Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-12
Mr.. BAKER POINTS OUT
TASKS GRADUATES FACE
War Secretary Tells Georgetown
Men of Work Ahead and
Ideals Of War.

Ideals Of tho war and the opportunity
for educated young men OF today ana q
tomorrow to perform n great Worlo
service in rebuilding civilization were
discussed by Newton d. Baker. Score
tary of War. In an inspiring address 70
400 graduates Of Georgetown Univer-
sity yesterday afternoon.
Secretary Baker paid tribute TO tne
patriotic zeal Of those among the
graduates who wore the United states
uniform, and at this point his address
was interrupted with cheers. He en-
phasized that education is not so much
a personal distinction as trust 70
disseminate the advancements OF the
age among the many. and that real sue
cess in life is to reach down and help
others.
He told story of a child playing in
a baronial castle nesting up against a
figure draped in silk, which fell aside
| revealing knight in armor Ana so
| today" he said, "as the academic gown
fell apart the khaki Of the soldier
showed beneath. That reminds US that
we are in an age far different from that
at which time commencements are ordi-
narily held, and reminds US that TINS
great country OF ours, this land weoaea
to peace is at war-and that war the
greatest in history. We are reminded
that the presence of war imposes new
Duties calls for a new organization Oh
our people.
Driven to War.
THE United States was driven to this
war" he said. 'as seeking to restore
the peace of others. with no intention
to take from anybody anything that is
his nor for revenge to satisfy any i'm
pure purpose We entered as friends
of men, as defenders OF justice. as re-
storers of peace to stricken world. as
establishers Of international freedom.
an this sense the United States is
Knight Grant in this conflict. The
| summons comes to some Of you to put
on the uniform and go out as part OF
the military forces Of the nation; 70
some it is a call to stay at home. ana ~
is all a part Of the great task that IS
to be done here in order that the war
will be successful. But whether your
place is in the trench or In the WORK
shop or factory. whether the call to you
is military or civil. the call is equal
in this sense to all Of us to take upon
ourselves the success OF the great
cause for which our country has en-
the world. for that is above all at this
moment what the world needs. ~
must and will be a peace which mas
the element of endurance and perma-
hence. a peace which is above all In
when this war will ba over there
still remains a great fight. This shat
tered civilization is to be reconstructeo.
There is to be a repopulation OF the
leading nations Of the world. Tor the
people who call themselves civilized
are destroying themselves at the rate
Of ten to fifteen thousand day. me
accumulation Of ten centuries OF &C
complishments are being leveled to
the ground.
Education a Trust.
st do not mean to undervalue your
| tasks as soldiers. II your country
reaches out for one of you and asks
you to give your life to 1t. then thank
| God you have the opportunity to Die,
and IL that be not the task then when
| this period Of reconstruction comes VIII
| be the time when the education which
you have received here will demon
| strate this character as trust rather
than a distinction. because the world
will be eager for men of culture. OF
cultured minds, who have studied the
histories and sciences of the race.
I'VE must not allow our schools to
| be closed, we must not feel that pc
cause of the horror Of the conflict
that any young men who can be spared
| should abandon the pursuit OF study
Rather. all of US ought to feel that
while the actual conflict is on there
should be still another generation OF
! cultured young men who will proceed