Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-06
SiMON PATTEN
TOQUIT U.OF P.
a..,m;ttee Dismisses Noted
economist Active as
Pacifist
.rACHES AGE Ii MI T

. Ascal yesl, question at the University.
me free 81 he considered" in connection
'Fsc.s dismissal. Doctor Patten said, are
vin us nresded at Fridays paclrst meet
tat " which Chancellor David starr Jor-
ms LELAND Stanford, Jr'. univers,ty,
as. aap. and that he was listea as speane.
SPOKE Broad Street Theatre peace
n sun'e ,,h,ch was halted BY the police.
neeuns' have nothing to do with the case,
fnes. to Provost Edgar Fans Smith.
tccoium, e,;ce of dismissal. which came from
Inv pobins, secretary or the corpora
hWst the University. names the age
uon =, sixty-five years as the reason
Iml. patten pointed out that DR. John
pouV,M ,McMaster, professor of American MS
bacn ~ho also has reached the age limit
vi bs retained for at least announcer year,
Fcoupled with the notiiicatlon 10 Doc.or
~ which he says raises anew the issue
PsweH, sneech. following the case OF DR..
~ Saarine. there is a persistent rumor
sco'' General refusal to make promotions
ma, ,.a,ssse the salaries of instructors and
mers im in the Wharton School of
pfolsss and Commerce. which has the
ilnAn enrolment Of any branch Of the
m,aIls'ssrs,ty. will be made this year. Ihe
.... N DR.. Clyde l.. King, assistant pro
sasu ....or Of political science chairman or tne
s..,. esso MIX Commission appointed by the
v,V.,and vo,.ad and secretary Of the utilities
., sA =, which Morris L. Cooke. Director
pM,ss, pMn.s,c works under Mayor Blankenburg,
~. head is particularly mentioned in
n,ossssor Patterns statement.
ru rN.s.. King. he says, has been recon-
.S.S for a full professorship by the
rs1,u %S.rton school faculty, and he believes
~. ne trustees have declined to pass upon
M Recommendation.
~ h renorted that the trustees regard
49,. ,ounrer instructors and professors as
.'.,,iss WV n Doctor Patten. who holds very
.np,nced views on questions of social re-
and II IL recalled that Doctor King
~. s rscently made several public utter
.ss.. .s construed as hostile to the coal mo-
nopoy Of Pennsylvania.
r,.+hsr Il Ia stated that the trustees
:, ,he university have been cunning" for
ncrtor Patten for more than year past
an the theory that only by his removal can
,hs fount and origin of the doctines
sesInst vested interests, which are said to
~ rife in the faculty of tSe Wharton
School. be repressed
.rbe story had reached me before the
unyersty year began that it was intended
N terminate my services, notwithsta nding
NV contract with the University states ex-
!, nr,.ly that It is without Limitation of
time" Doctor Patten said.
.As the rumors that ! would be asked
ID, leave the University became frequent,
/ called upon Provost Edgar Fahs Smith
At the opening of the college year last
eeptenber and asked him for an official
hterpretaton Of my contract. Provost
omith promised that at the October meeting
81 the board Of trustees he would pre-
eent my request and 1t would be passed
upon BY the board. I said to the provost.
Just to see where I stand and whether
this rule Of retirement at a specified age
Limit Is to apply to me. l wish to have an
Official Interpretation of my status under
the contract. I do not wish to be notified
Of my retirement without warning at the
end Of the University year. as was done
IN Scott Nearing's case. but think it is
Due me that the board express its attitude
lov In order that I may make plans for
Ms future
"The provost agreed with me that /
ought to know. But I got no word from
The board after the October meeting. nor
since that time, up to the receipt of the
present notice Of dismissal from Mr. Rob
ms which ignores the existence Of my con-
| tract and ignores my request to have 1t in
hrpreted.
The facts to be considered together
with the trustees disposition of my case are
these. On the evening of Friday last | pre-
sided at the meeting in Philadelphia at
which Prof. David Starr Jordan. Of Leland
Stanford, Jr., University, delivered a pac-
INST address. On Sunday was to speak
the Broad Street Theater. That was
the pacihst meeting which was interdicted
BY the city police and my name was in
The list Of persons who were to address
y On Monday, the following day. the
board Of trustees met and on Wednesday l
sot notice from Mr. Robins
hao asked for a reorganization of the
department of political economy; also for
ue promotion Of Doctor King. The trustees
rave not acted on the recommendation for
ln promotion, and 1t is understood that
uey are not to act upon it,"
Provost Smith made the following state
nent;
my recollection is that Doctor Patten
Hpsoached me in November last with the
susf which he had received In 1891 from
s Hev Jesse Y. Burk, then secretary of
w ooard OF trustees of the University, and
Vuesteo that i get an Interpretation OF
ae same from the board of trustees, as
question of retirement would probably
s'@e up before great while. l promised
am 70 40 so. And / did present the
~ua wtn his request at the very first
u.euns that 1t was possible.
ior Doctor King, the recommends.
~. q the group on political science anG
~. -fN>>S"c o"h ITOfr
n.y. poup on political economy that DR.
vus King should be transferred from
S SM MN group to the second and become q
A. rviessor under the title of professor
s., paailc finance was duly considered, to
ss.."a. win letters which had come from
,s. ,sull members Of the group committe,
publications.. " '''' VI Do.'o' Ming
~. ae committee not only considered thes,
~ e,uiiy, but before taking final &C
1910 rc from Doctor Patten, who ap
shSss oelore the committee. and then con
pots.. NAT the request involved very i'm
urs.m.cn cnanges from the standpoint of tn
,~sw therefore, 1t would make n,
w%snaation to the board of trustees a
4. sr Patterns statement connectin,
u n SvA ss of the board In making no excep
q ~ ne statute In his case with the FAC
r Y Presided or was to speak at a paci
~ y ung Is at variance with the facts
r,sI,.m mention was made of any pacifis
ssc~'t and the recommendations of tn
lnsefirss was taken prior to any sue
nric,. and in complete ignorance of an
'-uon In them by Doctor Patten."
oEWkEE nDo-