The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-10
PRSF. BEARD QUITS
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Believes in War Against Germany,
But Regards Expulsion OF Paci-
fists a Dangerous Precedent.

New York. Oct. 9-Professor
Charles A. Beard has resigned the
chair of politics at Columbia univer-
sity in a letter attacking "a small
group of trustees of that institution
and the precarious tenure OF onlce
of professors generally. His reslgna-
ton was the outcome of the summary
expulsion of Professors Cattell and
Dana because of their pacifist agita-
ton.
Professor Boards letter, addressed
TO President Nicholas Murray Butler,
follows. in part:
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 small and active
group OF trustees who have no stand
ing in the world of education, who
are reactionary and visionless in poll
tics, narrow and medieval in reiig-
ion. Their conduct, to use the Ian
guage of a resolution adopted last
spring by one of the most important
faculties, 'betrays profound miscon-
ception of the true function of n uni
versity in the advancement of learn
ing
How wide and deep is this con-
viction among the professors only one
intimately acquainted with them can
know.
IF these were ordinary times. one
might more readily ignore the I'M
happy position in which the domi-
nant group in the board of trustees
has placed the teachers. But these
are not ordinary times. We stand on
the threshold of an era which VIII
call for all the emancipated thinking
that America can command.
AS hGVn tram
the beginning. believed that vic
: tory for the German government
would plunge all of us into the black
night OF military barbarism I was
among the first to urge a declaration
OF war by the United States. and l
believe that We should now press
, forward with all our might to a just
conclusion. But thousands of my
I countrymen do not share this view
Their opinion cannot be changed by
curses or bludgeons Arguments ad-
dressed to their reason are our best
hope.
| Il am convinced that while re
main in the pay of the trustees of
Columbia university / cannot dc
effectively my humble part in sus.
tanning public opinion In support oil
the just war on the German empire
or take position of independence In
the days Of reconstruction that are tt
follow. For this reason | herewith
tender my resignation as professor
OF politics. to take effect on the morn
ing of Tuesday October 9, 1917
AS I think of the scholarship and
world wide reputation of my col
/ leagues and compare them with tbs
few obscure and w!lful trustees wht
now dominate the university and ter
rorize the young instructors, I canno
repress my astonishment that Amer
lea, OF all countries, has made tn.
status of the professor lower thar
that of the manual laborer, who
through his union. has at least som,
voice in the terms and conditions o
his employment Holding his posi-
ton literally by the day, the profes
sor is liable to dismissal without
hearing, without the Judgment of hi
colleagues who are his real peers.
am sure that when the people un
derstand the true state Of affairs il
Our universities they will speedily en-
act legislation which will strir
boards of trustees of their absolute
power over the intellectual life Of tn
institution under their management.