The Washington herald., 1910-02-13
The Issue al Princeton.

President Woodrow Wilson must keen
firm hand on affairs at Princeton to
carry through his plans. He has strong
opposition in Dean West. of the graduate
school, and the issue is clearly draw
It is whether the graduate school SHAH
be one Of the departments OF the larger
institution. OF shall be independent TO A
great degree.
Two gifts for the endowment Of a
graduate college had been offered. one
apparently conditioned upon a site on or
near the campus, the other contemplating
location at some distance from the
other school buildings. in addition to
the segregation Of the buildings came
the determination Of control and the
connection between the graduates and
undergraduates, II was a.. question
whether the two should pursue their work
and live their student life in separate
housings or should enjoy a more or less
common experience, with its opportunity
for mutual contacts and reactions.
Because it was impossible to unite the
two foundations or reconcile the two pro-
posed gifts, the larger one, by Mr.. Proc
tor. was withdrawn. President Wilson.
who held for a proper university control.
won out in the faculty, but the "dissen-
sions" created still exist. The faculty
and trustees hope, however, TO find some
form Of adjustment whereby the matter
can be settled amicably.
The issue is not alone one Of graduates
who seek to find a form of life suitable to
themselves, practically ignoring the re-
mainder OF the institution. It relates to
the freest and fullest development Of the
democratic spirit in the university. Presi-
dent Wilson is anxious to have a system
of dormitories in which all the students
VIII be on an equality. Ihis would mean
the abolition of the expensive and ex-
elusive clubs which have been so marked
8 feature OF Princeton life
The quad" system which Princeton IS
trying 20 enforce has its counterpart in
Harvard and Yale, where the same prob
lem Of student control exists. These in
situations are trying to abolish the rich
mems dormitories," to which only the
sons Of wealthy men can belong. ana
which take away from the democratic
spirit of the school, Normal college life
Is democracy in its fullest expression. and
this fact is coming 10 be realized. Any
thing which tends in a contrary direction
IS viewed with suspicion by the wisest
educators Man against man, with nc
handicap or advantage is the condition
which should be found in every American
college. When this condition is absent
or not given opportunity to thrive, the
college viii be the loser
Colleges already have been placed on
the defensive. They must show results
When men Of affairs, such as Richard T.
Crane, the multi-minionaire manufacturer
Of Chicago, writes a book condemning the
methods, uses, and expenses Of the So
called higher education" It IS time for
the college to take an accounting and see
whether the criticism is merited or not
Mr.. Crane says:
The college men talk as though they knew all
about every other mans business. and that they
could manage affairs better than the business men
themselves.
college professors and teachers are prepared 70
give sdycs on all Subjects As S2.Gea-year teach.
sgs they tell Us how to turn cut 500 and 5000