New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-08
ALUMNI HONOR BUTLER |
Columbia Men to Number of $50
Attend Complimentary Dinner.
HEARS HIMSELF PRAISED
Dean Burgess Urges Him Not to
Seek Public Office; but to
Remain Where He Is.

President Nicholas Murray Butler was
the guest OF honor last night at comph-
mentary dinner given by the alumni of
Columbia University. served In the grand
ballroom of the Waldorf. Four hundred
and fifty alumni. from the white haired
Even Mcintyre. OF the class Of Al. to a
score or more from the class OF 10, at
tended.
Charles P. Sawyer chairman Of the din
ner committee. presided. At his right sat
President Butler, and on his left Senator
John C. Spooner, who. with william II.
Maxwell and John W. Burgess, dean OF the
Columbia faculties Of Political Science,
Philosophy. Pure Science and Fine Arts
and chairman OF the universitys board Of
trustees. made the principal addresses OF
the evening
Others at the guest table were W. c. De-
norest A. f. Downing, A. r. Dwight F,
II. Goetz W. d. Guthrie, T. P. Keppel. F.
w Lambert George L. Rives. Professor
Schich, OF tho university; Bishop Greer,
Oscar Straus and ". A Clark.
In addition 10 the flags OF all nations,
which adorned the balconies, as a compl-
ment TO the guest OF tho evenings promi-
nent connection with the peace societies
OF the world, half dozen Of the white
and rainbow edge PAX" flags had promi-
nent positions The menu, bordered with
the blue OF Columbia, contained a fine steel
engraving OF President Butler. and on the
opposite page a brief record Of the many
honors that have been conferred on him.
II read:
NICHOLAS MURRAY BUTLER.
a r, Columbia, 1852; \. NJ, 1Ss3;'Ph. D,
Johns Hopkins. Princeton, Yale. Univer
sity OF Pennsylvania. 1902: Chicago 1903;
Manchester and 81. Andrews, 1905: Cam
Dartmouth 1909; J. U. n, Breslau. 1911;
y. Lift. oxford. 1905: Officer de Ia Legion
dHonnsur 1906; Commander of the Or
der of the Red Eagle (Prussia), 1910;
Member Of the American Academy Of Arts
and Letters, 1911; trustee of the Carnegie
Foundation for the Advancement Of
Teaching and Of the Carnegie. Endowment
Association for International Cancellation.
American branch.
No dinner in recent years has been 80
truly representative as that OF last night.
Table No. IA, where the "old grads" were
seated, came in for the greatest attention.
Here were seated the graduates Of the
'ld'StH lIOUl % 10 -. Al the fneOlCdl ldDIs
were DIR. Abraham jacob and Or. Virgil
T. Glbney. At table No 8, which was re-
served for the faculty. were DR.. Friedrich,
Or. Hirth and Professor John D. Clark.
Among the older graduates were Henry A.
Fairbairn and Charles Enfield, both stu
dents at Columbia in the days before foot
ball and political economy.
John W. burgess, who was introduced
as the dean Of deans" was the first
speaker and warmly congratulated Presi-
dent Butler upon his success during his
regime as head OF the university. He said:
am a lone figure among you here TO-
night. l was a teacher here when Pres-
dent Butler was student, and ii is as
teacher that ! want 10 give him a word
Of advice. / hope that President Butler
will never abandon academic life for that
OF government position Of any sort.
There are men enough to fill such places
In public. but there are only too few who
can take up the government OF a uni
versity and handle it with the authority
and distinction which have characterized
every phase of our presidents career as
tue head of Columbia
As 2 matter Of fact, he has by no means
withdrawn from public life in the position
which he now holds. He has. on the other
men in the public life OF to-day, and / be-
lieve that he would be as safe. sane and
conservative as President Of the United
States az he haJ been I'm Office here. l be-
lieVe. however. that he can do more as
president OF Columbia and be Of more SER
vice TO the country at large in his present
position than he possibly could as Presi-
dent OF the United States.
The best men are not found In govern
ment positions now adays, and believe that
the chief work for civilization must be done
outside Of official government circles. What
Is most needed to-day is the development
q I'M II ali I'M "a a fla
subject oil persons 10 "A general classified
ton Individual liberty must be protected
against the encroachments Of enrolling
mower which threaten the life of the man
| hone that President Butler will never
forsake Columbia I'm an attempt TO serve
his country better In what might seem to
be a broader and more public walk of life.
George i. Rives. chairman Of the board
OF trustees, was the next speaker. I'm go
ing over the history Of former President
Lows severance OF his connection with the
university 10 become New York's Mayor,
Mr. Rives attempted 10 analyze the secret
Of President Buffers success. The prin-
cipal element Of this success, said Mr..
Rives, was the intimate relationship be-
tween the president and the officials of the
university, and at no time since he took
upon himself the duties of office had Pres-
dent Butler ever made a move without
thorough consultation with Coumbia's au-
thorities.
President Butler, who was the last speak
err. gave some detail OF the administrative
duties of the president OF a great univer-
sty I'm planning ahead the work Of the in
stituton He said that the president knew
nothing of what occurred In the current
college year except what he read in the
newspapers. The troubles Of the current
year had come before him I'm tho past ana
been pushed aside by those OF the future.
other universities might want presidents
who would lick the postage stamps, sweep
out the rooms and lock the doors at the end
Of the week, but Columbia, he said, re-
quired man who would plan for the fut-
iIre, and # pleased him greatly to be able
10 say that he had seen Columbia grow
more in the last forty years than any other
university Of which he knew.
Superintendent Maxwell said that Presi-
dent Butler had extended Columbias in
fuence as a great civic force, and the pub
lie schools had felt the influence very
strongly, while ex-senator Spooner said
that he agreed with Dean Burgess that
President Butler would make q splendid
chief executive Of the country.