Another man, a former professor, writes me of the present head of the university: “He does not hesitate to use the black-list to ruin a man’s career.” A professor now at the university writes me a long letter, telling me, among other cases, of a man summoned before the regents and later commanded to resign, for having stated in a private conversation to an old acquaintance that “now that the war is over, we ought to set the political prisoners free”; this man defended himself, and managed to hold on; but another instructor, an able man, was placed in peril of his job for having presided at a political meeting in his home ward, in favor of the labor candidate for mayor. This man was ousted a year later, under circumstances to be narrated.
You will wish to know something about the spy-system, maintained by the “Citizen’s Alliance,” with the cooperation of the trustees; so I submit a statement from Mr. Fred W. Bentley, who was for three years an instructor. His statement is dated August 20, 1919, and the essential parts of it are as follows:
One day last spring, I do not remember the exact date, I was called to the ’phone in my office, Room No. 111, Main Engineering Building, by a stranger who said his name was Miller. He first stated that he had a private matter to talk about, and asked if it were safe to talk to me where I was. I informed him that he could talk to me anywhere, that I had nothing to cover up.
He then told me that he was interested in a little enterprise and that some of my friends had recommended me to him as one who might help him a little financially. He said that he had never had the pleasure of meeting me but that he knew some of my friends. He asked me if I knew a man (I don’t remember the name) who ran a saloon on Seventh Street, but I informed him that I did not. He asked me if I had seen the publication called “Hunger” and I informed him that I had seen someone selling it on the street but that I had not read it.
He said that they were trying to get out another edition and would have to have some machine (I don’t remember what he called it) and asked if I would make a contribution toward it. I told him I didn’t mind giving a dollar or two, and he asked me if I would leave it with State Secretary Dirba, which I promised to do.