The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-03

alton the powerful assistance OF the be-
nevolenee and philanthropy, the love ana
the interest and the wealth OF thousands
OF high minded men and women scattered
over this State and throughout the whole
country We do not ask money from the
Legislature, but time and consideration
and patriotism and brains Is IT not Tune
for the best intelleets of North Carolina
to- make new and thorough study OF the
problems of education for the purpose OF
harmonizing the conflicting elements IN
our present system and for the purpose OF
blending them into unity OF strength
and power, of increased fruittulness,> with
out any greatly increased cost OF NAM
| tenance?
Granting, however that the time IS ripe
for the building up of a great University
here in North Carolina how can any presl-
dent accomplish the stupendous undertake
ing with a disorganized alumni ana a
board of seventy-eight trustees, splendld
men as individuals, but as trustees only
one out of every four has sufficient edu-
cational enthusiasm to attend the meet
ings of his own board If it be true that
equally true that division OF responsibility
among a multitude prevents progress and
brings stagnation and dry rot. This IN
stitution no longer belongs exclusively to
the residents of North Carolina. 1t IS the
Alma Mater of men scattered all over the
world. One good live alumnuss on the
board of trustees residing in the city OF
New York alone, has the opportunity OF
doing more for this University than any
five average men residing in North Caro-
lima and picked I'M our easy going manner
of equitable distribution of honorable dis
tinctions l know whereof l speak. Far
be it from my nature to find any fault
with the public spirit Of this distinguished
body, of which my father was member
almost up to the time of his death. But
with love and reverence, I must speak
plainly about a matter that I know, and
you know, to be serious handicap to the
progress of the institution that we love
to the bottom of our hearts
ALUMNI TRUSTEES.
1t is believed by many of us that if the
Legislature viii pass an act empowering
the Alumni Association of the University
of North Carolina to elect twenty-six
members or one-third of the board of
trustees in its own way, it viii that mo-
ment breathe new life into the dead bones
of the Alumni Association, and a thor
oughly organized body of men will quick
y spring into existence that viii every
day in the year render powerful assistance
in carrying the burdens of the University
and in supplying equipment for its greater
progress in its higher development. The
plan of giving to the Alumni a business
standing in the management and support
Of higher institutions of learning is not
a new one. 1t has already been adopted
in many localities and has invariably
proven productive of splendid results.
Such an innovation. while in no manner
destroying the safety of the multitude
will in the light of experience in other
States, shake off the shackles of inertia,
bring to the board new blood, new edu-
cational enthusiasm, and new capacity for
expansion and progress.
The State Constitution, Section 6, pro-
vides that "The General Assembly shall
have power to provide for the election Of
Trustees of the University, and Judge
Pearson, in passing upon the meaning OF
this section in trustees, etc, VS.. McIver
$3.50, says: by comforting an unrestrict-
ed power upon the General Assembly, that
body could adopt the old mode election of
trustees by board of education( or some
other, and if the mode adopted in the
first instance proved unsuccessful, set aside
and substitute another by ordinary legis-
lation; for instance. if the General Assem-
al oh nd hot dor,
the new conditions, resulting from the
war, did not prove a success-then another
mode, an election by the Alumni of the
University could be tried, or any other,
which on account of the circumstances,
in the wisdom of the General Assembly,
might be deemed expedient." 1t is evi-
dent therefore, that the change can De ac-
comphshed very easily by a simple act of
the Legislature.
The first duty of an organized Alumni
Association is to devise means of sending
home to the minds of our own home peo-
pie, as well as abroad a clear knowledge
of the relation of this University to the
whole people, its public service, its record
of achievements, its pressing needs, its
momentous possibilities, and most of all
efactions a thousand times effective The
December report of the President is a great
step in this direction. But in my humble |
opinion much more will have to be done
before we may expect to uproot the pref
idice, overcome the inertia. awaken the
interest and draw to our support the sym
pathy of many men in this State whose aid |
the University needs and so richly de
serves.
Some twenty years ago, as a memorial
10 the young son of DR.. Charles f. Deems, |
Mr. William H. Vanderbilt, of New York,
supplemented the small gift of $500 from
Or. Deems with the gift of $4,000, to the
University to be loaned, principal and in
terest, to such young men as need help
in order to secure an education. Up to |
the first of July, 1902, this fund had not
only aided three hundred and eight-two |
active Anglo Saxon youths to get /
a college education, but had increased by
of loans and interest until the
whole fund amounted to $21 1879, or more
than 100 per cent. A splendid tribute to
the industry and honor OF the kind of
men we raise down here in old North