Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-22
CHAPTER VIII.
Democracy or Aristoeraeyf

NR. WILSON had served Eve
ILL years a. president Of Prince
- ton university before he
reached the point OF irrepres-
sible conflict So long as he confined
himself to the strictly educational
workings Of the school he had been
allowed to have his way without much
opposition. But now. when his con-
structive mind reached over to the
students social life and undertook to
organize that and bring 1t into proper
relationship with the other elements
of university life, he founAS that he
had put his hand upon what the guard
ians of the aristocratic institution
were really interested In and what
they were not disposed TO see changed.
In brief, his idea was the organiza-
ton OF the university in a number Of
colleges" or ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ly dormitories-each Of which should
harbor a certain number of men from
every class, with q few OF the younger
professors.
President Wilson secured the ap-
pointment of q committee consisting
Of seven Of the trustees to investigate
the merits of the quad" proposal. and
at the June $500 meeting the COM
mittee reported on the social co-or-
dination of the university" indorsing
Mr.. Wilson's plan. The report of this
committee was accepted and its recon-
mendation adopted with only one dis
senting vote. twenty-five of the TWEEN
ty-seven trustees being present. at the
June meeting.
What was amiss with the quad"
proposal?
This-that it cut into the aristocratic
social structure which the dominating
element in Princeton had erected for it.
self
II, visiting Princeton, you will pro-
/ coed to the top of street known as
| Prospect avenue and pass down it you
will see something which probably is
not paralleled at any seat of learning
in the world. Prospect avenue is lined
with clubhouses. twelve of them with
handsome buildings. beautiful lawns
and tennis courts and. in the case of
the more favored clubs on the south
side Of the street, a delightful view
across the valley to the eastward.
Some Of the clubhouses are sumptuous.
comparing very favorably with the
best city clubs. Their aggregate value
must be much more than $1.000.OO0
The clubs house on an average thirty
members each-ffteen juniors and IF
teen seniors, about $50 in all. juniors
and seniors alone being eligible. Three
hundred other members OF those class
es can get into no club. From this
idea has grown up this dominating
feature of Princeton life. estrangeC
from the university and yet having
more to do with the real forming OF
its students than any other feature Of
the college life.
No one can reflect for a moment upor
this club system without understand
ing its essentially vicious character.
The trouble is that the clubs neceS
sarily constitute an aristocracy in the
midst Of q community which should
above all things. be absolutely demo
cratic. II may be all very well for the
800 youths who enjoy the delights o.
the Ivy, the Cap aud Gown, thu
Colonial. Tiger Inn and the res
though such luxury is Of questionable,
value to a boy who has yet to make hi
way In the world. but what of tn,
300 young men who have not been abb
to make" one of them7 They fee
themselves ostracized and Inundated
and the seeds OF social bitterness ar
sown In their souls. There Is no pro
vision for them outside Of common
boarding houses. Not 4 few leave tn
university.
Worse yet. rivalry for admission :
the clubs IL % great that It tnjure
the work OF the freshmen and sopho
mores. The Hrst term Of the sophc
more year especially is considered Z
be entirely wrecked by the absorption
Of the students in candidating for tn
club elections held that spring.
highly Is membership In q swagge
club regarded that parents Of prospeC
i've students have been known to b.
gin visits to Princeton a year or tw
before their son entered college wit
the purpose Of organizing 4 social can
paign to land him in the club to whic
he aspired.
II may easily be seen how the exis
ence Of these select coteries minister
to snobbery. how they foster toad!
ing. how they Introduce, a world!
material and unnatural element int
what is naturally one of the fines
things in the world-a democracy {
boys; how they set up at the outset {
q students career q mistaken ideal. a
unworthy aim. and how they divid
students along unnatural lines. Owe
and over again Princeton sees a grou
of congenial fellows Of the incomin
freshman class GrsvitAte toward eac
other in the first few weeks of II
term and then, in obedience TO son
J sudden. mysterious influence fro