The sun., 1917-05-27
PLAN Big FIGHT TO
SAVE The CLASSICS
Princeton Arranges Gathering
of Public Men to Be
Held June 2.
WILL HOLD CONFERENCE
Schcmc Is Opposed to ROcke-
fcIler Boards Idea Of
Education.
WILL HOLD CONFERENCE

PRINCETON. n. j., May 26.-One or the
mos, important meetings devoted to edu-
cstional purposes held within recent
years is to convene at Princeton on juno
= TO discuss the place OF classical studies
in higher education. The novelty Of the
meeting is that It will be one Of business
and professional men, Of lawyers. states
men and journalists. instead Of profess
sors Of Latin and Greek.
Dean West Of the Graduate School at
Princeton implies in his public statement
that the purpose Of the meeting In to
make a showing Of strength. In the form
OF the most prominent men of the coun-
try. against the recent movement Of the
Rockefeller Board to reform the present
education system. He says:
"The recent attacks on classical studies
and on the whole theory Of training and
discipline OF school and college educa-
ton are well known. Accordingly a
public conference on the value Of classi-
cal studios in liberal education 10 to be
held at Princeton, under the auspices OF
Princeton University on Saturday,
June %
Those who VIII Speak.
Among those who will speak in favor
Of the present system Of education are
Edward p. Mitchell, editor OF THE Sun ;
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Of Massa-
ehusetts: Alba B. Johnson, president Of
the Baldwin Locomotive Works. Phila-
delphia Lewis Buckley Stilweli. consult
ing engineer OF New York and member OF
the National Research Council: Charles
r, Miller, editor OF the New York Ttmes;
Roscoe Pound. dean OF the Harvard Law
School Thomas Hastings, prominent
architect Of New York city; Fairfax
Harrison of Washington, president OF the
Southern Railway and chairman OF the
committee on national defence OF the
American Railway Association; Prest-
dent John Grier Hibben Of Princeton
ny Butler Of Columbia University.
The Latin Club Of New York has
chartered a special train for the occasion.
Members of the Philadelphia Classical
Club. the new Society for the Promotion
OF Liberal Studies Of Philadelphia. the
Classical associations Of New England
the Atlantic States, the Middle West and
the South. as we'll MS members OF the
Classical clubs of Washington and Pitts
burg. have signifed their intention OF
attending.
In connection with the conference tho
committee has prepared booklet con.
WlnlIk OptnlOuB ifOuI tSoSsh8 AssSh 49,
ever the country in every circumstance
and condition OF life. The list of con-
tributors includes President Wilson. ex-
Presidents Roosevelt and Taft. Secretary
OF state Lansing. Viscount Bryce
Speaker Champ Clark. Elihu Root.
Howard Elliott Mortimer Schiff. Samuel
Strauss. Or. Harvey y. Wiley. some
twenty university presidents and pre-
paratory school head masters throughout
the country, James Loeb Francis Lynde
Setson. z. Parmalee Prentice. Charles
" Hough. United states Circuit Court
Judge, Charles L. Dana. Henry Osborn
TAYLOR Ellery Sedgwick. editor Of the
Atlantic Monthly: Dean L. B. r. Briggs
Of Harvard University.
Members Of Committee.
The conference was planned by the
Princeton classical department. acting In
conjunction with Its committee Of confer
ence. The committee consists Of Presi-
dent Hibben, honorary chairman Dean
West. chairman Arthur H. Scribner.
Paul y. Crayath. Frank A. vanderlip.
Robert c, Mcnamara and Philip A. Roi-
Hrs
Dean West made the following COM
nent
The speakers are not to be classical
professors hut men from other fields.
modern men who believe in the unity OF
our higher knowledge and the value OF
broad general training classics included,
As the finest intellectual preparation for
life and as Of priceless value 20 our
country. especially at the present time.
The ever old and ever renewed forces
OF commercialism, OF Ignorance and OF
confusion, sometimes dressed up like the
army Of knowledge. are again assailins
This position. We have powerful foes
the dislike for training. the pursuit Of
what is seen to be obviously and quickly
useful and the love Of the plea sanity
easy way Of life. But we have . good
cause Let US defend it as gioriously a.
France saved Veraun. II We do not va
are disgraced. II we do we shall con-
rfbute TO the highest welfare Of our
country