New-York tribune., 1919-01-09
Stowell. Tells
OF w ar Views
AT Columbia
Ex-Teacher Admits He Had
Interviews With Various
Men in Pay of Germans
Nelo York Tribune
Washington Bureau

" dSHngtOn bureau
WASHINGTON, Jan. s.-Columbia
University, its policy on academic
freedom" and the war views of some of
its professors came in for considerable
discussion before the Overman com
mittee on German propaganda to-day
when Ellery C. Stowell, formerly an
assistant professor of international law
at the university, was heard. Professor
Stowell, who resigned after considera-
BILE friction, appeared before the COM
mittee to clear himself of suspicion of
pro -Germanism.
Under questioning Dr. Stowell esti-
mated that more than 20 per cent of
the faculty of which he was a member
were either pro-German or "peace-at-
any-price" men, which, Senator Nelson
volunteered, amounted to the same
thing. DR.. Stowell took pains to ex-
plain that President Butler and the
majority of the faculty had been vigor-
ously pro-Ally from the first.
Germans He Had known
Professor Stowel went at length
into his relations with the Germans,
admitting that he had had interviews
with DR.. Heinrich Albert, one time
German "paymaster"; Dr. Edward A.
Rumely, owner of "The New York
Evening Mail"; William Bayard Hale,
William Randolph Hearst's Berlin cor
respondent, and others, and received
$lO0 from Otto Merkel, of the German
University League, for a review of
Professor Won Mach's book. But he
maintained that he had seen to it that
the Germans "get both Sides about
the war, and had in his book and in
newspaper writings been strongly pro-
Ally. He said that he did not like to
have too much emphasis put on that
$1OO.
well" said Senator Nelson, "I must
say that l think, considering your sur
roundings, you deserve credit for not
slipping further from grace"
Prof. Stowell said that he knew when
he undertook SO much writing that he
was risking his position. He declared
that President Butler sympathized with
him, but would not stand up for him
when matters came to a crisis, and that
he was practically forced out
Senator Nelson asked whether he did
not think he was rather exceeding the
bounds of academic freedom in carry
ing on his propaganda. but Prof. Stowell
thought not, maintaining that this pub
lie agitation was not only proper but a
duty.
"You give me the IMPRESSION" Sen
ator Nelson finally remarked, "that
you were trying to carry water on both
shoulders that you had Good Lord
Good Devil attitude, though I have not
read your book and may be doing you
an injustice"
Says Bryce Approved
Professor stowell agreed that this
was unjust, and said Lord Bryce had
approved his book, thus proving it's
pro-Ally character. The committee de.
clined to go into the question of aca-
demic freedom as such.
After Professor Stowell's testimony
the committee adjourned in respect te
the memory of Colonel Theodore
Roosevelt
Major J. ]. Dickinson, who received
$40 week for writing for German use
such confidential information as his
long relations with government officers
enabled him to pick up around Wash
lnlgton, according to testimony already
given, appeared and asked to be heart
on Friday. The committee promised
that he should hav.Y his chance as soor
as he could be reached. Some of the
letters he wrote, signed Josiah Win
gate" which were remarkable for the
accuracy of the inside information they
contained, may be introduced in con.
nection with his testimony.
Information gathered by Charles H
De Woody, chief of the Bureau of In
vestlgation of the Department of Jus
zee IN Ntew York, will be presented to-
morrow either by A. Bruce Bielaski OF
Mr.. De Woody personally Anothe,
with 'ss will be E. P Swenson, OF
Swenson & Co., bankers, 81 Broadway