Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-25
NEARING NOT OUSTED
BECAUSE OF SPEECHES,
DECLARES E. B. MORRIS
penn Trustee Says Resolu-
ton for Free Speech
Passed by Board Stands.
Refuses to Say Why In
/ structor Was Dismissed.

I gtruCGOT w dS DlSIIllSS6Q,
re,nsham y. Norris, a trustee OF the
r-lvsrsity Of Pennsylvania and president
~ GIrard Trust Company, said today
y. action OF the board of trustees of the
,s.,seraitv in failing to appoint DR.. Scott
SssrlnF as assistant professor of eco
ssrles was not because of any of the
..,ssr's utterances at that institution.
4, Morris also said an action of the
1ssra OF Trustees in January, 1914, stating
~ ~ could never seriously be suggest
N Il any college or university in this
..,ntrv to stife or control freedom of
.soarht or expression by professors"
.lsuds .unimpaired by the recent action
X that body
~ statement passed upon by the
,.rsiees In January, 1914, was written by
y, Morris and brought before the board
Z ,ristees for action. 1t Is understood
.s.f the meeting was a particularly
,s.rmV one. and that the adoption of the
...tenent was bitterly opposed by sew
.rsi members of the board.
m statement was shown to Mr.. Morris
,tsv and he admitted that the board of
erstees had adopted 1t at that time. He
vss then asked:
s,Foyy TO you reconcile this statement and
~ snhseouent promotion of Doctor Near
~ to an assistant professorship with his
lent dismissal from the teaching stan
n The University"
FREE SPEECH NOT ISSUE.
.Ths was not a question of free
,r,eeh." Mr.. Morris replied.
eDoes that statement stand unimpaired
I, Il, the action of the trustees In failing to
,,appolnt Doctor Nearing?" he was asked.
III does" was the answer. THE
,anstees have rights, even though the
sabic and the newspapers do not seem
4 think 80. We have responsibilities and
must act as we see At in fulfilling our
trust"
NJ. Morris refused to say upon what
syound the trustees acted in falling to
Nappolnt Doctor Nearing to the assistant
professorship.
Al the January, 1914, meeting of the
Board of Trustees, Edward Robins, sec
rtary, gave out the formal statement,
which was said by that body to fully
and clearly express the views of the
trustees on the question of public utter
ances by the teaching force"
Il was as follows:
IN all universities professors habitually
express themselves freely upon questions
Witch interest or divide the community
It could never seriously be suggested in
kny college or university in this country
10 stlhe or control freedom of thought or
expression by professors. In a large
teaching staff of several hundred men,
such as exists at the University of Penn
sslvanla. occasional unwise utterances
fre, OF course, inevitable, but they do
little harm.
1T Is natural for some of the younger
teachers to take themselves and their
questions more seriously than is war
ranted by the extent of their experience.
i is only the passage Of years which
leads discreet professors as well as other
workers in the world, to be tolerant of the
epnions of other students of life as it
exists.
einfalllble wisdom cannot be expected
70 hover continuously over the chairs of
III professors, any more than over all
hoard rooms of trustees or over all news
papers or any other office. Differences Of
opinion must always exist But If sanity
and good temper and sober-mindedness
are kept in view by all persons con-
stfned-trustees, professors, students and
rlbllc-there will seldom be any occasion
for criticism. and none at all for an out
ty on behalf of liberty of opinion and
freedom of speech at the University of
ftnnsylvania."
The storm of protest aroused over the
aetlon of the Board of Trustees of the
University of Pennsylvania in refusing to
nappolnt Doctor Nearing continues un-
Slated today. Hundreds of letters, de-
BANDING an explanation for the action are
Pouring in on the trustees and other Off
esfs Of the University from every section
Of the country.
among the most significant of these is
letter from Thomas Robins, an inter-
sated supporter of matters beneficial to
sae Institution and well-known finan-
Ger, who addresses Provost Smith as fol-
lows
y dear Provost-You know that have
~ and am an ardent supporter OF your ad-
e With two appointments. both to boards
easfe the performance OF responsible duty has
therefore write as a friend, a candid
7 asad to tell you OF the modification l feel
Iassd themselves before the entire country as
- lesat sa q their treatment OF Dr.. Scott Near
as r. sRd Of their subsequent action when ques-
s2sea as to that treatment.
Believe me, the public be damned, attl-
w, w cannot be assumed by any one holding
zae when those administering that trust have
a aa reeelyed State aid 10 the amount OF a
q result Of the s SSi SeaTins Hf dismissal your
- - p trustees is placed In the unenviable
sAsmnsr TO cover their motives for dischargIng
Professor whose standard OF duty has been
ssa, whose success as an Instructor has been
Hsah who has made notable contributions TO
Y literature OF his subject and who has set
p fifai social questions.
Ihey have not heard Nearing: they have
4ssn him an opportunity 10 learn how high
= estimate has been formed OF his character
si teaehing by the public and his associates
- they have injured the University In the
- O. The learned world to an extent that
1ssnoE be now estimated and they have served
alaee on the public that parents who wish
asls sons to hear In class free discussion OF
z2aemie and social questions that they must
80 and solve in after life had better send
kn anywhere but to the University OF Penn
4lfAhia. Very sincerely your friend
THOMAS ROBINS.