The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-08-04
COLLIs HUNTINGTON
Explain His Recent Uteralce
on Educational Matters.

qrcenviila Tenn, Aur., s-T.s follow
.ns letter q Coils p. HUI ingtcn has Just
been received by Judge V. W. Gruhbs,
chairman OF tn. state comm 80 Of In
dustrial Education. It was addressed to
ann at Austin, and remain. there for
about six weeks.
An extract from the authorized report
Of tbs saeectr-w -whioh-sls sxcited 80 much
unfavora5lo comment is also givon'
" W Grubbs. Chairman State Commit
teo. House Of Representatives. Austin. Tex
as
Dear Sir. have your letter OF tho &-n
relative TO the subject OF 'overeducation'
as referred to In my talk at a diunor Civ
en- in San Francisco to the heads OF the
various departments Of the southern Pa
eihc Company. As 1 gather from what
you write that you have only extracts
from that speech. send you herewith a
newspaper clipping containing the tul
text. and have only 70 say in dition.
that ] am really too busy 90 go into any
explanation OF my Views on t-ls subject
They are however. very simple and con-
sist in my belief, that for thlng ,..at
the generality of young men spend too
Irany OF perhaps tie moAt valuable years
OF their life in the school room. 1 do not
say, and never mean, TO imply. that edu-
cation Is harmful In itself, but do say.
that IN my opinion the mass OK cur boys
by carrying their education beyond the
point to which, It Is Of couro necessary
that they should 90 to cope With the prGc-
ucal details OF business, gain a positive
distaste for labor which does not come
under the head OF genteel-if / may 40
call it--and as a result we see young men
crowdlng early into poorly-paid places
where they do not have TO soil their hand
or do not have to do what &C called man
ual labor while good mechanics posi-
tlons, with good pay attached. and good
chances for promtion so begging as it
we're In many cases.
EDUCATING YOUNG MEN.
This is a curious condition OF things
and must be explained before we can call
the present system OF educating the
young men OF this count--' TO a satsfao-
tory one. AS a general thing IA boy who
has got the push In him to make sue
cess In life (and by success l do not mean
the mere getting Of much mon although
do include as one OF the principal elo-
ments OF success the getting OF a compo-
tence which shall protect a mans family
from dread and realization Of povertyD
viii succeed without the higher educa-
ton better than that no will educate
himself In the higher branches. WalN
down the line of the most successful men
the most practical and common sence
men. the great merchant the great sclen-
lists those who have really given 10
the world much that the world has 70
be thankful for and 1 believe you Will
find the vast majority OF them are not
college bred. They are, generally speak
Ing, mon who know more about the cur
rent affairs OF life and the important
questions of tho day than their fellows
and they are men VINO lave mover COM
pletod their education simply because
they have been always learning and thoy
always will be with them the absorp-
tion OF knowledge did not end with the
scholroom and 1t does aot ond s,,h the
closed business day They may not know
the date OF the battle OF Phnrsalia, bu'
they arc alert and alive 60 the innuen.
ces that shape events. and are educate,
it seems 20 me I'm the best sense OF th
term. Many young men who anger %
school until manhood is reached come Qua
with much learning but The learning un.
digested, whicn they cannot apply. a fov
| require this advanced education for ob
vious reasons. and for them do not de
| cry It. In my speech I referred 20 tht
majority and while my remarlll were
| delivered az a private dinner and wer,
intended for the ears OF q few friends.
take pleasure In giving you briehy-siuc'
my time viii not permit m0re-my vicwi
| upon tho subject. Yours Truly.
&C. +. HUNTINGTON
HUNTINOTONs SPEECH
Following Is an extract from Hunting
toms speech which has caused 10 muc
wide spread comment;
The German Emperor himself mas sal
in recent years, speaking Of the Germa
method OF edueation' our schools hav
failed from a practical point OF view-tha
they do not form man to succeed
and he urged that tho youth OF the coun
try ought TO DO educated 90 as 10 ~ thor
for the struggles OF llfe And he say
further; Our eshools have given us 70
many learned men They tu:n out moi
learning than Is good for the nation a
large and more than IL good Tor the indi
vidual.'
Now this Is a preface 20 rsmnrk ma
want 10 make and that Is hat / regrr
one tendency IN our country. admirabl
as are our institutions. Il Is almost here
~ 70 say II but DO not mind taking th
responsibility for that is one Of the thina
I am used to. refer TO the increase Z
the higher education for tho masse
The Anglo Saxon has easily outstrlppe
, all his competitors IN those thipFs whio
. make for the commercial growth and SUI
cess OF nations, because no has bee
, above eli things practical While N
. preparation for professional hfe rsauir'
! advanced knowledge, II seems 70 me thi
n the vast majority Of our young peop
! spend too many Of their vigorous yea
= OF youth inside the schoolro0m and NJ
q enough IN the practical work Of M
= The years from 10 10 1l are immens
> valuable for they are years OF keen o
!. servation, individuality and conddonc
. In many cases quite too many-they "a
!, spent IN eramming the mind with kno'
I, ledge that Is not likely TO help a you
= man IN the work he Is fitted best 20 a
!, How mary young men with college oiuc
\ lions are standing abodt waiting f0r aol
I, thing that viii never come. because d
"A work that lies nearest az hand Is not
their likng7 Somehow on other. o
y schools which teach young people how
talk. does not teach them how % live.
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