Part 1 - The Institute Libraries - Institute for Advanced Study

Emergency Council, and Chairmtn of the new Central Statistical Board.
Moreover, Flexner suffered from the pressureexerted by &.'Frankfurter,
and wanted an early decision on the important first appointment in
economics.
.
Mr. Stewart had comented favorably on one aspect of Riefler's
nemorandm.: its insistence on starting with a specific problem and
following whither it led. But according to Flexner's ensuing corres-
pondence with Mitrany, even that approval seemed to be infirm. Thus
the Director recounted a conversation with "his adviser," whom he char-
acterized as "probably the ablest economic thinker in the United States:"
This man would prefer sorreone 'who is possessed with some
concrete problem, but who is prepared'to deal with its
general implications.'
Continuing, Flexner said his adviser had quoted a friend, who did not
think the Institute should outline its specific inquiries as yet. He
quoted this one:
'I think it should asserrble a group that would just stew
around for a while and wonder what it is all about. After
six uanths or a year probably somebody would think of some-
thing. I doubt the world is in urgent need of more statis-
tics, more facts, more research; or that the Institute needs
to start with a clerical and statistical force. In fact. I
think that the members should be required to take a vw of
total abstinence from statistics, data, and mybe even facts
fcr a six-months period. This country is simply lousy with
statistics, and crawling with research workers. '53
One might almost conclude that Mr. Stewart's friend favored withdrawing
all economic researchers from their labors just to enable them to lie
fallow for a time. But clearly his "adviser," Mr. Stewark was referring
to the Institute, perhaps in the interest of keeping the situation there
fluid for the time.