Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-06-20
EDUCATION AND
GOOD GOVERNMENT
GERMAN AMBASSADOR AT ILL
NoIS UNIVERSITY.
KNOWLEDGE AND DUTY
Tells of Places Filled by College Bred
Men in His Native country-Good
Citizenship Comes in for Well De-
served EuIosy-Scientifc Spirit
Penetrates All Business.

Urbana, illinois, June 14-Before
the graduating class of the Illinois
state university Baron Herman Won
Speck- Sternburg delivered a charac-
teristic address, which was received
with the heartiest applause. He said
in part:
Higher education has adjusted it,
self to the needs of our modern life
and the demand for university educa-
ton is more earnest in both countries
than anywhere else, and has become
far more general. Our people at
large have awakened to the one thing
needful for national SUCCESSIVE
growth of truly scientific spirit in
the conduct of affairs, from the small
est industry to the administration OF
the state itself. Let us take as Ga
example the planning Of the structure
of a business. We recognize this as
the task of an expert and we entrust
ii to a scientific specialist whose duty
it is to coordinate all the departments
and guard against any waste OF en-
ergy Or leakage of power in the
great organism, which differs rs
widely from the old empirical type
as the modern turbine steamship from
the ancient sailing vessel. Economy
is the key to success in sharp, mercl-
less modern trade competition. The
cheapest and best producer is bound
to take the lead"
The speaker said that in Germany
the scientific spirit has penetrated
into every branch of business, into
every factory. Empirical systems
which have not adapted themselves
to the changes have one by one gone
TO the wall. 1t has become a frequent
saying that the German university
professor is the father of modern Ger
man industry This is true to the
word. He has harnessed science to
industry and has brought teuton en-
ergy, enterprise and perseverance TO
its fullest development. Compare
the statistics of German industry and
trade before and after the university
solution of practical problems. They
speak clearer than words. The mod
ern business man himself has become
a scientist because he discovered
that neither energy nor perseverance
nor push can ever replace science and
thus allow the continuation of more
or less empirical methods.
Good citizenship consists in doing
the many small duties, public ana
private, which in the aggregate make
it up, and it is the duty Of every good
citizen in any enlightened country
that he shall be able and willing to
pull his weight. Especially, as in
your case, where tire state has given
you your education, you have far
heavier responsible. es, and many
pounds are added to the weights you
are now preparing TO pull. Last win
ter movement was initiated by some
high-minded college men which may
have consequences of worldwide bene-
fit. The object of this movement, as
you know, was to bring American col
lege men closer together and to in
spire them to greater activity in de-
veloping a better national life. The
graduate of every university in the
world should send his most hearty
welcome and approval to this step Of
so far reaching Importance. Never
before has not only your country uut
every nation been confronted with
such vast and intricate and social
problems as at this time Never be-
fore was offered to the college grad
uate grander opportunity to dis.
charge his obligations to his country.
This movement ought to arouse every
graduate to the realization of his
larger responsibilities on account of
his superior possessions. The days
have passed when college men could.
without much harm, neglect this duty
toward their government Not only
is this opportunity offered to them to
consider their relationship to the gov
eminent, but to methods of education
of which in a certain sense they are
trustees. Think what a powerful
phalanX more than three hundred
thousand college men would constitute
and what auxiliary force this would
mean in aiding the government to
fight the social evils of our day."