The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-06-28
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
OBSERVED IN PRESENCE
OF IMMENSE GATHERING
Five Thousand People Assemble
in Tent to Hear Address of
b. Prof. jerks
SPEAKS ON CITIZENSHIP
Graduates Are Told to Be I'm
selfish and Patriotic in Their
a Life Work

ANN ARBoR. Mich, June 27.-The
University OF Michigan today celebrat-
ed her 6Sth commencement day in u
manner fitting TO the occasion. and
upon scale never before attempted
at Michigan.
The commencement day exercises
, were held In a mammoth tent on the
campus, In which were gathered 5000
People. For several years past he
University auditorium has been mad
equate to the demands made upon 1t
on commencement day, and this year
the board OF regents, expecting the
greatest crowd in the history OF the
institution, secured a tent TO hold the
exercises. This morning, as Is the
custom at Michigan. the graduates and
members OF the faculty In academic
dress marched to the tent. accompan-
led by the guests OF the university and
the delegates from institutions OF
learning al. over the country. The
commencement address was delivered
by Prof Jeremiah p. jerks, OF Corneu
university, a former member OF the
Michigan faculty, and a man prom
inently mentioned for the presidency
OF Michigan at the time DR.. Angel
resigned. His address was one OF the
most scholarly speeches ever deliv-
cred at Michigan. Among other things
he said:
These days OF political turmoil and
strife are not only interesting and
exciting. They are portentous or
hopeful with issues that are vital. To
look ahead and judge the coming citi-
zcaship We must note the signs OF the
times In various fields. ! am not
speaking only or particularly Of the
present political campaign. II would
not be fitting on this suspicious occa-
sion, when so many OF you are to en-
ter the path OF your LIES activity, to
attempt TO stir momentary enthus-
iasm for any temporary candidate or
any temporary cause. Rather Is Ii fit
ting to point out the signs by which
we may Judge the direction In which
our state is moving, and indicate the
principles by which we may for
longer time wisely guide our acts as
citizens, for an obligation that we
must not ignore rests upon each or us
10 do his part as a member OF the COM
munity.
"Our country as political body, the
state, is simply all OF us-the citizens.
Our government Is merely our grand
committee to formulate and do our
bidding In political matters in accord
ance with the rules laid down for
guidance by ourselves and our fathers.
And we as citizens are still men and
women with our various interests, our
hopes, our desires, our fears, our pur-
poses. But with all this variety, eacn
mans nature Is one. Each mans life
is a unit. Here and there, perchance,
may be found a double character, a
DR. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde, but such a
being is abnormal, At subject for
the alienist. He is not man. The
character OF the man Is the same. and
ought to be the same in all his various
activities, economic, social, religious,
political
IF We find, then, the trend Of mems
views in religion. in morals. in educa-
ticn, in business we may be sure that
we can Judge the drift Of their politi-
cal thinking; and we shall not be mis-
led either by any chance outburst Of
the days enthusiasm or by the halt
ing fear OF a forward movement"
I'VE too often look upon the act
OF voting as the primary right and
duty OF the citizen, but has not citi-
zenship to do with practically all the
fundamentals of life? Citizenship 10
not a matter OF light concern. touch
ing only an act or two a year. Citi-
zenshp touches the deep things OF
life, religion. morals and business. and
finally politics as to the reflection or
the outgrowth OF all these. The
statesman is the man who foresees,
uses, guides the forces upon which all
these, ideals and practical activities
of life, are based, in order to bring
about through legislation and admin
istration the welfare OF the people,
end the peoples belief in what really
constitutes their welfare-rellgious
moral. economic-gives the statesman
his mower. and that belief is prfmar-