Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-25

The Presidents speech at the Union
follows:
In speaking here at the Harvard
Union | wish to say first special word
IS one Harvard man to his fellow Har-
ward men. | feel that we can none of
us ever be sufficiently grateful to
Colonel IiigCnsor for having founded
this Harvard Union. because each loyal
Harvard man should do all he can to
foster in Harvard that spirit of real
democracy which will make Harvard
men feel the vital sense of solidarity so
that they can all join to work together
in the things that are of most concern
to the college. 1t is idle to expect, nor
indeed would it be desirable that there
should be, IN Harvard a uniform level
Of taste and association. Some men
will excel in one thing and some in
another; some in things Of the body,
some in things of the mind; and where
thousands are gathered together each
viii naturally find some group of
specially congenial friends with whom
he will form ties of peculiar social in
timacy. These groups-athletic, ar
tistic, scientific. social-must inevitably
exist. My plea is not for their bolt
tiJn. My plea is that they snail be
got into the right focus in the eyes OF
college men. that the relative impor-
tance Of the different groups shall be
understood Whcr compared with the
infinitely greater life OF the college as
whole. Let each man have his
special associates. his special interests,
ms special studies and pursuits, but let
him remember that he can not get the
full benefit of life in college if he does
nothing but specialize: and that, what
is even more important. he can not do
MS fully duty Dy the college unless his
HIST and greatest interest is in the col
lrge itself, in his associates taken as a
mass and not in any small group. one
reason Why | 50 thoroughly believe i'll
tAe athletic spirit ut Harvard is be-
caus" the athletic spirit is essentially
democratic. our chief interest should
rot lie in the great champions in sport.
on tie contrary our concern should be
most of all to widen the base. the
foundation in athletic sports; to en-
courage in every way a healthy rivalry
which shall give to the largest possible
number Of students the chance to take
part in vigorous outdoor games. 1t is
of far more Importance that a man
shall play something himself even if
Ec riayS it badly. than that he shall go
with hundreds of companions to see
some one else play we'll; and it is not
healthy for either students or athletes
II the terms are mutually exclusive
But even having this aim especially in
view, it seems to me we can best attain
it by giving proper encouragement to
the champions in the sports, and this
can only be done by encouraging inter-
collegiate sport. As emphatically
disbclieve in seeing Harvard or any
other college turn out mollycoddles in
stead of vigorous men, 1 may add that
! do not in the least object to sport
| because II is rough. Rowing, baseball
1t crosse, track and field games
hockey, football are all Of them good
Moreover, it is to my mind simple
| nonsense, a mere confession of weak
| ness. to desire to abolish a game be-
cause tendencies show themselves. or
| practises grow up, which prove that
the game ought to be reformed. Take
| football. for instance. The prepara-
tory schools are able to keep football
clean and to develop the right spirit in
Continued on Page Seven.)