinctly Methodist in Its TENDENCIES
although now non-sectarian. But as /!
owes its existence to church influence ana
support the attack by Prof Fisher on tn
churches naturally was resented, since
must reflect indirectly on the college
Wesleyan has been asked 10 present ~
side of the controversy to President Pri''
chett. The answer to the charges OF VIZ
fairness will be made by John c. car.
Of New York, president Of the board "