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universities find little use； as being refractory material not
altogether suitable for the academic purposes of notoriety。 When
this academic source fails； as it presently must； with the
increasingly efficient application of business principles in the
universities； there should seem to be small recourse for
establishments of this class except to run into the sands of
intellectual quietism where the universities have gone before。
In this connection it will be interesting to note； by way of
parenthesis； that even now a large proportion of the names that
appear among the staff of these institutions of research are not
American； and that even the American…born among them are
frequently not American…bred in respect of their scientific
training。 For this work； recourse is necessarily had to the
output of men trained elsewhere than in the vocational and
athletic establishments of the American universities； or to that
tapering file of academic men who are still imbued with
traditions so alien to the current scheme of conventions as to
leave them not amenable to the dictates of business principles。
Meantime； that which is eating the heart out of the American
seminaries of the higher learning should in due course also work
out the like sterilization in the universities of Europe； as fast
and as far as these other countries also come fully into line
with the same pecuniary ideals that are making the outcome in
America。 And evidence is not wholly wanting that the like
proclivity to pragmatic and popular traffic is already making the
way of the academic scientist or scholar difficult and
distasteful in the greater schools of the Old World。 America is
by no means in a unique position in this matter； except only in
respect of the eminent degree in which this community is pervaded
by business principles； and its consequent faith in businesslike
methods； and its intolerance of any other than pecuniary
standards of value。 It is only that this country is in the lead；
the other peoples of Christendom are following the same lead as
fast as their incumbrance of archaic usages and traditions will
admit； and the generality of their higher schools are already
beginning to show the effects of the same businesslike
aspirations； decoratively coloured with feudalistic archaisms of
patriotic buncombe。
As will be seen from the above explication of details and
circumstances； such practicable measures as have hitherto been
offered as a corrective to this sterilization of the universities
by business principles； amount to a surrender of these
institutions to the enemies of learning； and a proposal to
replace them with an imperfect substitute。 That it should so be
necessary to relinquish the universities； as a means to the
pursuit of knowledge； and to replace them with a second…best； is
due； as has also appeared from the above analysis； to the course
of policy （necessarily） pursued by the executive officers placed
in control of academic affairs； and the character of the policy
so pursued follows unavoidably from the dependence of the
executive on a businesslike governing board； backed by a
businesslike popular clamour； on the one hand； and from his being
（necessarily） vested； in effect； with arbitrary power of use and
abuse within the academic community； on the other hand。 It
follows； therefore； also that no remedy or corrective can be
contrived that will have anything more than a transient
palliative effect； so long as these conditions that create the
difficulty are allowed to remain in force。
All of which points unambiguously to the only line of
remedial measures that can be worth serious consideration； and at
the same time it carries the broad implication that in the
present state of popular sentiment； touching these matters of
control and administration； any effort that looks to reinstate
the universities as effectual seminaries of learning will
necessarily be nugatory； inasmuch as the popular sentiment runs
plainly to the effect that magnitude； arbitrary control； and
businesslike administration is the only sane rule to be followed
in any human enterprise。 So that； while the measures called for
are simple； obvious； and effectual； they are also sure to be
impracticable； and for none but extraneous reasons。
While it still remains true that the long…term common sense
judgment of civilized mankind places knowledge above business
traffic； as an end to be sought； yet workday habituation under
the stress of competitive business has induced a frame of mind
that will tolerate no other method of procedure； and no rule of
life that does not approve itself as a faithful travesty of
competitive enterprise。 And since the quest of learning can not
be carried on by the methods or with the apparatus and incidents
of competitive business； it follows that the only remedial
measures that hold any promise of rehabilitation for the higher
learning in the universities can not be attempted in the present
state of public sentiment。
All that is required is the abolition of the academic
executive and of the governing board。 Anything short of this
heroic remedy is bound to fail； because the evils sought to be
remedied are inherent in these organs； and intrinsic to their
functioning。
Even granting the possibility of making such a move； in the
face of popular prejudice； it will doubtless seem suicidal； on
first thought； to take so radical a departure； in that it would
be held to cripple the whole academic organization and subvert
the scheme of things academic； for good and all： which； by the
way； is precisely what would have to be aimed at； since it is the
present scheme and organization that unavoidably work the
mischief； and since； also （as touches the interest of the higher
learning）； they work nothing but mischief。
It should be plain； on reflection； to any one familiar with
academic matters that neither of these official bodies serves any
useful purpose in the university； in so far as bears in any way
on the pursuit of knowledge。 They may conceivably both be useful
for some other purpose； foreign or alien to the quest of
learning； but within the lines of the university's legitimate
interest both are wholly detrimental； and very wastefully so。
They are needless； except to take care of needs and emergencies
to which their own presence gratuitously gives rise。 In so far as
these needs and difficulties that require executive surveillance
are not simply and flagrantly factitious； as； e。g。； the
onerous duties of pu