Editorial note — Chapter XXXV · THE UNIVERSITY OF THE LUMBER TRUST

K. One professor vigorously denies that this was the purpose of the enlarging of the board; but no one can deny that this was the effect. When I submit this comment to this gentleman, he tells me that it is “misleading.” At the same time he gives me an opportunity to test his accuracy. He says: “It is my recollection that Mr. Hart was not encouraged by the council to expect the increased salary, which he demanded as a condition of his return.” I submitted this proposition to Professor Hart, who replied:

“I hope Professor X’s memory is usually more reliable than this. No question of salary was involved. Frankly, I do not know what was involved. I was on leave of absence, in the East. My leave of absence covered the academic year 1919-20. Toward the middle of the year, finding that I was anxious to remain in the East another year, I asked the college authorities for an extension of my leave for another year. You can see that that request involved no financial obligation on the part of the college, as I was on leave without pay and merely asked for a continuance of that status for another year. That was the whole question. Moreover, the college authorities were never courteous enough to tell me what had happened in the case. However, a friend in the faculty who knew of the discussions wrote me that the council felt that in view of the general situation it was best for me not to come back to the college, and that therefore extending my leave would be an empty form. Those are the facts.”