The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-03
nARBARous PRACTICES At nARrAan.
President Eliot's Do.nothing Policy Sharply
Criticised by m Overseer

CAMBRIDGE. Jan. 2-There Is said to be seri-
GUS discord among Harvard's officials on &c
count OF the exposure Of tho barbarous prac-
tees at the notorious 'Dickey Club" and
/ President Eliot's admission that he know all
about II, but was powerless to Interfere
There will be music at the next meeting OF the
Board OF Overseers and unless there Is o very
decided change OF base on the part OF Presi-
dent Eliot and other members Of the faculty.
there will probably be an official demand for a
searching investigation. with Wow to wiping
out tho evil Mr.. Henry W. Putnam. n member
Of the Board OF Overscers criticises President
Eliots do-nothing" policy as follows:
The Dickey Club has become what It now
ts. the headquarters of tho worst dissipation
and OF tho most barbarous and degrading
practices to be found mt Harvard. the disgrace
OF tho college and tho curse of mbridge
wholly within the twenty years OF President
Eliots administration. and principally within
the last ten years. when his policy OF non in
terference with students misdoings has been
In full force. SO far from being tho result of the
period Of suppression the present Dickey is
period Of unbrided license. Upon this roint
the testimony Of graduate and undergrad
Hate y msm1srs IF the X Of thu it TWEEN
college, absolutely agree. Tho secrecy attend
light Of intelligence hut has been partially
o1y Sy thS more and
themselves. which could not be- S Kept a' %Ioi1s
out of the newspapers. Tho inner rites and
doings Of these occasions would have contin-
lar as the public is concerned. though they
have been n well KNOWN for years to tho presi.
case Of branding haI not accidontaiiy come one
| under the Immediate personal cOgnizance OF
man OF MIR. Garrison's moral sense and cour-
This you call President Eliot's slow. sure
way OF allowing effect to follow cause ,natu;
result of it hns been tho steady increase for
| two decades OF the scandal and disqualification
attending the development of the hickey Club.
The drink ing at tho meetings has steadily in
creased during this administration. II Mr..
Garrisons letter works any. reform it will 10
not because of but in spite Of President Elipt's
policy As a graduate and oyerseer Of Hnr-
ward desire to thank Mr.. Garrison for doing
my Anna mater and p one wH"h sh Sn sore "
needed. wish to thank him still more. how
ever Tor striking blow ut the do nothing pol
| hobby to such preposteroms extent that
hs is to-day very popular with The fast set
prestige Of that at club draws in and demoralizes
many good fellows in each class. who should
be in different company md about better
nmp snd aeety sst upon the
tone thus given to college iiie.,
system by the faculty over the students. but a
policy OF regulat ing. and. II necessary. break.
| students under the very shadow of the college
buildings is essential to the moral welfare OF
the university. The faculty already regulates
and controls matters which are more difficult
to manage. such AS the residence OF students in
| Cambridge and attendance ut college exercises;
the travelling Of the musical and dramatic
societies over the country, even In vacations
the number and locality, OF the inter collegiate
teams. These and other reforms, recently es.
tablished. werc chiefly inaugurated at the dc.
mand of tho Board Of Overseers. in spite Of
of his policy. They have succeeded as far as
they have gone. and in my opinion. for one
they. might have gone further | do not know
dent and faculty for any official action in the
1iekSy matter. :, They certainly I'M viii have
member of the Board to vHte for such action.
he e6er DIE t that dd
very much doubt. 1t is more iiourishine. more
naa and o ssrG pfc S os
dent Eliot. than ever before. The current. agi.
tatlon has advertised It and increased its
that determines its character and policy
Nothing hut the presencs in Cambridge. Of a
and inviting it to submit its pro pro:
already yF done he ahs} f
any avail. I believe self that it would prob:
| ably soon be necessary in any event to break
up the society altogether. ! have not n shadow
OF doubt that this can easily be done. and al
gTatciulto the professor who should. as Prof
Chaplain offered to do. break up the club once
for all. and clear the atmosphere around Har
uat d N tried rst Thus much. at least L
due to the outraged public conscience"