New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-09
R..ents Ousting Of Pacihst
Professors Without
Hearing
Objects to Rule by
"Men of No Standing
Manual Laborer Has More
Rights Than Faculty,
He Tells DR.. Butler

p-of,ssor Charles Austin beHIu' "V""
-, .be department of political science
- colunbia University, severed yester-
5.v, connection Of ten years duration
,,,h that institution. In his letter OF
,-.,;-n.tion 70 President Butler he said
~. he could not help Sustain public
s.;-ion in support OF the just war on
,bs Cermsn Empire" while he remained
= the nay Of university trustees VINO
~. no standing in the world Of educa-
40, Who are resctionsry and vlsioniess
!, POLITICS. narrow and medi~vai IN re-
lgion."
Iro.ber reference to professors who
,,Id their positions literally by the
dsyr and to the professor liable to dis
r;.ssl without hearing, without the
Judgment Of his colleagues who are his
81 re.rs" seems 70 indicate that the
.t...io, Of Professors J. McKeen Cat
,sl and H. W. Y. Dana week ago. was
-, w;tbout effect in the decision which
p-ofe..or Beard reached. In the minds
~ most Of the students and many MEM
-, ~ IN. faculty that action by the
,,rs.e.s was what caused PROFESSOR
Beard 10 resign.
p-ofessor Beard conducted his class
IN political science as usual IN the
.t,s-,oon There was nothing in his
manner 10 warn the students OF the
announcement that interrupted the
shuttle Of feet that followed the clsng
q the gong at the end OF the PERIOD
Applauded by Students
eThis IS my last lecture in Columbia
University" said the instructor cooiIy.
81 have handed in my resignation this
afternoon. to take effect at a. m. l
thank you
For an instant there was absolute
E ence. The youths were quick TO see
the point. however, and the din Of
applause which dehed all efforts to
ouell it for fifteen minutes, showed on
which side their sympathies lay.
Professor Boards letter to DR.. But
Ter follows:
"Dear President Butler: Having
observed closely the inner life at
Columbia for many years, have
been driven TO the conclusion that
the university is really under the
control Of a small and active group
Of trustees who have no standing in
the world Of education, who are re-
dictionary and visionless in politics,
narrow and medieval IN religion.
Their conduct, to use the language
Of q resolution adopted last spring
by one of the most important facul-
ties, 'betrays a profound misconcep-
ton of the true function Of uni
versity in the advancement Of learn
ing.' How widespread and deep is
this conviction among the professors
only one intimately acquainted with
them can know.
"lf these were ordinary times one
might more readily ignore the un-
happy position In which the domi
nsnt group in the board Of trustees
has placed the teachers, but these
are not ordinary times. We are in
me midst of great war and we
stand on the threshold Of an era
which will call for ell the emanci-
pated thinking that America can
command.
Hopes for Germany's Defeat
CAS- you are aware, | have, from
Inc beginning, believed that victory
for the German imperial government
would plunge all Of us into the black
night Of military barbarism. | was
among the first TO urge declaration
Of war by the United States. and
believe that we should now press for
ward with all our might TO a just
conclusion. But thousands of my
countrymen do not share this view.
Their opinions cannot be changed by
curses or bludgeons. Arguments sd-
dressed 20 their reason and under
standing are our best nope.
"Such arguments however. must
come from men whose disinterested-
ness is above all suspicion. whose
independence is beyond all doubt, and
whose devotion TO the whole country,
as distinguished from any single
class or group, is above all question.
am convinced that while ] remain
IN the pay Of the trustees OF Colum-
bia University cannot do effectively
my humble part in sustaining pubic
opinion IN support of the just war on
the German Empire or take posi-
Non OF independence IN lhe Gays VI
reconstruction that are to follow.
Tor this reason herewith tender my
resignation as professor of politics.
10 take effect on the morning OF
Tuesday, October 8, 1917.
81 cannot find words to convey to
you what il means 10 sever close ties
Of so many years standing. Above
all do ! regret TO part from my col
leagues.
Professor and Laborer Compared
"As ! think Of their scholarship
and their worldwide reputation and
compare them with the few obscure
and wilful trustees who now domi-
nate the university and terrorize the
young instructors, | cannot repress
my astonishment that America, OF
all countries. has made the status of
the professor lower than that of the
manual laborer. who, through his
union, has at least some voice in the
terms and conditions OF his employ
ment
Holding his position literally by
the day, the professor : liable to
a'smlsssl without a hearing, without
me Judgment OF his colleagues who