Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-27
Invitation From Roosevelt.


chitect.
Invitation From Roosevelt.
Mr.. Beale said today that his inten-
tions in regard to the new university
movement have attracted the attention Of
the leaders of the progressive party. and
that an invitation has been extended to
him to go to Oyster Bay to confer with
Col. Roosevelt OH the subject. Mr.. Beale
and Col Roosevelt are old friends. The
leaders of the progressive party, MIR.
Beale also said, are urging him to come
to the progressive convention to be heiu
at Newport July 1. 2, 3 and 4. because of
| their interest in the movement.
Mr.. Beale said. however, today that
| while he is Sratified at the interest
aroused by his plans, they in no sense
| include any affiliation with any particular
party. He said that he also has received
overtures from George Washington Uni
versity toward a close connection between
that institution and his plans, and ex-
poets to have further conferences on the
subject not only with George Washington
| University, but with all the other uni
versities- and colleges which are listed IN
| the book of the University Club OF New
York.
| Lord Percy Also Has Plan.
Mr.. Beale also announced that plar
| for a similar congress of colleges hal
been set on foot by Lord Eustace Percy
| third secretary of the British embassy II
| Washington and son of the Duke o.
Northumberland. Lord Percy's plan, Sc
far, has had to do with a combination
among students and members of the rae
ulty Of English institutions of learning
and Mr. Beale expects within day Oh
| two to have a conference with friends Ol
| that English movement. who are eXpec.
| ed in America soon, out OF when, IL Is
stated, it is possible that an internationa
congress of colleges may grow.
| Il propose Mr.. Beale said today, IN
explaining his plans, Ito furnish SUB.
stantial part of the endowment which Will
| be necessary to carry out my plans ana
/ have not the slightest doubt VI my apll-
| ity to raise all the funds needed among
nv friends for the remainder Oh the sum-
| Its fexibility is one of the virtues OF
the scheme l propose. After the purchase
of the land we expect to turn Ii ana the
| amphitheater to be erected on ii TO a
CORPORATION made up of col -ege and uni
versity presidents as a holding and oper-
| ating company. The institution is 10 De
what may be called confederation or
| colleges and l think that such an institu-
| ton will have advantages over national
| university in that 1t will have a tendency
| to be less conservative and more pro-
gressive.
To Study Politics.
Primarily such an institution will give
! to the brilliant young students Of ali the
universities an opportunity to study poll
tics at first hand, just as the young artist
is taken from the drawing room. after
lessons in perspective, into the fields to
draw nature. and the young civil en-
sineer is taken from the section room to
view great engineering works like the
Brooklyn bridge.
My scheme is that every year young
students of government, politics, ilnance
and economics shall come to Washington
and debate in this Open-alr theater, SIDE
by side with the Congress of the United
States, the most important questions on
these subjects being debated at the mo-
ment by the Congress OF the United
States.
For instance, If the college congress
had been in session through the month
of May 1 should have expected 1T to
discuss the tariff and currency while
Congress was doing so.
II plan for no instruction. Four or
five members of the faculty of each col,
lege admitted to the congress should
as about ten of the most brilliant stu
dents of every senior class
Might Influence Congress.
II believe tina. the debates of this
college congress. with such learned
men as college professors and the bright
est minds among the students, may have
some influence upon the Congress OF the
United States. Such a college congress
would be free from the fear of having
been Interested by lobbies. and free from
any fear Of losing patronage and there
fore seats.
while such a scheme has received a
great deal of favorable, comment and
support, the idea of college professors
and students influencing the Congress
Of the United States has been termed as
being perhaps visionary, but my answer
to this is that Prof Wilson would not
now be the President of the United
States if men of ideas in colleges and
universities had no weight with the
people of this country.
81 must certainly recall that William:
Pitt changed the history Of England be-
cause Of the writings of Prof. Adam
Smith. Who did Lord Montagu call ia
n,optipued on Second PaPe1