New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-16
Count Columbia Barred
Says He Works Only
for UpIift of Russia
ILIODOR'S NAME
NOW IN TANGLE
Mad Monk Brought Ser
bian Consul Generals
Objection, He Says

Count Ilya Tolstoy last night issued
a statement ia reply to Professor
Michael I. Pupin, Serbian Consul Gen
eral, who two days ago sided with Pro-
fessor John D. Prince in the tangle
which followed the refusal Of Columbia
University to allow the son of the
Russian author to speak at a gather
ing on the campus.
Professor Pupin was quoted as say
ing: 81 approve Professor Princes
action, on the ground that Count Toll
stoy has associated himself with peo-
pie who, in my opinion, were working
against the best interests of Russia
and her Allies and were using means
which are not considered beyond re-
preach by people who believe in sin
cerity and honesty of purpose"
Here is the counts statement, issued
through his counsel, Charles (. lie
Barber:
The statement is an outrage, and
entirely untrue. l have three sons at
the front fighting for Russia, one OF
whom is 2 prisoner in Austria, and
for six months /. too. have been in
the service or nv country. The Toll
stoy Society Of Moscow and the Asso-
citation Of Press and Literature of Mos
COW have approved Of my lecture,
which was the same as given by me
at Carnegie Hall and accepted by the
authorities in Moscow
Has Met Best People
81 have met some of the finest people
in America. All my thought is for the
uplift Of Russia, and | cannot under
stand how any one dare make such a
statement as has been published.
cannot permit such statements TO go
without the strongest kind of denial"
Count Tolstoy challenged Professor
PUpin to name the persons with whom
ne had associated.
Soon after his arrival in this coun-
try, the count. in company with his
secretary. William Ressnick, attended
the first interview given by lliodor, the
Mad Monk, 10 newspaper men. IL had
occurred 70 him, he said, that II might
be Iliodor to whom Professor Pupin re-
ferred, although he had published let
ters in which he asserted he had moth
ing in sympathy with the monk.
When told of Tolstoy's challenge
over the telephone last night, Professor
Pupin laughed. Asked if he had had
Iliodor in mind when he made his
statement approving Professor Princes
action, he answered, That is not far
from the truth.
"If the count will issue a statement
10 the effect that he has no sympathy
with the sentiments or methods Of
Iliodor in this country, ! will do my
best to put him in the right light That
is the nucleus Of all the objection on
my part don't know him. | must
Judge him by the reports that have
come out since he came 70 this country.
Asks Declaration
81 believe If the count will take the
trouble TO declare himself on this
point it will put him in the right light
in the minds OF a great many person
opposed to him solely for these res'
sons"
When told Of Professor Pupin's rea'
son for Directing to his lecture, Count
Tolstoy said that he had no excuses to
make. He had visited Iliodor out OF
curiosity, as a representative OF the
leading Moscow newspaper, "Russkoie
Slowo," and for no other reason.
Columbia's protest against the exelu-
sion Of Tolstoy yesterday simmered
down 70 an editorial attack on the col
lege rule which gives the head Of q
department the privilege to exclude an
outsider from the campus. No formal
petition against the rule was drawn up
and the resolutions passed by 300 stu
dents on Wednesday were not sub
mitted to President Butler.