The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-06-17
LIBBY DELIVERED THE UNIVERSITY
ADDRESS TO GRADS THIS AFTERNOON

The university address was deliv-
cred this afternoon by Dr.. o. q. Libby
as a feature ~ the commencement
s speIs,'i n . S ea s. aaesdisss'en' and he
The entrance lof the scholar into
the realms Of politics came as else
where, from his special knowledge In
certain definite fields such as diplo-
cy, law or finance, which rendered his
services indispensable. From the
time Of the Machiavelli. whose few
were at the service of his native city
and whose notable contributions to
the science of politics. are still accept
ars have played roles more or less
important in the history of their
states. There are no more eminent
scholars than the Dutch. Italian, Ger
man and French public men even
though their names do not appear an
the pages of history. Their function
has not been that Of healing the sick,
nor of subduing nature, but rather
that OF ~interrupting that of human ma
ture in political action and the analy-
Sis OF the complex phenomena always
sure to appear where there are CO.
mingled interests and diverse points
Of view in n society. Here the
scholar is the scientific student at
work in his laboratory and is consult
ed as an expert. or he produces works
that are used as guides in the future.
As a .reformer and practical leader,
the scholar has been no less c%onspicu-
GUS and important.
The Political Boss
The American political boss with
whom we are all familiar and who
dates back to Jackson's day is one
OF the most persistent and typical
scourges Of u politics. His chief
characteristics are a good working
knowledge of human nature, a COM
plete ignorance Of the field Of govern
presence Of public opinion. which is
quite likely to descend Into sheer panic
at the shortest possible notice. He
moves in a world Of manifestation
whose causes he Is ignorant Of, yet
whose operations he watches continu-
ally with absorbing interest since upon
these depends his livelihood, his pres
tige and his whole status in the conl-
munity. BY a considerable number
Of more or less successful experiments
he establishes a set Of rules for tho
guidance Of himself and his henchmen
In his exploitation of public service;
but from a varied experience he has
learned not to depend too far on these
rules and he knows that his success
depends in the last analysis on his
ability to bend to every gust Of pub
lie opinion. however capricious or un-
reasonable. The political boss Is as
old as the first experiment at self
government. he is the phenomenon
that accompanies the one stage of
mans political progress. Just as child
hood is troubled by measles, humps
and whooping cough. We will al GER
tainly outgrow this scourge as chill
dren do their infantile diseases and
this without any application of special
nostrums or quack remedies. Il It Is
the function Of the mere politician to
natter the public and pervert civic
virtue to the basest ends, 30 1t 10 the
function of the scholar to instruct,
Guide and inspire the voter in order
that he may learn how to express his
desire for civic Righteousness in natu-
raj forms Of progressive legislation,
public works and scientific expert
ments along all the great lines Of
improvement ana social better
mont. Tho vested interests are also an
obstacle to enlightened self govern
ment tar more formidable than the
political boss These interests repre-
sent the organized intelligence Of al
powerful and interruptions class re-
inforced by all that scientific methods
and improved machinery can contrib.
ute and all that human skill ana train.
Ing can do to perfect the efficiency Of
the whole system. To oppose the
menacing power Of this organised sell
ashness. the scholar stands conspicu-
Gus for his dtsinterestedness and his
tdealism. We may we'll invoke his
aid to set the masses free from the
slavery imposed upon them BY in.l
tfsnched weelth and PRIVILEGES. That
VIII do this 40 freely and unsel-