Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-10-11
Professor of German Leaves Col.
lege Dormitory Voluntarily.
Lieutenant in Charge Of Signal Corps
Had No Objection to Professors
Presence-College Officials
Deny Stories.

1t was reported tnat ne, as the head OF
the German department at the university,
was considered too near the signal corps,
which is located in the north and south
wings of Converse a Just who con-
sidered him too nea to this organization
was not made manifest at the outset, so
a Free Press representative took pains
to clear up this point last evening.
According to general reasoning, 1t was
thought that Lieut.. T.. ]. Wessen, in
charge Of the signal company at the uni
versity, would be the one to object to
Professor Appelmann's presence in too
close proximity to his command, II any
body did. So Lieutenant Wessen was in |
terviewed. This oficer stated to the Free
Press Representative hat no effort on his
part had been made to have Professor
Appelmann leave Converse hall: that he
la no reason for making any such effort,
and that he knew Of no reason why the
professor should have been obliged to
leave there, so far as he was concerned. |
He stated that he had never felt that
Professor Appelmann was at all danger
Gus to the interests of the signal corps. or |
that the professor was in a position to do
any harm to his command in any way.
wAHNERT ALSO LEAVES vOLUN-
TARILY.
Another report which was circulated
was to the effect that Hans Wahnert, an
interned German sailor who has been en-
ployed as a janitor at Converse hall for
the past three years. had been obliged to
leave his position for the same reason.
Wahnert finished work a week ago last
Sunday night. having secured a better
position In the city. Lieutenant Wessen.
when asked II 1t had been through his
influence that Wahnert had left nve
nan, made practically the same reply as
in the case Of Prof. Appelmann. He said
that he had heard. soon after taking up his
work at the university. hat the young
Austrian was thinking of leaving because
Of the fact that the signal men had come
there. with the idea that 1t might be en-
barrassing to them. Lieutenant Wessen
therefore took 1t upon himself to inquire
about the young fellow, and, finding hat
he had been at the university as a janitor
for three years.. and had given excellent
satisfaction during that time. took the
liberty to urge that no action be taken to
ave him leave. so far as the signaf COM
pany was concerned. Wahnert had al
ready secured his other position. however,
and had made up his mind to go.
A. H. Langworthy. veteran janitor at
Converse hall. unde whom Wahnert has
been working for the past three years,
when interviewed last evening. said that
he had never had a better workman in
connection with the janitor work and tina
no suspicion Of any kind had ever attach
ed to the actions Of the young man. Mr..
Langworthy further stated that Wahnert
was fully intending to settle down in this
country. that he was planning to become
an American citizen, n that he expect
ed to be married in the near future.
NO SUSPICION ON PROFESSOR.
Two members of the administrative de-
partment Of the university. Dean G. H.
Perkins. acting president. and Dean J. w.
Votey of the college Of engineering. were
interviewed last evening, also. Their
statement was to the effect that Professor
Appelmann's departure from Converse
hall was entirely voluntary. This move
had been agreed upon at a conference be-
tween the deans and Professor Appel
mann. so they stated, when 1t was decided
that the signal corps would come to the
university. No idea of suspicion of any
kind had rested upon the professor, ac-
cording to the deans, but all had agreed
that it would be better to disarm all crit
icism from enemies of the university and
of Professor Appelmann In this particular
matter. The deans stated that the same
situation had been true in the case OF
Wahnert. who had not been under sus-
picion in the least, but who had agreed
to cave Converse hall rather than give
anybody outside the opportunity to criti'
else the university for his presence there
Professor Appelmann himself. when in.
terviewed last evening regarding his de-
parture from Converse hall. told the sam
) story as that Of Dean Perkins and Dear
Votey. He emphatically stated that hi
had not been 'ousted" from his former
abode. The professor also explained the
facts as he knew them regarding state
ments which had been made that he, a.
) an enemy alien. was seeking a permit
ito live or do business within a barred
, zone which, ii Is understood, referred
, to territory within a mile of a militar,
camp.
, Professor Appelmann stated that, upoi
his return to Burlington a few days ago
. he communicated with United State.
= Marshal Arthur p. Carpenter of Brat
:, tleboro, asking whether it would be neces
!, sary for him to get a permit to NEE
u his classes In the university this year
D Mr.. Carpenter was uncertain about thi
matter and said that he would get il
touch with the authorities at Washing
o ton and let the professor know In a few
days. In the meantime, Professor Appel
mann was to go ahead and meet hi
classes as in the past. The professo
said that he talked with United State
District Attorney Vernon A. Billiard an,
decided. upon his advice. to be on tn
u safe side and take out a permit, whethe
II he needed one or not. He therefor
d made arrangements to do so at once.
g TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT.
- 1t is understood that a Burlington law
YER. who is decidedly antagonistic I
Professor Appelmann, discovered that h
was asking for a permit of this natur
and at once communicated with Mr.. Cal
renter and protested the granting of thi
= hermit. demanding a hearing in the MAJ
- ter. This was granted and the hearln
:. was set for yesterday in Rutland. Earl
!. Yesterday morning, however. word wa
g received from Mr.. Carpenter that on
y NJ his relatives being i'll 1t would be i'm
~ possibIe to have the hearing at tha
lime and that It would be taken up late
here In Burlington.
This ia as the case stands. so far a
IN the facts can be obtained. Professc
~, Annelmann, In telling what he kne'
=. about the matter. mentioned the fa'
=. that. during the past few weeks. from tn
!, time of the closing of summer schoo
~ until the opening Of college. he had vo
VI unfairly gone into the machine shop
10 +, h,1 knitting works in Reading, Pa
IN workine there as n day laborer at
3. amt. ner hour for the express purpo.
no ~ taking the place of a man who ha
Is ha.n drafted and thus showing h
,a....r, 10 the United States. He al,