Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-11
Young Man Urged
for Penn PrOUOst
Continued from Page One ,

Continued from Page One,
sional man; but a business man would
be impartial
Mr.. Mendenhall believes that alumni
should have big part in selecting the
successor to Provost Smith. He thinks
that vote should be taken by alumni
before the trustees make their decision.
"A man whose reputation lies ahead
rather than in the past should be
chosen, according to Ralph Morgan, '06
College.
"Thc University needs definite.
clearcut program that will tie up its
alumni with the work and with finances.
The present policy of mass education
should be studied. No instructor can
possibly give himself to classes of 125
boys.
II am believer or mass education
in the public schools, but l think that
the University of Pennsylvania ought
to be the acme of culture in this sec
ton. A Pennsylvania alumnus would
be desirable because he would under
stand its traditions. and we don't want
a big man whose interest is only per-
functory."
Among the names suggested as possi-
biIities were those of Emory r. John
son. William Mcclellan and Francis
McIlhenny.
Every member of the board of
trustees" said Mr.. Pepper today,
shares the feeling ! have very strongly,
that until the trustees have put forth
I every effort to secure a reconsideration
of Doctor Smiths determination, all
talk about successor is premature"
DR.. f. Smith will retire June 30,
warn ort and DpnnilpSS
Asks for Pension
His resignation was largely prompted
by his thought that he was physically
incapable of bearing up under the strain,
he said.
Doctor Smith has applied to the Car
ncgie Foundation for pension to care
-. for him the remainder of his life. Doc
| tor Smith has worked at Penn for forty
| four years-since 1911 as provost-anC
/ finds he has put not only his whole vi
| tality into the University, but has put
| back into it all his salary, with the ex'
| ception of bare living expenses. H'
made this explanation of the applica
! ton with tears in his eyes.
He is firm in his determination tt
quit. He made this fact plain to nu
merous friends among the student ant
graduate body, as well as the board o
trustees and will not reconsider.
Big Endowment Urged
For some time the board of trustee
aud the alumni have been urging that ;
campaign be launched to raise an en-
dowment fund of at least 500 600, 900 t.
| take care of the spectacular growth o
the University and the enormous In
crease of enrolment. At the presen
rate of increase, it is said, the studen
body will number 10000 within tel
years, and It will require a huge for
tune to keep the institution out Q
debt.
Doctor Smith acknowledged he ha
deferred the beginning Of this move
ment as long as possible, realizing h
did not possess sufficient strength t
direct it,
Reports. recently circulated, to th
effect that there had been friction be
tween the provost on one hand and tn
board of trustees on the other concern
ing the introduction OF limited term
of Office for members of the board G
trustees were denied vigorously by Doc
tor Smith.
No Friction With Board
"There is no truth in those reports,
: said the provost. There has been n
= friction of any kind, on any sub ject
: ] dare say that there is not sing
q university provost or president i'll thi
country whose relations to board {
trustees are so cordial and harmoniou
as are mine.
81 feel as if they were my brothers
When | read my letter of resignatio
, to them ! almost broke down. / tol
them it was impossible for them
realize how hard it was for me to rea
that letter. One of the trustees iumpC
from his chair and said: Gentle
men. / move to tear this up!
E "In the forty four years / hay
l worked here there never has been oil
= discordant note between the trustee
= the alumni, the students and mysel
All have been invariably very good
Q me. And | have done the best
S could"
Supported Many Students
, 1t is a matter of common knowledl
at the University that Doctor Smi
( virtually gave away all he had. +
secretly supported students. ne COZ
tributed to hundreds of charities. l
1 never refused to give to any wortl
cause.
In the forty four years of his serN
ice at the University, Doctor Smith hi
done everything that came to his hand
| He even told how once, years ago,
took the place of watchman who WI
sick, guarding college hall from Satul
day evening. to Monday morning will
out sleep. q.
| A suggestion to make Doctor Smi
provost emeritus was put forth in
Statement given out by the undergrad
uate council of the University throuf
John F. Lovitt, president of the seni'
class.
A mass meeting of the studenl boo
will be held Friday, at II 80 o. EXPIRE
regret at the proposed resignation
the provost.