Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-18

ins's radical views and utterances con-
stituted a philosophy opposed to the best
interests OF great body uf young men
whose theories and attitudes on social
and economic questions are still In the
formulative state
Among tho former It is understood,
were J. Bertram Llppncott, executor OF
the estate Of Joseph Wharton, who en-
dowed the Wharton School Of Finance
and Commerce, and Wharton Barker.
Among those who brought about the
dismissal OF the professor were known
to be Louis G. Madeira, J. Levering
Jones and Randall Morsan. r. T. Stotes-
bury and George Wharton Pepper also
are mentioned in the same connection.
MIR. Madeira Is president OF the Newton
Coal Company; j. Leverlng Jones Is
corporation attorney; Mr. Pepper is an
eminent lawyer and active In the lay cir
cles OF the Episcopal Church, and Mr.
Morgan is vice president OF the United
Gas Improvement Company,
Doctor Nearing always has been pop
ular with his classes, which are among
the largest In the university. When the
free speech controversy occurred, demon
etrations among the students in his favor
probably had a great effect on the action
OF the authorities in retaining him In his
position. Some persons go so far as to
say that the trustees. fearing the pop
ularity OF the dismissed professor among
the students, purposely waited until the
college had closed for the year and tho
students were widely scattered not to
assemble again for three months by
which time the dismissal would have
been we'll nigh forgotten.
Among the members OF the faculty who
expressed themselves as regretting the
loss Of Doctor Nearing were DR.. Simon
N. Pateen, senior professor OF his depart
ment DIR. Edward Potts Cheney, pro-
fessor Of English history and Doctor
schelllng, OF the English department.
The most loudly voiced protest came
from Harrison S. Morris, an executor OF
the Wharton estate and widely known as
a publlcist and student OF public affairs
In long statement issued last night
he hints that the dismissal Of Doctor
Nearing Is In direct violation of the deed
Of gift from Joseph Wharton that made
possible the Wharton School, The
clause In the deed that is particularly
applicable, according to Mr.. Norris, is
| known as Provision f, and reads as fol-
| lows:
THE necessity Of vigorously furnishing
| by legal penalties and by social exclusion
| those persons who commit frauds, betray
| trusts or steal public funds directly or
indirectly The fatal consequences to
| community of any weak liberation of
| such offenses must be distinctly pointed
out and enforced"
He said further:
LAS one OF the executors OF Joseph
| Wharton, founder OF the Wharton School
OF the University of Pennsylvania, l
stand for freedom OF speech. Assistant
| Professor Scott Nearing, of the Wharton
School. one of the best loved and best
OF teachers in the University, has been
dropped by the standpatters' in the board
Of trustees for expressing Views opposite
to those held by the great trusts and by
| public service corporations, which depend
on corrupt politics for their profits.
"Scott Nearing is n good fellow, who
has seen the oppression of intrenched
monopoly and Spoken of It. He was the
most readily punished OF the group OF
useful scholars OF the Wharton School,
who have been given 1t universal fame
and drawn students from almost every
country of the globe, because he was an
assistant professor and could be dropped
without a trial by his peers, as full
professor could not.
His associates have been equally guilty
OF trying to better social and business
conditions, but they are harder to get,
They have been OF vast use to the
present Mayor and his directors In show
ing up the wrongs done to the city by
corporations whose most powerful direc-
tors sit in the board OF trustees OF the
University They have checked the United
Gas Improvement Company in Its agrees
slons against the citizens. the Reading
Railway was brought to its knees In the
excessive freight charges on coal through
the service OF one Of the professors, and
the talent and efficiency OF the Wharton
School have been used whenever possible
by the present city administration.
"The limitations OF the University have
been that 1t has too little touch with the
life and business OF the city. These
younger men have been bridging the
chasm; and for doing so they have been
under suspicion, and at least one Of them
has fallen a sacrifice on the city's altar.
"The University Of Pennsylvania Is not
a free agent. It is supported by great
sums appropriated by our corrupt leg
islatures, and 1t must obey their wishes,
which are equivalent to the demands OF
the great corporations
"My belief ls that all the right-minded
citizens of tho State would rally to the
support OF the University II It would free
itself from an alliance with Penrose, Ware
and McNichol, which controls its juds.
ment in a crisis like this when freedom OF
speech is at stake"