Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-06
BARKER SAYS U. OPP.
BOARD NEVER OFFERED
NEARING YEARS PAY
Prominent Trustee Asserts COL
leagues Did Not Authorize
Provost to Take
Step
DUAL MEANING Sic E N
Mr.. Smiths Statement Said to Be
Open to Two interpretations
on Matter

A definite statement was made today
that Provost Edgar f. Smith, OF the
University OF Pennsylvania, never was
authorized by the board of trustees TO
ofter Dr. Scott Nearing a years salary
following his dismissal from the Wharton
School.
Wharton Barker, a trustee of the Uni
versity, questioned today, said:
mo, the trustees did not vote to con-
tinue Doctor Nearings salary"
He refused to go further into the mat
ter, but pointed out that the statement
issued by the Provost today is subject
to two interpretations. The statement
was: II told the dean CMcCrea) of the
Wharton School that l was prepared,
with the approval OF the trustees, to pay
Doctor Nearing his full years salary"
This. in the r'nion of Mr.. Barker may
be taken to meanethat the provost would
make the offer IL he obtained the con-
ing possible is that the provost intimated
the sanction of the trustees in the
matter
The statement is as follows:
"First-Doctor Whites statement that
Doctor Nearing had been kindly and con-
siderately asked II he could not help to
lessen a growing feeling (Which many of
US thought unjust TO him) by a better
adaptation of his arguments to the under
standing OF his audiences, is entirely cor
rect. l did not ask him to modify his
views of teachings as 20 child labor, or
as to poverty, or as to any other specific
views or doctrines. The whole purpose
of the only interview l have had with
him, which was about four years ago,
was to get him to try to give no ground
for sensational and exaggerated mlscon-
ccptions OF his views. The only example
discussed had reference to ,his then re-
Gently published statement, that he had
ttrff forlx IOat fuNf In, ~, -.
law.'
"Second-Doctor Nearing says. in a re-
cent announcement: Neither the board,
nor the provost, nor any officer of the
board has offered me a continuance of
salary The fact is that on three .sepa-
rate occasions told the dean of the
Wharton School that l was prepared,
with the approval OF the trustees. to pay
Doctor Nearing his full years salary.
and on each occasion the DEAN speaking
for Doctor Nearing, declined the offer.
On one Of these occasions / proposed, II
Doctor Nearing objected. under the cir
cumstances to receiving pay from the
University, TO draw my personal check
for the full amount, but this offer was
also declined.
1.-THE proposition was made because
both the trustees and I desired Doctor
Nearing to understand that the failure to
reappolnt him was not accompanied by
sonally, or by any lack Of appreciation
OF his merits.
LAS a matter of fact, the record OF the
board shows conclusively that 1t has
always heartily favored the fullest aca-
demic freedom. I cordially indorse the
following statement made by Doctor
White in his recent letter to the alumni:
$50 far as l know. nothing could be
more unwarranted or further from the
truth than the assumption that the action
In the Nee ing case was part OF So
called pie TO carry out a reactionary
policy az .nst free academic discussion
and free m of individual speech. There
never has been. and never will be. any
thought Of such policy at the Univer-
sity. There never has been, and never
will be, and guoh action taken by the
board There is not now, and l doubt II
there ever has been, an element In the
board that could influence any votes to-
ward such an end"
Another important development in the
AFFAIR is the stand taken by Doctor Near
lng's former colleagues at faculty
meeting in College Hall last night when
Il. was unanimously decided 10 night the
academic freedom" issue to a finish. A
committee was appointed at the sugges-
tlon Of Prof. Edgar Singer. Of the de-
partment OF philosophy, to investigate
and report on professors tenure OF Of
hce in other universities and colleges OF
the United States.
Among the influential members OF the
faculty who opposed the stand taken by
the board OF trustees were Edward p.
cheyney professor OF history; Cornelius
Weygandt. professor OF English and Prof.
Felix e. scheiling, head OF the English
department.
Dean Quinn and Dean Frazier, OF the
college department and the engineering
college, respectively, were among the
prominent men who attended. Throughout
the entire meeting not one word was said
In defense OF the board OF trustees on
the arbitrary stand which they have
taken in the Nearing case.