July o, 1912] 



SCIENCE 



25 



absolute freedom in research, but I think it 

 only fair that we give evidence of being 

 worthy of our position and salary and see no 

 reason for assuming that students and teach- 

 ers are so different from the rest of mankind 

 as not to need some control. 



Along general lines I agree with you, as for 

 instance, that the several faculties (law, med- 

 ical, etc.) should possess autonomy, should 

 nominate their own professors; that there 

 should be as much flexibility and as little of 

 the department-store system in a university 

 organization as is consistent with the progress 

 of research and with the advancement of 

 learning. On these and many other points I 

 should be at one with you, but when it comes 

 to the details of a scheme such as you have 

 analyzed I should wish time for study of the 

 question — time to study the methods of uni- 

 versity control in Germany, England and 

 other countries — before expressing an opinion. 



I think we are beginning to see indications 

 for " university control " by the members of 

 the faculty. Our medical faculty here is 

 largely in control, not by right, but by assent. 

 Such responsibility makes us more interested 

 in educational problems, in economy of funds, 

 and breeds loyalty, which, after all, is of the 

 greatest of importance. 



I can say that the plan of university or- 

 ganization that you outline strikes me as in 

 its main lines highly desirable, and in its 

 aims altogether excellent. With its leading 

 purpose, that of securing and developing the 

 independence and the individuality of the pro- 

 fessor, I am in the heartiest possible sym- 

 pathy. 



On the whole your plan seems to me excel- 

 lent. It is in accord with the historical de- 

 velopment of university organization, and 

 while very different from the plan now fol- 

 lowed in America, it seems to me that a grad- 

 ual adoption of it would be beneficial. 



I approve of your scheme of university con- 

 trol. 



I read your proposal with much interest 

 and approval. I have no suggestions to offer 

 at the present time. 



Such an organization would go a long way 

 towards solving our present difficulties of ad- 

 ministration, meaning by " our " those of 

 many institutions throughout the country. 

 My limited experience with university presi- 

 dents has led me to believe that some of them 

 at least are incompetent. When it comes to 

 new appointments, their lack of knowledge of 

 suitable men to fill vacant positions is often 

 surprising. I am fully convinced that the ap- 

 pointive or nominative power is best in the 

 hands of such a committee as you suggest. 



The democratic features of your plan must 

 certainly appeal to all who are intimate with 

 the present unsatisfactory state. I think any 

 attempt at a modification of existing methods 

 of university government should include some 

 means of setting a standard for and effecting 

 a scrutiny of the work of a department head. 

 Existing abuse of the responsibilities of this 

 position should not be lost sight of in your 

 scheme. 



I am very much in sympathy with your 

 proposed plan of control of universities. In 

 my estimation the president should have a 

 somewhat higher salary than professors, but 

 the differences that now exist in colleges as 

 well as universities are unreasonable. The 

 excessive (relatively excessive) salary com- 

 manded by certain presidents is, owing to 

 their reputation as financial agents. If a 

 man is able to raise money for an institution 

 he can command almost any salary. Just 

 what bearing your plan would have on the 

 financial management of institutions of 

 learning could hardly be predicted. How- 

 ever, it would tend to bring to the head of 

 such institutions men of scholarship rather 

 than men of marked business abilities and 

 such men would undoubtedly, with the co- 

 operation of the professors, as outlined in 

 your plan, be able to direct the real functions 

 of educational institutions infinitely better 

 than an autocratic business executive. 



