The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-20
NOW DR.. STOKES.
Degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy
Conferred on Howard K. Stokes
4 by Brown University.

Among those who have received to-
day the higher honors conferred at tha
graduating exercises OF Brown Uni
versity is Howard K.Stokes. Dr.Stokes,
as he may now properly be called. has
won the scholarly degree OF doctor OF
philosophy. The comforting OF this de-
gree was surrounded with more than
the ordinary ceremony. DIS Presideit
Faunce wished to call public attention
to the importance OF u from an edu-
cational standpoint The candidate was
summoned TO the platform and official
ly invested with the doctors hood-a
practice for the FIRST time observed at
Brown-by the delegated authority or
the corporation.
The interest which attaches to the
investiture OF DIR. Stokes for News
readers Hes I'm the fact that he was
associated with John l.. Heaton in
establishing the Providence News
about eight years ago. DIR. Stokes was
with the News only two years. acting
as general manager and editor. But the
exacting duties or newspaper lie lett
him ~ time for that study or higher
culture which he had always set be-
fore himself as his aim In life. He
therefore left that more public Held or
newspaper work and turned 10 bank
ing which would give him more leisure
for study. lie was seen by News
commemorative today and the following
views were stated as the result of five
years devotion TO those studies Ia
which he proposes TO spend the rest OK
his life.
He has studied political economy and
history and has given especial atten-
ton 10 the subject of finance. his
thesis being "A Century of Providence
Finance"--l7g0-ls00 DR.. Stokes be-
lieves that this Is the most important
practical subject which should be
taught in our colleges and universities
today. He said: II viii not stop To
present my views on the great topics OF
taxation and the public expenditures of
cities. states and nations. We all real
ize that the relation between the indi-
vidual and society is the relation be-
tween the private pockctbook and the
public purse. The great questions OF
the relation between the individual, the
state and the latter's creature-tfe cor
poration-- ~ the most prominent ques-
tion which today awaits successful So
luton. Unfortunately nsici. misdirect-
ed effort of the newer socialism seeks
TO attack both the institution Of private
property and the corporation through
taxation. There should be no such
thing as antagonism between the So
ciety as a whole. the individual. and
the corporation. Their interests are
not simply mutual. they are Identical.
The great problem of the present gen.
Grafton Is TO show how and why this IS
so." DR. Stokes believes that a life
time may be profitably stsnt in study
ing and teaching such topics. He is an
ardent adherent of the historical
method Of study. for he believes that
the fundamental means of improving
society IL to know how man became the
manner OF man that he Is. Only tfsIs
can we learn how best he may be
changed aud improved. Two essential
and most important ideas are TO be
kept in mind in all such studies: First
the fact that any given condition ex-
lists is prima facie evidence that 10 has
it's foundation in the customs. philoso-
ply and tradition of any given society
and that II II seems to be faulty. In the
light OF the most recent and most
thorough study, any changes suggested