The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-08-09
APPELMANN
DEFENDED
Pres. Benton of University
of Vermont Issues
Statement
TELLING OF FAITH
IN HIS PROFESSOR
And Denying Sharp Prac-
tees in Reelection of
Man to Faculty

case, the case Of the professor of Ger
man in the University of Vermont VIII
was charged with "anti-American" activ
tiles in the war before the United State
became belligerent, who was absolve,
by majority Of the alumni investigat
ing committee and who was reinstate,
by the trustees of the university recent
| ly:
To the Editor:
There are friends of the University o.
Vermont who advise that statement
dlgnlhed, authoritative and final, be made
to our alumni and the people of thu
state concerning the so-called appel
mann case" Newspaper controversies.
are seldom profitable and never edifying
During my public life / have usually
kept out of all such controversies. Ny
departure from established custom in
this instance will not be marked by any
indulgence in unpleasant personalities
Because certain misrepresentation have
found lodgment in many honest minds,
shall try to review the case as briefly
and comprehensively as possible
|. Prof. Anton H. Appelmann, Phi. d.,
came to the University of Vermont upon
the recommendation of the German de-
partment OF Harvard university in Janu-
airy, 1913, for temporary service to fill a
vacancy in our teaching staff made by
the daath Of Tho Iata Drofaaee, C+n,.a.,
His service was so satisfactory that he
was continued by the board of trustees
as acting professor during the following
year. Near the close of this temporary
engagement our board of trustees urged
him to take permanent appointment as
professor of the German language and
literature and he accepted, with the an
nounced intention of becoming an Amer
lean citizen, before any of us even
dreamed of a European war.
2. During the summer of 1914 Doctor
Appelmann returned to Germany to set
tie some private business matters pre-
liminary to final settlement in this coun-
try. While in the home land war began.
AT that time he was not subject to di.
rect military service and could be used
only in clerical position. He felt, there
fore, that with perfect propTiety he could
demand his passports to return to Yer
mont for the fulfillment of his contract
with the university. In good faith he
came to meet his engagement and mi
tate his citizenship.
3. As the war progressed the situa-
ton for Germans in this country became
more difficult. Suspicious were easily en-
gendered and mere rumors were accepted
by people usually thoughtful as estab-
Iished facts. 1t was only natural that
Doctor Appelmann, then pursuing his
college duties unostentatiously, should
fall under suspicion. There were those
who soon charged him with "anti-Amer-
lean activities" These charges were /
finally based upon correspondence which |
had been seized by the British censors.
Even though the United States was not
then at war with Germany, it was clear
" the duty of the president of the uni
rersity to know that all employees and
members of the staff were observing a
lignifed neutrality. Prompt investiga
ion of the reports circulating to the dis
.redt of Doctor Appelmann seemed to
Indicate that they were without good
,asis for their existence; consequently
10 report was made to the board of trlIs-
ees by the president, such as it would
ave been his duty to make had he found
therwise.
4. During the commencement season
f 1916 the associate alumni adopted
esolution, calling for the appointment I
f a committee by the president of the |
ssociation to investigate the alleged q
anti American activities of Doctor APP [
elmann and report their findings to the {
oerd of trustees. Their committee, COM \
osed of five prominent alumni, was APP I
ointed the following week After thor {
ugh and painstaking investigation and d
iany months of earnest elaboration, 7
he committee of investigation, by vote c
{ four to one, gave Doctor Appelmann T
1mplete exoneration. The four major /
V members of the committee are gentle i
len of unimpeachabe character and of
ndoubted ability. The names of Ed n
ard H Deavitt, Carroll w. Doten, Mer- t
m c. Robbins and Edwin W Lawrence (
re sufficiently well known in Vermont h
, guarantee absolute confidence in the r
ctitude of their motives. They are re- a
a prominent Vermont lawyer "
I'd a former state treasurer, a professor p
economies in the greatest technical C,
hool in America, the manager of an v
iportant metropolitan publishing com p
my, and the chief attorney for one Of n
IT great railroad systems. All are iu- +,
cially minded men. They were under A
obligations to grant favors in this {,
Sc and none were asked Of them. Those b,
ho know them will not need 10 be told Al
at any attempt 10 influence them con n,
airy to the evidence in the case would Al
We met with prompt resentment and .oI
served rebuke. y
s. OF the four letters which excited HI
spicion one was to Doctor Appelmann's y,
Their and It was written in the free and "
" fashion Of son talking to the home IA
ks. al
The second letter was to Miss la h
mbe. a school girl, and The style was m
A. ~ an older person attempting to il
ssent matters that would he Of inter n
to one Of her years. The -clever'y n
wed trick referred to in this letter. in
1 which aroused 80 much csnsurs. b. q.
mes a. harmless - a game % bind