The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-09-28
American association for the ad-

American association for the adj
vancement of science at It's Baltimore
meeting. In one sense 1t matters
nothing who discovers truth SO long
as it is discovered. Yet our feelings
of patriotism will not allow us to
content ourselves with that doctrine,
nor is this desirable. Sentiment Is a
powerful stimulous to all our activi-
ties. Every patriot glories in the
deeds of valor of his countrymen, and
should likewise rejoice in their intel
leetual triumphs. In one of the
sciences-astronomy-the long series
of brilliant discoveries by American
astronomers is such as to warrant a
feeling of genuine pride and satisfac-
tion on the part of every citizen of
your country. What has been achiev-
ed in astronomy can also be accom-
plished in every branch of knowledge
provided the necessary conditions are
observed: but not otherwise.
Work Against Themselves.
One respect in which many Ameri-
can professors work against their
own ultimate interests, Is the prac-
tice Of publishing their Investigations
abroad, especially in Great Britain
and in Germany. Such a course is
the open and undisguised confession
of a great superiority of the constitu-
ency Of learning in foreign countries
over that in America, contrast
which this procedure tends to perpet-
uate. AS a British citizen appreci-
ate the delicate compliment to one
of these countries. Nevertheless It is
n o,~eo of fof1ipo IN
me to observe a practice that appears
al self respect.
There are at least two ways in
which the university can make itself
fruitful in productive scholarship:
one. by the establishment of re-
search school or faculty; the other
by giving every professor who so de.
sires the opportunity and encourage
ment to investigate the unknown rS-
'gicns of his own particular b:>S1tN
of knowledge. Not only should the
university afford the opportunity, but
should expect it to be utilized by the
faculty at large. AS regards the for
mer of these general policies let me
quote President Schurman, who has
given this subject great deal of at
tention.
"In the graduate department of the
university as a whole there is con.
slant danger that the national tend.
ency to worship mere magnitude may
distort the vision of the faculty. and
especially of the trustees and friends
of the university. It is important
therefore. to keep clearly in view the
essential objects of a graduate school
These are the enlargement of existing
knowledge and the training of young
men and women of superior ability
and education in methods of indie
pendent investigation so that they
too may in time make some contribu-
ton to the stock of human knowl-
edge. A love of knowledge. and an
ardent desire to wrest something
from the unknown. conviction that
science and scholarship are along
with virtue the chief good Of human
life, would seem to be the animating
motives Of a life of research. Given
this subjective equipment in combina.
ton with superior powers of observa-
ton. reasoning, and imagination. pro-
ductive scholarship and science are
assured. But these gifts are not pos
sessed by all professors. and still less
by all graduate students. Similar
ly there should be a differentiation
among professors of those who are
qualified to engage in research and
guide others in the same path. and
those who are pre-eminent as teach
ers and assimilative scholars. Sure
ly both are honorable careers, though
different. That everybody Is fit for
everything is a fallacy dangerous
enough in politics, but in education 1t
is fatal and paralyzing.
Must Find the Right Men.
THE problem. therefore, which con-
fronts the university in connection
with the graduate school is to find
the right sort of men for investiga-
tors whether as professors or stu
dents. And having found them it is
the duty of the university to provide
the necessary means for the prosecu-
ton of their work. This involves
suitable salaries for professors. leis-
ure for productive work, and the re-
quisite apparatus and other instru-
mentalities for research"
A separately organized research
faculty Is by no means necessary,
and possibly not the best agency. to
accomplish what I believe Is the high
err part of the duty Of the university.
Therefore. 1t Is quite possible for
any institution to participate in the
toilsome delights Of research. Where