Part 1 - The Institute Libraries - Institute for Advanced Study

since the term opened, and would probably bve something to report soon. 74
But nduerd of any report t o the Board remains, or of Dr. Aydelorte's
attitude.
Why did Dr. Flexnar direct his last letter to Professor Veblen
only? The fsculty hsd seen fit to entrust Professor RiefLer also with
expressing its views, but the only recognition Flexner took of the fact
was a esual reference. And his treatment of the Eeculty itself, leaving
Veblen to decide whether to inform the rest of his answer, showed an un-
familizrity with the proprieties, or an indifference. One cannot escape
the suspicion t kt the Director was in some difficulty over having called
the whole group together. This might have cme &bout while he wes in
Arizona; his request for individual znmers uzs perhzps significant. In
such case, the coinplirent for consulting the group must have been uncom-
fortable, as well as the expressed hope that it set a precedent. &e also
is entitled to wonder uhy he called the professors together in the first
place. It was clearly a demonstrztion of his power in the face of Veblenms
declded opposition to inviting him to meet with the School, but it is
doubtful that Flexner was interested then in a shoving of such power, Re
may have sensed that the collective mind would be opposed t o the idea of
an understudy, as he himself perhaps was, 2nd as Mr. Bamberger apparently
also had been since he overlooked the possfbility thEt his nephews might
have been trained to asslrme the management of L. B~mberger b Company, The
timfng was perhaps too early to allou the supposition that, knowing the
real cause for Veblen5s restiveness, he sought to show the Professor that
his colleagues wanted close c~operation with the University,
That speculatf on introduces another one of 'great f nterest. Though