The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-06-06
ADDRESS TO GRADUATES BY
SUPERINTENDENT NELSON


The address of Superintendent Nielsen
follows:
MI; MT; President, members OF the college
board and graduates:
When your worthy and esteemed presi-
oent so Kindly extended me an invitation
70 address you on this occasion. my first
impulse was TO seek some plausible pre-
text upon which l might he excused, but
| when I recalled the fact that ] have
been an A c all my life. gladly ac-
| cepted, for we are not strangers or sheep
| OF different folds. So / am happy TO
meet the graduates OF this great school
at time when the struggles OF assiduous
courage and ambition.
10 you. my young friends. as you
stand AT a point where you can review
the obstacles that you have encountered
happy day \ day Of song and speech
The ,happlest day Of all. The day from
which all threatening clouds are dis
PEELED and the silver lining of hope Is
| beamine in each countenance with such
| radiance that each face is prophecy OF
future and continued success, So in
a discussion of any subject of an aca-
| demic nature. for such work has en-
gagged your attention for a number OF
years. but as friend I desire TO meet
| you and to extend TO you the congratul9-
| tlons Of the State which has been so kind
| to you in providing not only the common
schools, but in establishing and fostering
| the growth OF this excellent institution.
| Today your graduation adds to the moral.
the intellectual and the Industrial wealth
OF the State. Permit me TO emphasize
the Industrial wealth. for the schools OF
| the past have been concerned chiefly
with the three learned professions. Not
| until within the last three OF four de-
cades did the light of education brighten
the path OF the Industries OF the world.
The time is already at hand when indus
trial education touches the man who
works with tools. the artisan in general
engaged In all the productive industries,
chine, who guides the instrument with
precision, the workman upon whom the
engineer must ever depend to realize his
ideals
Industrial Education.
Yet during the next twenty five years
industrial education will he emphasized
as never before. Skill 10 do will be con-
sidered a. most important counterpart OF
knowledge. The education Of the future
must be Of the highest degree of indi
vdual service, At present, civilization
rests upon an economic basis far more
than at any previous time. Today COM
merce and industry give life and strength
to nations. To food products there is
natural limit. but the products of manu-
IaGure, INDUSTRY r1 and and art are limited
and enjoy them. No longer are the con-
flicts between nations of a religious ma
ture as in the Seventeenth century, not
have become economic.
These changes have created a new
condition. new environment 10 which
not only individuals but nations must
become adjusted The progressive ma
tions OF the world are rapidly readiust
Ing their educational systems so as TO
meet the new demands Of the age; The
natural sciences, which have made the
unprecedented development OF modern
industry possible are given prominece;
and technical and commercial schools OF
..1l ln a,,A yt,gl, ttg1
schools Of almost every variety have
sprung up. While our country Is rapidly
coming TO the front In this phase OF her
education, yet Germany and France lead
her today. However, IL must not be
thought that there is not much more
involved in the question OF Industrial
education than material advantages.
There are at least three elements which
must enter into labor TO make II valuable
and worthy Of reward: the element OF
intelligence and skill; the esthetic ele-
ment artistic an decorative and the
ethical element of real sturdy character
and honest dealings, So with economic
efficiency and quality OF mind. character
must be the test OF education. In every
avenue OF life these elements Will be
needed to insure you the success anticl-
Dated by you. II Is very evident that
there might be much material prosperity
and almost a complete development OF
technical arts, yet without a sound and
clean morality. private and public. con-
ditions would be most unsatisfactory.
History reveals abundant evidence oil the
existence Of conditions where all the
splendid achievements OF civilization
were corroded because its education
failed TO embody and emphasize these IN
dispensable requisites. Fortunately for
us we have much reason 10 believe that
the education given by the technical
schools OF our country has not lost itself
within the shadows of material consi6era-
tions but IL has constantly kept in mind
the feet that purity OF life and integrity
OF purpose are. ii comparisons are justi-
fla ole the essentials upon which the
foundation OF our social fabric rests. So
In going from the school into the active
phases of life. these fundamentals VIII be
the rock upon which the structure OF
your career will he established. Then
with well-trained hands will YOU touch
the many enterprises which await the
power of skill.
Capacity for Work.
In your class standing you have been
measured by, your capacity for work and
by your desire and ability to work. Do
not forget that this is a just measure.
and It's standards Will be applied 10 you
through life. for
"Only workers wear the laurels on the
mountain top Of fame,
While the idler fingers always at the
foot without a uame.
And the vastness OF the mountain makes
oblivion darker stu;
OH the dreamers have the wishes, while
the workers have the Will
Have In mind some chosen and worthy
object then bend all the energy you can
command TO the accomplishment Of your
Iife's work. and success Will surely come
TO you.
AS / have stated before. the training
vou have received in this institution has
greatly Increased your intellectual, moral
and industrial equipment TO face the re-
alities of life. Recent statistics show
that in n country such the
chances 10 achieve success are: Unedu-
catcd one to 100, 900. with common school
education, one TO 10000; with "A high
school education. one 10 1900 and with a
technical education the opportunities are
still much more favorable. Pardon my
zeal in trying to impress YOU with the
fact that when you seek entrance into
the great active industries that await
Your skill i'm the varied avenues of life
the important questionable question of
the Twentieth ccntury-will be asked
what can you do?' You Will be meas
ured not by the diplomas which you may
POSSESS but by the service you can
render. You will be asked 10 give before
you NAV receive.