The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-03-02
MILLIONAIRE CALLS
COLLEGES SWINDLE
Chicagoan Writes Book Declar
ing They Do Not Make Either
Brains or Ability
stOO,OOO,OOO YEARLY WASTED
Crane Thinks II Blt Strange that u
Never Has Occurred to These Smart
College Professors to Go Into Busl-
ness for Themselves.

Chicago Richard T, Crane. father
of Charles r. Crane, who was recalled
as Minister to China before he was
fairly started on his way. has publish
ed at his own expense a book frankly
telling just what he thinks of profes-
sional educators and their institutions.
Mr.. Crane. who is a large manufac-
turer ana a multi-millionaire began
life as poor boy and never had the
advantages Of education Crane
charges that the millions spent annu.
ally on universities are swallowed up
in one of the most gigantic "swindles"
of the age Here are a few of his
views
college professors and teachers
are prepared TO give advice on all
subjects. As 81 600 a year teachers
the tell lis how to turn out $4,000
ant $4,000 year business men. Isn't
it bit strange that it never has oc-
CURED to these smart college fellows
to go into business for themselves?
Why draw a small eaIorv fo~ -elliug
young men how to draw big salaries
If you are capable of drawing the big
salary yourself?"
81 believe that | have shown clear.
ly that higher schooling does not make
either brains or ability. And as these
are the only things that count in any
of lifes activities, what use can we
have for the higher schools?"
ut is conservative to estimate that
the expense of higher education to
this nation must be at least s100, ,O0O,-
600 a year And this enormous sum
is literally thrown away. much to the
injury of the country and its people,"
This vast waste of money means
blood drawn from the people, blankets
taken from their beds. food from their
tables, coal from their cellars, cloth
ing from their backs-all in the line
of sacrifice on the altar OF higher edu-
cation.
"If the professors can tell us how
to raise corn or build bridges or dig
tunnels or run factories or manage
stores, then in the name of common
sense let US give them n chance to
show us how these things should be
done"
Mr. Crane gives chapter to An
drew Carnegie, quoting from Mr. Car
negie's Empire of Business" in which
the ironmaster says that the facts
seem to Justify the conclusion that
college education as it now exists is
almost fatal TO success" in the domain
of industry.
AS a matter OF fact" writes Mr..
Crane. Mr.. Carnegie's chief idea in
establishing his schools was to i'm
mortali2e the name of Carnegie, and
in order thus to perpetuate his name,
he calls upon thousands of the
youths of this country to sacrifice
eight of the best years OF their lives
and considerable money in acquiring
an education which. when he estab-
lished his schools. Mr.. Carnegie him
self roundly and deliberately con-
demned"
Mr.. Crane declares that one OF the
greatest fallacies Of the times is the
popular belief that the college man
is better than the nor-oollege man
other things being equal"
How can other things be equal. he
asks, when the man who has not been
in college, and the rest OF it, is in
practical experience several years
ahead OF the college man to begin
with?
The Chicago educators lambasted
Crane. Ridiculous" Absurd" AN
old man with an obsession," we're
some of their comments.