Arizona republican., 1903-10-30
PHOENIX, ARIZONA. OCT. 30 1SOS'
Wanted: Trained Technical Experts.

Wanted: Trained IeChhCai ENP~
When former President Cleveland
stated the other day that he would
rather have his son learn how to build
such a structure as the Brooklyn
bridge than to achieve the presidency
of the United States, ne put into
somewhat startling form his conVlc-
tion that for the young man of the
future a practical education will be
valuable above everything else. AS
was t. be expected the statement has
called forth q variety OF comment
The objection has been raised by some
that Mr.. Cleveland's remark is illus
trative Of the "materialistic" cast of
current thought, and that this thought
places material SUGGESTIVE acquire
ment Of the dollar, in short-above all
other considera tons in life.
But it is not fair to attribute to Mr.
Cleveland the sordid view that the ac-
uuirement o. riches is the one object
OF life. Being intensely practical, and,
moreover. speaking with the authority
of experience such as falls to few men,
the former. president has learned that
the neeting' houors OF political life are
not satisfying, and that in them are
not to be found llfe's greatest pleas
ures. Thus, while the technical ex-
pert will be better fitted than anybody
edse to acquire fortune in the days
to come, he will also find in his work,
if at all imaginative, a pleasure that
neither money nor the temporary ap-
plause Of the multitude can give. For
example, it is not to be supposed that
Mr.. Edison tolls sometimes for tive or
three days at a time without eating
or sleeping merely to pile up more
dollars or to win additional praise from
his fellow men. Rather he applies
himself to his work with such in
tens.ty because he finds therein the
greatest enjoyment of life. To acquire
a technical education il is not neces-
scry that a broad general education
be neglected. And doubtless, should
Mr.. Cleyclond's boy become such an
expert in engineering and in mechanics
az to be able to build a structure like
the Brooklyn bridge. the possession OF
such knowledge would not only be full
OF rare compensatiols but would tend
to broaden his views until he would
envy 10 man-not even the president.
But as to the purely practical side c.
the question, why is it not> proper to
impress boys OF the present day with
the Importance Of gaining a technical
education and the Importance of be
coming financially independent? The
pursuit of money for moneys sake is
not an elevatiag pursuit, to be sure,
but the objection raised begs the ques-
ton. 1t might he assumed with equal
Justice that every time a boy is adj
vised to fit himself for life work he
is told &c make the pursuit of money
his chief aim As a matter of fact,
the world has learned that while men
can be Successful" without riches,
the possession of money in quantity
to make one independent is the very
first requisite IN making one every
inch a man" II is only when a man
IS fairly Independent Of the wolf that
he can cultivate his higher nature,
Notwithstanding ell the poctical and
traditional opinion to the contrary
Altruism and commercialism have a
tendency to blend, after all.
Mr.. Cleveland was merely voicing
the conmon-sense judgment of prac-
teal Americanism. AS population be-
comes more dense the opportunities Of
the individual unit become more re-
stricted, and 1t is obvious that here
after with the passing years tech
meal education vii become more and
more valuable to the possessor.
On this same subject, in the Annals
OF the American Academy of Political
and Social Science" President Hall. Ct
the Georgia Institute Of Technology.
writes that the vast manufacturing
interests Of southern cities, the APP
plcation of scientific principles, the
establishment of great power plants.
the working Of mines, the development
or every natural resource with me-
chanical appliances. demand men
s-aunch. sturdy, powerful workingmer
'A-44 VII AIpN S'lAS nave tIiS StItIB III
to do but have the Intelligence and
training to dc what is wisest anc
best" Mr.. Hall continues: Have we
such men? No. Have we the facilities
for training such men? No. These
answers come from the shops. mills
power plants and manufactures which
are rising like magic in every southern
state. The future. with it's increasing
markets, it's tropical trade. it's Panama
canal, its demand for manufactured
articles from every shore touched by
the waters Of the Pacific, give proph-