Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1914-02-20
STUDENTS HEAR
c. NJ. FASSETT SPEAK
Spokane Commissioner Addresses
Students on Ideals of Citizen
ship" in Auditorium
Thursday

sioners of Spokane, and formerly
president of the Spokane Chamber
Of Commerce, addressed the student
body in the auditorium Thursday
morning during the second class per-
iod. Mr.. Fassett came here under
the auspices of the Twentieth Cen
fury Club.
ideals of Citizenship was the
speakers subject. He called atten-
ton to the appropriateness of such
a topic for discussion on the birth
day of that ideal citizen, Abraham
Lincoln. Lincolns service to the
country makes him stand out as a
model of good citizenship.
This word service is the key
note to happy life" declared the
speaker. 1t is a prime factor in the
development of good character,
which, in turn, is necessary to good
citizenship. zone person l have to
make good, and this is myself" If
we make good ourselves, we shall be
good citizens.
Applying this principle, Mr.. Fas-
sett declared that we, as students
who have the advantage of higher
education, and who are indebted to
the state for the opportunity to OBJ
sponsibilities to become good citizens
than those who are less fortunate
This is true not only because we owe
our education to the state, and there
fore have a debt to pay, but also be-
cause, having received better train
ing we must live up to higher
standard. 1t deyolves upon the bet
ter trained to solve the problems
which those who have not college
education can not solve.
Mr.. Fassett believes that the prob
lens which we have to solve have be-
come greater as our ability to solve
them has increased The changed
conditions of today show this to be
a fact THE laws of our fathers
day were made to fit the conditions
Of our fathers time, but this is a
rev day" Fifty years ago the prob
lem was to cut the forests; now it
is to raise them. Then the problem
OF the West was cattle raising, now
it is crop raising. Then the prob
lens of business were those of the
small partnership; now they are
those of colossal corporate bodies.
Then the problems of manufacturing
were those of the small shop now
they are those of the great factory
and manufacturing plant.
So the conditions with which we
have to cope demand a lofty stand
ard of citizenship. To attain this
standard of citizenship certain quail
ties of character are prerequisite
"Self-respect is the basis of all
good citizenship" said Mr.. Fassett
This quality of character is more in
elusive than appears at first glance.
Self-respect can be acquired only by
the practice of honesty and by atten-
tion to duty. So without self
respect good citizenship is unattain-
able.
Optimism is another requirement
of, good citizenship. 1--WE have
right to approach the accomplish
ment of our tasks with optimism"
said the speaker. Not with the silly
optimism of the short-sighted, not
with the optimism of the selfish, nor
yet with the idealistic optimism of
Joaquin Miller; but with the prac-
teal optimism which not only sees
bright prospects, but works to make
them realities.
Further, to be good citizens, I'VE
must" said Mr.. Fassett, "be able to
answer yes to the question, Are
you willing to sacrifice yourself to
the public good?'" Usefulness must
be quality possessed by every per-
son who would be of true worth to
society.
Finally, we must be able to dis
Germ for ourselves what is right and
what is wrong. The closing words of
Mr. Fassett brought this point out
very strongly: Where there is no
vision people perish"
The lecture was we'll attended.
President Bryan presided.
At 2 o'clock in the afternoon Mr.
and Mrs. Fassett were rendered an
informal reception by the Twentieth
Century Club in Van Doren Hall. On
this occasion Mr.. Fassett talked a
few moments on the subject
Prayer after which he presented
the club with a copy of Walter Rau-
chenbusch's Prayers of the Social
Awakening The gathering was
then turned into question and ans
wer meeting, in which the commits
sioner replied to queries in regard
to single tax, the minimum wage.
and the liOuOr nrobIap, A. ii H.