Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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1870 AFTERMATH 1908

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“WORE SNEAKERS” Polytechnic Hold-Overs Very Indignant. Editing Class Book Debarred Them From Honors. “Doc” Fuller Objected to Their Cartoons. Students Claim He Used Padded Slippers. Senator Hoar Made the Motion to Withhold Diplomas. Worcester, Mass., June 19. —The withholding of the diplomas of graduation and their degrees from five members of the graduating class of the Polytechnic Institute, has caused a great sensation here today and much feeling is shown. The five men whose degrees are withheld are, together with Dadmun and Dunbar, the men who edited the “91 Class Book.” The latter two had their degrees withheld for other reasons, and it was not necessary, therefore, to include them in this last act. The five men who are thus punished are among the brightest men in the class. Four of them have already secured positions in various places. Summer A. Kinsley has been engaged as instructor of mathematics and drawing in Lawrenceville school, New Jersey. Daniel Forman will be an assistant to Dr. Moon at the Salisbury Laboratories. Harrison P. Eddy will be connected with the city precipitation works. William H. Baird is to be a chemist in a sugar manufactory in a Nebraska city. Herbert A. Warren has not yet accepted any position. Every one of these men have had a large number of offers to choose from. The class book of ’91 is the cause of all the trouble, and when the young men stood up for their diplomas last night these five were given an envelope instead of the courted parchment. The envelope held a letter, which read as follows: Dear Sir — The enclosed is a copy of a vote of the trustees of the institute passed this day, and which I have been requested to communicate to you. This action of the trustees is based upon the fact of your connection as editor with the very objectionable “Class book of’91”. Should you desire any further information respecting that vote you can if you wish to do so see me at my house tomorrow or the day following. Yours truly, Emery Aldrich. This was enclosed with the note. At the adjourned annual meeting of the trustees of the Polytechnic Institute held Thursday, 11 a.m., June 18, 1891, the following action was had: On motion of Mr. Hoar, it was voted that the question of conferring the degree of B. S. upon the following members of the graduating class be postponed for further consideration: William Hull Beard, Harrison Prescott Eddy, Daniel Francis Oregon, Herbert Anson Warren, Summer Alrah Kinsley. A true copy from the record. Attest: Daniel Merriman, Secretary. T he class book is full of grinds on the faculty, and particularly on the president, Dr. Horner T. Fuller, who is said to be very unpopular. All the way through the book the president is spoken of as “Doc Fuller”. The book was offered for sale yesterday for $1, but today they sell for $1.50 and are scarce at that price. Besides the writings there are several pictures, one of the first is a cut of the school labeled “The Jail” and from the staff floats a pennant with the words “The students’ bed .” Then there is a picture of Dr. Fuller’s house on Boynton St. Several other professors live here, and the street is labelled “Via Assinonim”. Dr. Fuller is charged by the boys with wearing padded slippers, or, as they call them, “sneak shoes”, because they say it is his habit to walk noiselessly through the corridors, hoping to suddenly come upon the boys and catch them violating some rule. Last Christmas some of the students sent him a present of a pair of mammoth slippers. The picture in the book with reference to this, represents two of the students standing around a corner smoking cigarettes, and around the next corner are represented the slippers creeping upon them. One young man says in the picture, “Heavens, what was that?” “I swear I heard those sneaks.” The other answers: “Perhaps, it’s the pair we put on the Christmas tree.” There are many jokes on the students, also, in the book. Senator Hoar made the motion in the board to have the diplomas withheld, and Judge P. Emory Aldrich presided at the meeting. The suspended students will have an audience with Judge Aldrich this afternoon. A reporter called on Dr. Fuller this morning and was told that the faculty had nothing to do with the matter, as the attention of the trustees was called to the book. When asked if he brought the matter to the attention of the trustees he replied: “None of your business.” The reporter apologized and said he did not mean to be impertinent. “You did make an impertinent remark; I have not got another word to say to you.” It is possible the matter may be settled today. Worcester Telegram

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AFTERMATH 1908