The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-26
CONCERNING EARLHAM AND Mr..
RATLIFF.

hAJItffs
It is unfortunate for Earlham that
the comment on the action in not
granting Mr.. Ratliff his degree has not
been based on the true facts in the
case. The Indianapolis Star and the
Washington Post, in their editorial
notice of the affair did not do the COL
1ege justice.
The report has gone out to the
length and breadth of the land that
Earlham deprived Our Walter of his
degree because he voted against coun-
ty local option. II this had been the
case the college would have had no rea-
son to withhold his degree, simply be-
cause it would be intolerant and be-
cause the college would be engaged in
a theoretical boycott against the gen.
tleman.
But the point is that it has come to
pass in this county that no matter
who considers Mr.. Ratliffs actions,
no one can truthfully say that he has
stood by his promises. Any one who
will refer to the newspaper files of
the local papers can tell in few hours
that he has disregarded his word OF
honor. 1t would have been much bet
ter had he not made his promises.
Even in politics a mans word is the
one thing he should keep inviolate.
And II this is the situation there can
be no criticism of the college on the
ground that they have misjudged his
character.
Now. where does this character come
into play? You may say, your college
professor is not required to be his
brothers keeper. As matter of fact
that is just exactly the relation of the
college to the man who is getting a
degree. The college does certify that
the candidate is of good moral charac.
ter. To say the least, Mr.. Ratliff has
been decided Immoral in the matter
of keeping his word. Could any man
blame the faculty of Earlham for say
ing that they could not honestly say
that man who had twice broken his
pledges was not OF the best moral
character?
In such case the college must al
ways strive to make its degree worth
something. A move has gone on all
through the country to make the de-
grees of institutions count for some
thing. 1t is this fact which has rails
J ed the ideals of college men, it is this
fact which has made men like Roose-
welt and Taft the type of college man
who has proved that he may enter in
to politics and still keep his ideals.
This has for a long time been the sit
uation in English politics and the
same thing pertains to Germany.
Is America to fall behind? Is the
American degree to be the least wor-
tn of any? Is it to countenance fla
grant violation of pledges and to pass
over matters of public knowledge with
out notice.
These are the questions which enter
into the granting Of a degree. And
Earlham is right. And in this case
Earlham has not been intolerant.
What is cheapened is worth nothing
This makes the degree of NJ A. worth
more at Earlham than it has ever
meant before.
Those who are busy saying that it is
an unheard of thing to deprive Mr.
Walter Ratliff of his degree, are sure
" not conversant with the history ol
collegiate degrees. From the EARL
est times it has been closely allied te
the order Of knighthood. And SO
much does this mean in many sitna-
tions to this very day that in Germany
there are yet customs in which the ac-
tual accolade is used in the comforting
of degrees of the doctorate and many
man has been refused q degree.
There is something in the idea which
is akin to that other order Of society
which has its own traditions. that a
military man should not be guilty OF
things ..unbecoming an officer and a
gentleman
Let the degree stand for high ideals