The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-11
Greek Letter Men and Colleges
in an Understanding.
Organizations of Yesterday and
Today Are Different.
FRED R. CONLES, ENTHUSIAST
President of the Zeta Province,
of Phi Delta Theta.
Well Known in Topeka and
Over the West.

He is president of a province Of 20
charters of a Greek letter fraternity
in ten states in the central west. He
occupies a position of honor among the
college men OF a score of well known
universities. He is an officer whose
duty it is to maintain the high intel
lectuaI and moral standards of proba-
bly, 500 men. And they call him Fred
Under ordinary conditions of servi-
tude these subdued college frat fell
lows would touch their hats or caps
and humble. Mr.. President or
Brother President or something along
that fearful higher up vocabulary
dictation But when he steps of the
train at Topeka or Chicago, or Law
renee, or St Louis, or Madison, or
Lincoln or wherever he happens to pay
an official visit, the rah-rahs are there
either in force and representation-de-
ponds upon the hour Of the highland
slap him on the back with -Howare-
you Fred?'' Hi Freddy" and a Look
who's here
Fred P. Cowles is his name. He is
president OF the Zeta province of Phi
Delta Theta. one Of the best and most
favorably known of college fraternities.
His jurisdiction extends over 20 schools
in ten states and is directly RESPONSE
BILE for the welfare of the 20 Greek let
ter chapters. His jurisdiction includes
Washburn college. Topeka. where he is
the higher officer Of the Kansas Beta
chapter here Every frat man on col
lege hill knows Fred and he knows
every frat man. He knows them by
name. knows their address. the color
Of their eyes and the brand they smoke
if they are guilty.
And he IS just as well acquainted
with the men Of the chapters in Wis
consin university, Illinois university,
Northwestern university. University OF
Chicago. Knox college, Lombard col
leo 70 sit lou mi
versity. Ames, Iowa Wesleyan. Mis-
souri,, Westminster. Washington. Ne !
braska, South Dakota, North Dakota, !
Colorado college and university, Kan /
sas university and Washburn.
Took Work at Kansas.
President Cowles, only a young man
comparatively when the role of grand
officers of Phi Delta Theta are taken (
into consideration. has d ''deep-dOwn /
feeling in his heart for Kansas. He
is a graduate of the Missouri School .
Of Mines and took graduate work IN .
mathematics at Kansas university. AL !
ways a loyal Greek letter man. he soon ,
was recognized in the ranks OF the gen.
eraI council of Phi Delta Theta. He
was made vice president of the nation
al conclave in 1905 and held that posi-
ton until 1910 when he was elected
president of the Zeta province. Owing
to the size Of the province a vice pres
ident has been appointed to help in
the supervision OF the chapters.
President Cowles Is q well known
character in all the general concIaves
of the fraternity. His popularity
among the Greek letter men of the
country is shown in the Office that they
have given him His popularity among
the college men in his province and
among the members of the alumni
clubs would keep him in office until
the great grandchildren of the present
Mod COS n 70 sending their hOvs n school :
That is what TIE Greeks think OF
Fred Cowles-and he dares take
charge of their intellectual and moral
standards CYou know what the av-
erage healthy college youth thinks of
the man who governs his moral and
Intellectual standards Well. they don't
usually call him by his first nameD
1t is the opinion of President CowIes,
who has been in Topeka recently. the
guest of the men at the Phi Delta
Theta chapter home facing the Wash
burn campus, that the fraternities and
college authorities are closer together
today than at any other time since the
organization OF the Greek letter secret
societies. His ideas are mighty inter
esting TO college students and faculties.
He says:
Frat of Yesterday and Today.
The college fraternity of yesterday
and today are essentially different.
College fraternities have been in ex-
istence for over so years. They were
instituted in the small colleges of the I
east and the system has expanded 50
rapidly that there are only few COL
leges which now do not maintain chan
sers of one CT more of the large num-
Der Of Greek letter organizations In !
earlier years the secrecy and mystery
which surrounded the fraternities vas