New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-23
Tells Alumni University
Should Modify Club
System
PRESIDENT IS NOW
ALLY OF REBELS
Asserts Time Has Come
for u. S. to Aid Natural
Allies" in War
From a stan Correspondent Of TIE TrbunoI

lFrom a stan Correspondent of The Tnbunol
Princeton, n. j., Feb. 22.-Dr. John
Grier Hibben, president Of Princeton
University, openly allied himself to-
day with the insurgent sophomores
who have risen in revolt against Prince
toms club system. In an address be-
fore 400 of the university's alumni
here to-day he declared that the aboll-
ton of the clubs is a step Princeton
should take.
"Many people say that we ought TO
suppress the present agitation about
the clubs" DR.. Hibben said. That IS
impossible. I welcome the fact that
our young men are thinking seriously
on the question. It is one of the symp-
toms of our life that these young men
are asking the question: How can we
here in Princeton correct the problem
Of life on our campus?
princeton must be a national uni
versity. We are not going 10 take the
position Of drawing merely from local
territory. We make our appeal to the
entire nation. That appeal grows
stronger every year, but We must show
the nation that our campus life is a
little republic, that here IS a cross
section of conditions of the life in our
great country. In order TO say that
we must have the kind of relation be-
tween man and man i'm this university
that will not allow one group TO be
set aside and compelled to live by
themselves.
IL do not say we are ready, that we
are wise enough or brave enough TO
take this step, but | do say it is the
step we ought 10 take.
Sees Democracy in Revolt
People are asking why the little
group Of sophomores are making their
protest. To answer that you Will
have to take a broad view and sec the
onward world movement OF the demo-
cratic spirit. We have 10 learn the
secret OF living together, the secret
Of working together in common
cause and in the discharge Of common
obligations, and the time may come
when We have TO learn the secret OF
fighting together. We university men
dare not remain on the lower level,
but must rise TO the higher levels set
around US.
THE fact that to-day we are cele-
brating Washington's Birthday re-
minds US of mis- warning against en-
tering into entangling alliances with
foreign powers. But the old order
chanceth. What was wise in Wash
D FnI n
day. because We have come under
/ higher obligations. To-day 10 one
Iivcth unto himself nor dieth unto
| himself. We are a part Of the great
world about US and We must have a
part in the great affairs and particu-
larly must our nation take part in the
reconstruction Of the new world Of
/ Europe.
Eve must back up our position with
the power Of the United States. We
must help our natural allies. If the
peace of the world is preserved n
the future the United States must be
willing TO sacrifice her isolation and
| to give heart, mind and power 70 the
| great constructive forces Of the world.
President Hibben's address was
/ given at the annual alumni luncheon
I held in Proctor Hall in the Graduate
! College. Other speakers were Alfred
/ Moves, who read three Of his poems;
| CAPTAIN Heintzelman, in charge OF
| military instruction in Princeton, and
/ Walter T. Hope, chairman Of the
/ graduate council, who presided.
/ The faculty room in Nassau Hall
was crowded with alumni at a meet
/ ing held in the morning at which
! Richard F. Cleveland, the sophomore
who led the revolt against the exist,
/ ing Princeton social system, explained
! his reasons for refusing TO become a
| club member.
George W. Perkins, jr., and Thomas
| II. Anderson, both seniors, spoke on
plans for recognizing the present
/ system without abolishing it, the plan
/ for which the majority Of undergrad
yates stand at present.
The general sentiment among the
alumni is, like that Of the undergrad
yates, that the club system needs mod
flying and they are watching the de
velopment of all practical plans with
/ keen interest.