Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-23
PLOT AGAINST U. OFP.
FACULTY MEMBERS Is
/ CHARGED BY WITMER
Head of Psychology De-
partment Says Certain
Alumni Members Have
Conspired to Weaken the
Authority of Professors.

Professor Llshtner Wilmer, chief OF the
Psychology department at the University
Of Pennsylvania and staunch supporter Of
Dr.. Scott Nearing. the recently dismissed
assistant professor OF economies at that
Institution. made public statement
today in which he asserts that certain
members Of the alumni Of the University
have, during the past two years. plotted
to weaken the authority Of professors and
70 encourage trustees in summarily dis
missing such instructors and professors
as aid not meet with their approval.
rThe editorial and other utterances Of
the Alumni Register during the past two
years point to the existence Of de-
termined plot to undermine the position
and Influence Of the faculty" Doctor Wit
ner asserts "and on the other hand en-
courage trustees to assert the right of
arbitrary dismissal OF such members Of
the teaching stan as. in the language of
Thomas $. Gates, are not willing to sub
scribe to certain policies.
Professor Wilmer also points out that
prior to the dismissal OF Doctor Nearing
a member OF the reactionary clique of the
local alumni volunteered the statement
that I'VE were willing to give Scott Near
ing a years extra salary" and that such
proposal was made by ex-Attorney Cen
eral John c. Bell, trustee OF the Uni
versity. at the trustees meeting at which
Doctor Nearing was dropped from the
teaching staff Of the institution. Pro-
fessor Wilmer asks:
Are the relations between certain
members OF the board of directors of the
General Alumni Society and certain MEM
bers OF the board of trustees of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania so intimate that
alumni directors may assume to dictate,
or at least to predict, the future action
of the board of trustees?'
ut is quite clear from the pages OF the
Alumni Register that the trouble threat
ened TO come to a head over the case of
Or. William Draper Lewis dean of the
Law School, who Is subjected to grossly
abusive editorial criticism in the Decem-
ber. 1914. number of the Alumni Register.
'Tailing to get Dean Lewis, the
Alumni Register schemers were ready to
accept victim from some other faculty"
Professor Wilmer brings his statement
to close by challenging the alumni and
trustees to answer nine counts. They
are in brief:
T. Has the General Alumni Society
board of directors the power to make
bylaws?
Second. Did the board of directors Of the |
society make bylaw making seven
members the legal quorum, which bylaw |
was not to be found among the minutes
OF any previous meeting of the board?
Third. Did Provost Smith recommend |
che appointment of a person other than
II, NJ. Lippincott for the office of secre-
tary?
Fourth. Was this letter withheld from
the knowledge of the members of the
board and Mr.. Lipincott elected secretary
1t a meeting Immediately following Pro-
Vost Smiths departure for Europe?
Fifth. Was the Provost's Committee
by the Board of Directors of
the General Alumni Society?
sixth Has the society recently ap-
pealed to the Board of Trustees for
financial assistance?
Seventh. Why has the Board of Di-
rectors Of the society sought to control
he Publicity Bureau of the University?
Eighth. How Is the editorial board of
he Alumni Register legally appointed?
Ninth. Has the small group of alumni
n question had the support and co-opera-
lon OF certain members of the board of