New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-10
University Faculty De
cides to Keep Hands Off
Social Revolt
WILSON'S FAILURE
INSPIRES MOVE
Showed That Clubs Ref
ormation Could Not Be
Forced by Executive
rrrom stan Correspondent, o, IN. Tribune. ]


Princeton, n. j., Jan. 9.-The social
revolution at Princeton University,
which broke through the crust yester-
day morning when a group OF inhuen-
tial sophomores announced they would
lead a fight against the powerful up
per class clubs, is to be allowed 10
march to its appointed end without
faculty interference. A professor who
has been acting as the spokesman for
President Hibben since the revolt be-
gan informed The Tribune tonight
that the faculty had decided to take no
active part in the battle.
I'VE arc interested-some Of US vital
ly and intensely interested" the pro-
fessor declared. "Dr. Hibben himself
has already commended the sophomores
who have started the movement against
the clubs. But no professor or uni
versty officer will 90 beyond that.
1--WE want the students to fight this
thing out for themselves. Then, no
matter what the result, the end achieved
will be sanctioned by the majority,
rather than enforced by executive will.
We consider the movement the most
important that has come TO the surface
In any Eastern college or university
during the last ten years. If the So
called social revolution is successful,
and if the powerful clubs are starved
out at Princeton by students refusing
to join them, Herculean task will have
been accomplished"
Wilson's Failure Recalled
The faculty's attitude of "watchful
waiting" it was learned this afternoon,
is inspired largely by Woodrow viii
sons unsuccessful sally against the
clubs in the spring Of 1907. In that
case Mr.. Wilson then president OF
Princeton. dropped bomb into the
student body by sending out letter
to all the clubs proposing that they
should pass out of existence and that
the students thenceforth be automatl-
cally grouped after the quadrangle sys-
TEN common in the English unlyersi-
ties.
The proposition, which in Princeton
history is now referred 10 as - wilson
quad proposal" met hostility more
bitter than social life in the university
had ever known before. Many wealthy
alumni who had been clubmen IN
earlier years withdrew their support
from the university; the board Of trus-
tees, which had previously voted the
scheme through. were compelled to ash
Mr.. Wilson to withdraw his proposal
In a word, the whole plan collapsed.
Present Move from Below
The greatest objection to the scheme,
faculty members say, was that it came
from above" Students and alumni
alike, believing the president Of the
university was trying TO force them TO
submit to something they disliked, in
stantly raised the battle cry. The
present movement against the clubs
comes from below"-out Of the ranks
of the student body itself-and the
faculty is determined that the mis-
fortune of 1907 shall not be repeated
Thus far the seventeen clubs under
attack have made no attempt TO OF
ganize against the revolt from below
influential seniors declared this after
noon that in all probability no such
organization would be effected.
Spirit Is 0pen-Minded
This spirit Of open-mndedness found
it's expression in "The Daily Prince
tonian" to-day, when ten clubmen
frankly expressed their sympathy with
tho movement inaugurated by Grover
Cleveland's son, Richard f., and his
follow sophomores. and when another
gronp of clubmen called for a revoca-
tion of the rule recently enacted by
tbe club elections committee. which
nrohibits upper classmen from discus
sino the tense situation with under
classmen. This latter rule will proba-
bIv be lifted within the next week.