Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-06-28
warm MEETING OF ALUMNI
Appelmann Case Stirs Up Uni.
versity Graduates.
Lively Discussion on Motion to Accept
Minority Report Of investigating
Committee a. the Sentiment
Of the Association.

The meeting Of the associate alumni
Of the University Of Vermont At the
university chapel at 4:30 o'clock MON.
day afternoon moved In its usual
course until, with all business pracu-
cally complete, 1t was suddenly ehhv-
ened by the introduction OF the ApPe!-
mann case. The meeting was attend
al bv 1Oo persons With the announce
ment Monday morning Of the re-elec-
ton by the trustees of Professor Appel
mann 70 the chair of German language
and literature, following their accept
ance early in the year OF his resigna-
ton at the time the trustees accepted
the majority report of the alumni COM
mittee appointed to examine his alleged
anti American activities. 1t was antici-
pated that the alumni would hold some
discussion of the case. In fact, 1t was
Immediately apparent by the group
ings Of those attending the meeting.
The meeting came close to
adopting the minority report of the
alumni committee. which was against
Professor Appelman, as the sentiment
of the alumni in the matter. losing 1t
only by six votes after a lively discus
sion. A determining factor In the
vote was the presence at the meeting
Of many members of the senior class,
who ordinarily would not have
attended. as graduation has always
hitherto come after the alumni meet
ing. Commencement being held Mon
day morning the seniors were thus
eligible. and were welcomed into the
alumni body by President Stewart In
little speech made while the nominate
ing committee was out of the room.
Practically all the seniors present
voted to have the motion laid on the
table. Without them, the result might
have been different.
1t was late in the meeting, during
wait for the report Of the nominating
committee. that Henry 3. Shaw, who
made the minority report of the alumni
Investigating committee. rose and
moved that the investigating commit
tee be discharged. it having made its
report.
F. H. Crandall Immediately request
ed that the alumni gathering act on one
or other Of the reports of the alumni
investigating committee He moved
that the minority report. which was
against Professor Appelmann. be ac-
cepted as the sentiment Of the alumni
His motion was seconded by three
who arose almost at the same time. one
of whom was the Rt. Rev. George Y.
Bliss.
vote was taken that the committee be
discharged and Mr.. Crandall repeated his
motion to have the gathering adopt the
minority report as the sentiment of the
alumni.
Darwin P. Kingsley. In a brief speech,
said that the investigating committee of
the alumni had been instructed to make
its report to the trustees. that 1t had so
done and it's report had been acted upon /;
that it was not the duty for the alumni
to act upon the report as that had al
ready been properly done by the trustees.
President Ralph A. Stewart, who was
presiding. made practically the same
point.
Carroll w. Doten, who was a member
Of the investigating committee. said that
It would be unfortunate to bring up the
matter by vote, saying that 1t would be
unwise to make such motion Ito accept
the minority report) as it would be in
effect slap at the trustees, who alone
have the responsibility in the matter.
When he said that 1t would be partic-
ularly unwise to go on record as against
the practically unanimous action in favor
Of Appelmann an uproar Of dissent was
created and Mr.. Shaw, who was sitting
almost in front of Mr.. Doten, arose and
faced him, and four or five others also
Jumped to their feet with loud protests.
The situation was tense for a moment,
and then Mr. Doten explained his state
ment to mean not the trustees vote on
Saturday in its reelection Of Appelmann
but the acceptance of the majority re-
port by the trustees in February.
Mr.. Doten said he saw no advantage to
be gained by the motion; that the case
was unfortunate in its inception and in
its continuance. He made the motion tina,
NJ dol he 4
Dean Tinkham of the Medical College
said that he could not see that Mr.
Crandall's motion involved in any way
a spirit Of patriotism. He said that the
principle of good government, OF
democracy was the settling of all ques.
tons by the majority. This case. he said
has been settled by the majority of the
committee. and by the trustees.
Prof Harry F. Perkins then made tn,
motion that the question be laid upor
the table.
The question was then put to a VOTE
THAT the matter be laid on the tablet ant
President Stewart announced that tn
ayes had it. But there was insistenc
upon a more definite form of voting, ant
so standing vote was taken. will
Secretary Roy L. Patrick acting as teller
There were "a affirmative and 10 negativ
votes. and the case was therefore drop
ped.
The business of the meeting precede,
the discussion of the Appelmann case. I
consisted of the reading Of the secre
tary's report by Roy L. Patrick: treas
urer's report by Forrest w. Kehoe, VIII
reported receipts of $743sA, Expenditures o
$6l26, with a balance on hand Of $2S2 IS
the reading of the obituary report by tn
RI Rev. George Y. Bliss; and a repor
OF the alumni committee to nominate
trustee. made by Mr.. Shaw.
The vote for trustee was as follows
Total cast, s07; Herbert NJ. Mcintosh o
Burlington. 297: Robert NJ. Catlin o
Franklin Furnace. n. j., 264; Henry E
Oatley OF New York city 173; George {
Hubbard OF Red Hook, N. Y, SO; defectiv,
a.
REPORT OF OBITUARY COMMITTEE
The obituary committee reported tn
oeath. during the past year. of 2
Graduates or sometime students q
NE university. as follows:
1S56-Charles ARENAS Kent, Dor
Hopkinton. N. Y. II October. 1895, die
Detroit, Mich. may. 1917.
1864-Wolfred Nelson Phelps, Dor
South Hero. VT. 20 February, 1897, die
South Hero, IL November. 1915.
Ex-1864-Henry White Como, Dor
South Hero. VT. 20 January. 1912. die
South Hero. 90 November, 1916.
1s69-Rev. Nelson Orlando Freema
born Wolcott. VT. january. 1896. die
Batavia, ILL.,. "a March. 1917.
1s73-William Parker Barker. boz