Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-02-15

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Tha majority of the committee Of the
Alumni association of the University of
Vermont. appointed to Investigate the
alleged anti-Arnerican activities OF Prof.
Anton H. Appel,nann. in long report
lprcseotec to the executive committee of
the beard or trustees last night find
Dr. Appeiinnnn guiltless Of any such
activity. Tho only possible document
which might furnish grounds for believ-
ing him guilty of such activity, say the
majority OF the committee, is n letter
written TO Prof. PncI Ro6rSach, with
whom ne was employed in a clerical
capacity in the information bureau OF the
imperial German navy for a short period
following the outbreak OF the war. The
letter in question was written On D@cem-
Der s. 1915 ard 4 copy Of it was kept
by Professor .Appelmanri. who translated
1t into English. The report says this letter
was written in the E.anner Of corrc-
spondcncc between friends, whose corre-
,spondenco was upon political and eauca-
tional matters"
The report is signed by all of the COM
. mittee except it's chairman. Henry B.
Shaw, who submits a minority report with
findings of an opposite sort. "On all the
evidence l am compelled to find" says
Mr.. Shaw. that DR.. Appenann's status
I in this country after he returned in Sep
I tember. 1914, subsequent to the outbreak
of hostilites in Europe, was something
, different than he stated before the COM
mittec, which was to the effect that he
!had no superior in this country except
the university authorities; that so far
as official Germany was concerned he was
left on his own discretion and that there
was one in Germany who was in
I formed directly or indirectly as to what
he did here
II am unable to find this as a fact. for
it appears to me most improbable that the
efficient German government. in the
exigencies of war, would have allowed
5 him to return to this country without re-
= tanning some real control over him. and
a without expecting some real service from
f him.
: II find that, it was un-American to &c
e to Berlin for advice as to what attitude
e German American citizens should take or
this subject of preparedness"
). The investigation was undertaken by
: resolution of the Alumni association dur
e ing commencement week last june the
n reasons given being that several Ameri
r can publications of the best repute' anc
}. Colonel Roosevelt. have seen MT to criti'
c ciZe the anti-Amerlcan activities OF a n
Appelmann' aho because Oh 'h,s crit,
- inwnlvo tho GOOD name of the universit,
- and one of it's nrofesgors The publica
lions in oues,ion werc particularly tn,
= outlook and the New York Times.
4 President BENTON laid before the ex
i, iccutive committee of the board of trus
d tees the resignation of Professor Appel
mann. and upon consideration of tn
same it was voted that ii be referred t,
the board of trustees at their meeting ol
February 24th next, and that the presi
dent be requested to arrange with Pro
fcssor Appelmann to retain his chai
n until final action of the board. Boil
factions will be taken
The petition to the trustees. initiate'
by seniors of the College of Arts an
Sciences, and signed by nearly 200 stu
dents, asking the trustees that Professo
81 Appclrnann' resignation be not accepted
< was also presented to the executive com
G mittee. The desired action OF cours
= could rot be taken.
Y, The following report in full Of the ma
l. jOrity was received by the Following mem
=, bers Of the executive committee: Rober
l. Roberts, Judge +, G. Mower both OF Bur
- linSton: Newman h. Chanee OF Rutiah
n and George ii. Powers. associate 1ustic
!: Of the suTrcme court, whose nome Is /
al MorIisv'le. Tho report Ioliows:
n MAJORITY REPORT.
Is r. p,,,, c,ow,rt pre.ideri Alury
L. o.;ot;aro - ~. Irr;v.rs,,v ~ ycrmor
g .aE SIT A,r;.,,,t,,,, Col,cpe
le rs-,.,a~. ~ ,ho rn,oI,,,o, ~ tho Alpmr
ID .;..,. 80, .,,.,ch.d ~. urde,
le .."on ,xo,ta.. ~ tro cor,wittee ar
u s ~. ,.,,..,,,,,,t - .h. a act;v,,,e
r n. ", s' .o,r,,n, sesnoctTuIiv p,
in "i i'".e'"'o' Hpi" -
N 80 80, ,o.s ,rs oot
al ~, ,o,n ~. .h.,. r,,are nr..e,
d. u.SS Vi IS' ~ u sns.- rSu,;
I'd Mes@. nehry n nann;.. 60
=. ~. ,h~'e'ce' "e, D,s,.. 49,.
!, ~. i'oish ano fowaTo H. Lo"'.,'' III
re- indte', rroiessor npP.nA ~s,' ea
20 d. l." H''s ana |"'"'o' ~ '' '
In repor'er'
bn1 We considered GIL information n'""S'
io the attention oi t0e eoii'''''tee
Ar witnesses ard correspondents anu -
n amined PROFESSOR Nppetih'nh anu u
nd letters and papers All Information o'
,w tanned by the committee was 'aid oeio'