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that they have been called on to face many distasteful
situations； where honesty would not approve itself as the best
policy。（1*）
Whatever expedients of decorative real…estate； spectacular
pageantry； bureaucratic magnificence； elusive statistics；
vocational training； genteel solemnities and sweat…shop
instruction； may be imposed by the exigencies of a competitive
business policy； the university is after all a seat of learning；
devoted to the cult of the idle curiosity； otherwise called
the scientific spirit。 And stultification； broad and final； waits
on any university directorate that shall dare to avow any other
end as its objective。 So the appearance of an unwavering devotion
to the pursuit of knowledge must be kept up。 Hence the presence
of scholars and scientists of accepted standing is indispensable
to the university； as a means of keeping up its prestige。 The
need of them may be a need of their countenance rather than of
their work； but they are indispensable； and they bring with them
the defects of their qualities。 When a man achieves such
notoriety for scientific attainments as to give him a high value
as an article of parade； the chances are that he is endowed with
some share of the scientific animus； and he is likely to have
fallen into the habit of rating the triumphs of science above
those of the market place。 Such a person will almost unavoidably
affect the spirit of any academic corps into which he is
intruded。 He will also； in a measure； bend the forces of the
establishment to a long…term efficiency in the pursuit of
knowledge； rather than to the pursuit of a reputable notoriety
from day to day。 To the enterprising captain of erudition he is
likely to prove costly and inconvenient； but he is unavoidable。
This will hold true in a general way； and with due
exceptions； for men prominent in those material sciences that
have to do with data of such a tangible character； and give their
results in such terms of mechanical fact； as to permit a passably
close appreciation of their worth by the laity。 It applies only
more loosely； with larger exceptions and a wider margin of error；
in the humanities and the so…called moral and social sciences。 In
this latter field a clamorous conformity to current
prepossessions； particularly the conventional prepossessions of
respectability； or an edifying and incisive rehearsal of
commonplaces； will commonly pass in popular esteem for scholarly
and scientific merit。 A truculent quietism is often accepted as a
mark of scientific maturity。 The reason for this will appear
presently。 But so far as popular esteem is a truthful index of
scientific achievement。 the proposition holds； that scientists
who have done great things have a business value to the captain
of erudition as a means of advancing the university's prestige；
and so far the indicated consequences follow。 In some measure the
scientific men so intruded into the academic body are in a
position to give a direction to affairs within their field and
within the framework of the general policy。 They are able to
claim rank and discretion； and their choice； or at least their
assent； must be consulted in the selection of their subalterns；
and in a degree also in the organization of the department's
work。 It is true； men whose talent； interest and experience run
chiefly within the lines of scientific inquiry； are commonly
neither skilled nor shrewd managers in that give and take of
subtleties and ambiguities by which the internal machinery of the
university is kept in line and running under a businesslike
administration； but even so； their aims and prepossessions will
in a measure affect the animus and shape the work of the academic
body。 All this applies particularly on the higher levels of
research； as contrasted with the commonplace （undergraduate） work
of instruction。 But at this point； therefore； the principles of
competitive publicity carry with them a partial neutralization of
their own tendency。
This necessity of employing scientists of a commanding force
and rank raises a point of some delicacy in the administration of
the competitive university。 It is necessary to assign these men a
relatively high rank in the academic hierarchy； both because they
will accept no subordinate place and because the advertising
value of their prestige will be curtailed by reducing them to an
inconspicuous position。 And with high rank is necessarily
associated a relatively large discretion and a wide influence in
academic affairs； at least on the face of things。 Such men； so
placed； are apt to be exacting in matters which they conceive to
bear on the work in their own sciences； and their exactions may
not be guided chiefly by the conspicuousness of the equipment
which they require or of the results at which they aim。 They are
also not commonly adroit men of affairs； in the business sense of
the term； not given to conciliatory compromises and an exhibition
of complaisant statistics。 The framing of shrewd lines of
competitive strategy； and the bureaucratic punctilios of
university administration； do not commonly engage their best
interest； even if it does not stir them to an indecorous
impatience。（2*）
Should such a man become unduly insistent in his advocacy of
scholarship； so as seriously to traverse the statistical
aspirations of the executive； or in any way to endanger the
immediate popular prestige of the university； then it may become
an open question whether his personal prestige has not been
bought at too high a cost。 As a business proposition； it may even
become expedient to retire him。 But his retirement may not be an
easy matter to arrange。 The businesslike grounds of it can not
well be avowed； since it is involved in the scheme of academic
decorum； as well as in the scheme of publicity； that motives of
notoriety must not be avowed。 Colourable grounds of another kind
must be found； such as will divert the popular imagination from
the point at issue。 By a judicious course of vexation and
equivocations； an obnoxious scientist may be manoeuvred into such
a position that his pride will force a 〃voluntary〃 resignation。
Failing this； it may become necessary； however distasteful；
delicately to defame his domestic life； or his racial； religious
or political status。 In America such an appeal to the baser
sentiments will commonly cloud the issue sufficiently for the
purpose in hand； even though it all has nothing to do with the
man's fitness for university work。 Such a step； however； is not
to be ta