Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-12
SCANDAL MoNGERfNG AT
u. or p. ASSAILED

Continued from PaTs One
The wharton school because particular
tndfv,duals were members Of the board
- trnstees on the other hand, 1t is
reasonable to suppose that students dlo
come to the Wharton school because tney
| expected to obtain the KIND OF eouGauioh on
| given bv the instructors advertised IN IT'S
Accordine 10 Doctor wilmer, not more
,ban oue-third OF the 'aristocratic ele-
ment" in Philadelphia is loyal 70 the
| trniversitv The remaining two-thirds
| he says. is Indifferent and in many cases
! sven hostile to the welfare of the insti-
| tuition.
LITTLE BIRD" cHIRPs GOSSIP.
"Tbe social rroup Is not only thoroughly
! nrovinciai." saws Doctor Wilmer. lt Is
very small and closely interrelated In pusl-
ness and family life. casual remark
may thus travel far by underground COM
nunicatlon. as for example, one MADE
last winter at a club dining table which
reached the provost before the person
making it. although he went straight
from the club to the provosts office on a
matter of business A little bird had
brought the Information, so the provost
said.
The little bird belongs, in some cases,
10 the species which feeds upon the repu-
tation of those whom 1t has not the cour1
age to assail openly. Because the board
of trustees dismissed Doctor Nearing IN
secrecy and has since then preserved
I It's secret intact II is now being Whispered
In clubs and private drawing rooms that
other charges we're the basis Of Doctor
Nearings dismissal. II the provost OF
the University of PENNSYLVANIA will only
bear the same testimony in public which
he bore in secrecy before the board OF
trustees It will entirely set at rest such
runors."
Doctor Wilmer quotes former Chinese
student OF the University as declaring |
that Pennsylvania has the opportunity |
Of becoming the most democratic univer-
sity in the East. but the opportunity is
largely lost because Of the influence OF
the so-called aristocratic society element
which infuses snobbery into college life."
THEATRICAL REHEARsALs IN
TERFERE.
Excessive rehearsals Of the Mask and
Wig" are given by Doctor Wilmer as the
reason for a certain student not doing
his work and thus bringing about a let
ter Of objection from his father after the
student had been put on probation. The
father, according to Doctor Wilmer, wrote
to the dean of the college saying. among
other things. that nc did not see how
student could get interested in that SUBJ
jpct anyhow"
"As a matter of fact" continued Doc
tor Wilmer, "the student was interested
In the subject. and had a good mind
but did not do the work. Later on. he
informed the professor In
charge Of the department that the real
trouble with his work was due to the
rehearsals OF the Mask and
Wig"
SCHOLARS SPEECH SUPPRESSED.
Doctor Wilmer asserts that an address
If scholar granted the honorary degree
)f LII. d. In 1911 was suppressed recent
v, after It had been "subrnitted to the Z
opinion of members of the
board Of trustees This man, Doctor
wilmer says. recently has been assailed
by the false report of gossip" Con- c
inuing on this subject Doctor Wilmer a
ays: q
"A calumnious narrative took It's origin
n the fact that he objected, among 9TH
rs to holding the recent honorary ban
uet given by the faculty to the provost 6
n the Manufacturers Club. and also in o
he fact that he delivered an address be- /,
ore the club of Graduate Alumni en- n
tiled. The Agitator in History an ad- d
ress which embodied the deliberate opin- II
ons of a scientific historian and which
'as delivered in the line of his duty as -
professor at the University" u
This is the address, Doctor Wit y
ler says, that was suppressed Doc h
Or Wilmer does not give the
anne of the scholar in question. but
pparently It is Edward P. Cheney, pro-
essor Of European history at the Uni Nj
ersity of Pennsylvania, Four honorary n
egrees of doctor of law were conferred in
y the University in 1911, and Doctor mi
heney was one of the recipients. None er
the others could have been described
y the following paragraph quoted BY m
'octor Wilmer as the qualifications of ri
le man he refers to publicly recited ms
n commencement day" in connection
lth the granting Of the degree: I'm
Greatly esteemed for personal char M
,ter and attainments by your many as sn
'clates in our unlverslty-inVestigato OF
10 history OF social and Industrial | OF
langes in Eugland-author OF important be
eaties upon these and kindred sub dc
by host of students W
hose scholarly careers attest your wis. hs
pm and worth as a teacher" m
When seen at his home today. he re- ici
lsed to either confirm or deny Doctot va
timers apparent reference to himself.
Il have nothing further to say on the by
btect than what have already given diI
IT." said Doctor Cheney. II do not ha
re to either confirm or deny Doctor ra
timers apparent reference to me, and, tic
Iact' do not see where 1 am called NJ,
H W w So IeFsolldlly agree with
oetor Wilmer that Professor Nearing
rs more Of an asset to the University Id
an liability. am progressive, and ~
rs sorry TO see Doctor Nearing dis
ssed. was never connected with him
the University, and knew him only
ghtly. but believe that, though a
'rd OF his might be offensive 10 one
rson, II would please many others. ri
the trustees and the Provost would ia
me out with their reasons for his dis
ssal' then the faculty could venture
opinion OF the reasons. but as the case
W stands, there is nothing further 10
said though suppose the discussion
i continue until fall" p
No,