Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-10-11
PRESIDENT BOWMAN DEPLORE9
PRESIDENT DAY S. U. |. METH
obs AND RAPS STUDENTS.
CONTRASTS SMALL POLITICS
AND LARGE POLITICS
New Head of State Educational In
stitution Takes Whack at Existing
Methods, Characterizes Them as
Unworthy and Handicap to Real
Proeress-Pleads for Higher ideals.

Iowa City, Oct. 1l.-'Sn:all politics
is the game in which Iowa University
students are engaged, according to
President John q. Bowman, who so
a>verred in his address at the Iowa
University convocation, this morning.
He contrasted small politics and
large politics, and called attention to
the failure of Iowa, at times, 10 win
honor in politics. Then he declared In
Fart:
The state, however. has. in my juds-
{ lnent, been making swift progress to-
ward better things. If we had now
Rip Van Wrinkle TO Waken among our
mills think the old man would ruD
his eyes and III his own way express
wonder at our enthusiasm for right
government. The facts, plainly,
are these: AS long as there are young
men and women VINO are able and
willing to spcnd q few years in build
ing foundations for happy, useful. in
telligent manhood and wonanhood by
rising above prejudice, by refining
the manners, by finding the sacredness
OF truth in science and in literature.
ana BY catching fire with high purpose,
it Will follow that these same men and
women viii later set the lights which
shall illumine d vast portion Of orr 30
litical life. You can not escape the
responsibility and l appeal now to the
highest pride in YOU for your serious
thought on this subject.
Defines Political Game
That you will enter the political life
of rat Ia
What part will YOU take? Are YOU go
ing into the game Of small politics. or
into the game of large politics? The
first is a game with selfish end it Is
personal. unpatriotic and it takes no
heed of the welfare of others. 1t pro-
duces no leaders, but it sometimes pro-
duces bosses.
The second, tue game of large poll
tics, is unseliish. patriotic, and ii
heeds the motives OF others. 1t is not
exultation over power and it is more
than mere affection for ores state or
country. 1t is pride in the achieve
ments which have kept US from decad
ence. it is devotion 10 rule free from
blight of favoritisrn. The game OF large
politics has leaders VINO are not self
seeking and TO whom is given the larg
/
the country offers.
4 Slap at the Students.
Nov. to be blunt with yo7i. YOU have
been engaged this autumn In the game
OF small politics. Small politics was
the rule when | was student hero. al
tho there was less interest ,han gener-
ally in such matters. In fairness 70 ali
Of us 1 add that most Of our actions
tr-irr
thought Of wrong doing. But the re
suit is the some Let me illustrate:
Among the greatest distinctions Whic,l
any class has to offer in the uniVer
sity are the positions of editor-in-chiet
and business manager of the HaWkeEe.
What is the process OF selection?
StTaightWay certain groups in the class
organize, issue a ticket, and the fight
is on. Sometimes the students in the
fraternities are arrayed against the
nom fraternity group, sometimes the
literary societies are opposed 10 some
other party and so on. The leaders OF
the tickets frequently pledge certain
positions of honor in exchange for
votes and finally victory is an
nounced.
Tradition No justification.
year read, Irvings Victorious in Glass
Elections. This is small politics. it is
self seeking. it is unworthy. You say
that the traditions for such procedure
are as old as the university. ! grant
that they are. But this fact is not JUS
| LITIGATION fo- the practice. AS Dean
| Briggs puts it, we have left the
straight and narrow path to wobb!e
all over the tlowery meadows. The
deeply rooted traditions in the univer-
sity mean that we must make a great
urselfsh, and patient effort if we are
J to correct the evil.
A Plea For Honor.
rs it worth while? You don't know
how much worth while that effort Is
Suppose you make the effort and sue
coed, and by and by a class election is
democracy which YOU hold sacred all
self glory and society distinctions will
be forgotten. In the game Of large
politics each member of the class will
on his ballot answer the question, Who
is most worthy? I tell you that just
one such class meeting in the univer-
sity would give you pride in your in
stitution which would last as long as
you live. You couldn't get over it, and
oftentimes when you are away and
hemmed around by petty things. the
quality of honor in which you lived
here would serve as q light.
Ideals Rather Than Rules.
Il am not scolding this morning. nor