Evening journal., 1914-11-24
New News Of Yesterday
The Professor Who Be-
came An Alderman
BY Holland.

OF all the considerable faculty of
Yale during the time that William G.
Sumner was tutor and, later. professor
In the institution he was the only one
who gained national reputation out
side of his special department That
was because, in the best sense of tile
word. Sumner was a man of the world.
When he returned from Germany.
where he had spent two years in study.
he amazed and also delighted the stu
dents by the unconventiOnality of his
dress. Moreover, in the classroom he
seemed often to be greatly occupied in
studying the intellectual and temper
mental characteristics OF one or an
other of the students. He took a keen
interest in politics. being especially
pleased when any one narrated TO him
some anecdote of local political ma
nipulation. He never entertained the
same feeling towards those who were
called bosses" that many other schol-
ars did. He once said 10 me that he
could not see any difference, so far as
the management of the party organi-
cation was concerned, between boss
and a leader. although he recognized
the moral and personal leadership
necessary for establishing and main
tanning party principles.
was chatting with Prof. Sumner
soon after he returned to Yale as a
professor from active work as a
clergyman in the Episcopal church.
His rectorship was, in fact, an illus
tration of his many-sided character
He was intensely interested in an
anecdote which | narrated TO him.
Il was directly associated with So
called machine politics. | told him
that member of the New Haven po-
lice force some months earlier had
been brought before the police board
upon charges and that the charges
we're sustained and the man dismiss
ed. The charges did not involve any
moral turpitude, but related to some
minor neglect of duty. This police
man did not complain. although he felt
certain that politics was the cause of
when a ward politician was appointed
to fill the vacancy created when he
was removed from the force. / told
Prof. Sumner that this ex-policeman
bided his time until the next election.
Then his friends nominated him for
alderman and elected him by a large
majority. He was In a position,
therefore. to demand recognition and
got it when he was made a member of
the police board which, nearly a year
earlier, had removed him from the po-
lice force
Prof. Sumner was intensely inter-
ested in this anecdOte. He said. This
illustrated American politics, espe-
cially local politics. The policeman
acted in an honorable way, when he
sought vindication. and he had good
reason TO be pleased when he got It.
You can imagine his feelings when he
took his place as a member of the po-
lice board. II is by such anecdotes as
this that you get a good idea of what
practical politics is. l should like to
know more about practical politics"
why don's you let your friends in
your ward nominate you for alder.
man?" / asked
The professor mused for a moment
but ! saw by the twinkle in his eye
that the idea appealed to him. He said
TO me, do you suppose can get the
nomination? and in reply / told him
there wasn't the slightest doubt of It.
The next day the party leaders were
told that Prof. Sumner would accept
the nomination for alderman of his
ward. and these leaders we're delight
ed. They promised that he should be
nominated and would be elected, and
this promise was fulfilled.
SO it happened that the most popu-
lar OF Yale professors served as a
member of the New Haven board of al
dermen. and afterwards said that his
experience in that body had been of
the greatest value to him in his study
Of American political life.
Copyright. 1914, by p. ]. Edwards.
All rights reserved.)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell
How Lincoln Regarded Hannibal
Hamlin "