The sun., 1903-06-23
10 FIT MEN FOR PUBLIC LIFE.
,NDREV d. WHITES PLEA FOR
BROADER SCHOLARSHIP.
Tells His Former Classmates of Yale 80
OF the Needs OF the Hour In Our Col.
leEes-Man Wanted Who VIII Give
sI4, 600. .OOO-A Negro Prize Winner

al4 200 ,OOO-A Negro PT1zo winner
NEW HAVEN, June 22.-At the meeting
this afternoon Of tho famous class Of SO
of Yale University, the chief address was
delivered by the Hon. Andrew D. White,
formerly Ambassador to Germany, who
.poke on this topic: "A Paying Invest
ment.' He began with a reference to
meeting Andrew Carnegie at the anniver-
sary exercises Of st. Andrews University
IN Scotland about six months ago and told
Of conversation he had had with Mr..
Carnegie in which Mr.. White alluded to
the great things waiting to be done In the
United States. whereupon Mr.. Carnegie
turned to Mr. White and said:
Name some Of them
But just then" explained Mr.. White, "the
tide of after-dnner eloquence was turned
on in full flood and in an instant had swept
away my opportunity. apparently forever.
What | now propose Is to answer the
question: What can wealthy Americans
a this moment best do for their whole
country? Looking over the country and
seeking agencies already working success
fully for the steady uplifting Of American
civilization, see among the most effective
our great universities. Thsss institutions
are centres from which new influences are
most likely to be foroefully exsrted
In our courts the university has strong
nold, but in our county boards. our city
councils, our Legislatures, our Congress
and our seats OF executive power, see no
such proportion Of university-bred men as
every intelligent American patriot must
desire. Not that I would give university
men monopoly OF public duty, legislative
or executive. On the contrary. would
always have in public positions very
large proportion Of men Of affairs, SELF
made men, II you choose to call them.
Our universities do not yet offer their
students who wish to enter public life the
instruction which fits them thoroughly
for it. We have magnificent provisions
for instruction in the scienoes, In literature,
in all that pertains to various professions.
We are rapidly taking the lead OF the world.
but see no equal provision for fitting men
to grapple With the problems OF American
politics.
1t happened to me a few years after
my graduation to be tossed into the legis-
lature Of one Of our largest States. went
10 the capital Of the State with the hope
that there was some subject on which
might impress my ideas and never was
man more disappointed. Before I had
been In the place q week I envied from
the bottom OF my heart Lowell's country
lawyers and such likewise fellows. looked
UP with awe to the man who had been
supervisor or trustee of a public school
or acquainted with the practice in our
Justice courts. burned the midnight
oil humbly, long and sadly in making up
my elementary deficiencies.
Never In my life did learn SO much
Of human nature as when, while holding
a university profeesorship, / sud denly
was made tho foreman Of petit jury on
a horse case. Let me recommend to the
Young men who 60 from these halls that
they do not slight opportunities to do SER
vices on Grand Juriee or petit juries.
What are the best things which a man
or a combination Of men Of wealth could
do now for the country as whole2
would now make answer. ! would recon-
mend the establishment at the foremost
institutions OF learning In the United States.
perhaps twent y-fve In all, Of sundry
professorshps and scholarships bearing
! would establish in each OF these institu.
tions a professorship and at least two fel-
lovships in comparative legislation. Vari-
Gus countries have made q beginning In
this already. The endowment OF fprofessor-
ships and fellowshipe In 80 many centres
to which there would be attached the duty
Of studying the best solutions arrived at
Ia all legislatures State and national in
this country. could not fail to have most
happy influence.
Besides the improvement Of law there
Is needed an Improvement OF institutions
For this purpose would establish in our
more important universities. to the num-
ber OF twenty-five. professorships and
scholarships OF comparative administra-
lectures on comparative administration at
Cornell University. The students became
interested In the proper organization and
conduct OF institutions dealing with crime,
incipisnt and chronic Several Of these
in New York and other States, among the
foremost In promoting a wiser manage
ment Of public institutions.
would establish in our leading uni
yer9ities Profes,s9rships and fellowships
is extending her relations throughout the
world as never before. Her Diplomatic
Corps IL every year getting q better grasp
on the worlds Affairs, and her Consular
service has already become next to the
largest. il not the largest, in existence
In those principles Of International law.
My fourth proposal is that there should
be established at these same universities
professorshps ard fcllowships for the his
tory Of civilization and that there be knit
into them obligatory Instructions in politi-
cal ethics
"For my fifth and fral feature In this
group OF studies would suggest professor
ships and fellowships for the history OF
the United States. This would promote a
deep feeling Of enlightened patriotism. |
would summon the humanizing IL fluences
OF literature ard art. Then there should |
be q professorship Of music in the largest |
ser - Of the word.
THE sum needed for the outlay required |
for these ourdations would be very large. |
We have seen such sp endid gifts made BY |
Americans within the last few years that |
We r need not despair when purpose of high |
national utility is concerned. It would cost
twelve or fourteen million dollars. and there
are American citizens able singly to make
the complete endowment OF all at once,
and willing to do so could they be persuaded
that such great endowment would we'll be
Mr.. White suggested that in case Of such
foundations should be established the
colleges to receive these endowments could
I've selected by Q commission Of competent
men thoroughly familiar with the needs
Of the country and the work OF different
colleges, and this selection could be made
uy ballot.
Yale's friends came back in droves to-day
70 attend the senior class-day exercises,
70 take In the class reunions and to par