Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-12
Penn ALUMNI WANT
A WR|LE PROVOST
Or. Smiths Successor Must
Have Personality, Says
Thomas 3. Donaldson
FINANCIER IS NOT DESIRED

The new provost OF tlc nlNertltl q
Pennsylvania. succeeding DR.. Edga
Fahs Smith. must first OF all posscs
personality.
This is the view of Thomas Il. Don
aldson. for number of years secre
tary of the General Alumni Society q
the University Of pcuusvlvcnia, VIII,
says the talk Of big business man
for provost wearies him,
The greatest demand Is for person
atty, on the ball field, battlefield anc
In our institutions of learning. he de
clared at is not position for a snoh
of Philadelphia procliyities or "A snoh
of other proclivitics. And il is no place
for fnancier. He might he investi
gated II would bc embarrassing.
don't believe that q single aumrus who
talks about choosing big business man
for provost has the slightest idea of what
type Of big business man he wants or
how he could get him to serve.
'If there is anything the University
Of Pennsylvania lacks today. in money
or equipment, It isn't the fault of Edgar
Fahs Smith. 1t is the fault of myself
and every other alumnus and particu e
larly the fault Of those who are today
allied with the institution in super
visory capacity, some of whom are big
business men but who haven't taken
the initiative TO provide for endowment.
Prefer an AtumnuS
Il should. of course, prefer au alum
nus. Whore he happens TO be at this
time is immatcrial. The dominant trait
must be uuselisbncss, for the new man
must devote his time and his energies
and his ambitions solely to the institu-
tion.
'If the head of an institution of
learning is not to be an educator we
might as well start a department store
and hire business manager on the
commission basis The work of an edu
cational institution is not to make
money. but to pquiD men with general
or technical knowledge so that upon
graduation they will be able TO use their
knowledge and adjust their work to in
come requirements.
There is nothing pleasant about
asking for money and most certainly the
provost should be free from petty ask
ing even though he is privileged TO ask
q limited number Of wealthy people for
liberal foundations.
''T don't care whether or not the
new head has already earned a reputa-
ton.
Want Man OF Culture
Horace Mather Lippincett. present
secretary of the Alumni Society, would
not conine the choice to Phiadel-
phian or an alumnus. Tho provost
should. of course. be a man of cul
ture and an executive young enough to
exhibit vigor and an ability to work
with people he said.
II think it would be desirable to have
IN alumnus. but the right man for the
place might be found anywhere in this
country or even abroad, provided he is
an Anglo Saxon
There will be no meeting of the
Alumni Society until April, SO that no
unified expression of alumni opinion
could be had before that time and there
is no certainty that the trustees will
ask alumni for suggestions.
The Associated Pennsylvania Clubs
have their annual meeting in Whining
y ton on February Is and 10 and the
sub;e't of the new provost will prob
ably be discussed.
Grant VI. Simon. II. architecture,
believes that the type most desired is
an executive who has already made his
reputation, a big man of national
reputation. The man should be old
enough to grace the institution by his
attainments and Young enough TO at
tend TO the duties that would devolve
upon him, according to Mr.. Simon.
Many Letters From Graduates
Each mail brings new avalanche of
letters from graduates. now prominent
In the life of their various communi-
ties. each begging him to stay for the
good of the University. Many teIe
grams and personal visits also are be-
ing received. all with the same object.
II thought it was my hardest task
TO hand my resignation to the trustees. "
said Doctor Smith today. but as these
letters come in by each mail asking
me to reconsider, it is becoming harder
and harder for me.
but | must leave the boys | have
been here the longest. They cant miss
me more than | will miss them.
From every corner of the campus
come expressions of student sentiment.
Il have done and am doing for you
boys only what I should the provost
told his student friends today You
come to college to have fun and ! want
TO make it pleasant for you. Have lots
of fun and enjoy yourselves.
II must part with you and be away
from the fun. but | will always be with
you in spirit. You will sec me often.
The provost today denied that he has
applied for Carnegie pension,
At the chapel exercises the rnoraing
following the announcement of his res
ignstion Provost Smith read to his stu
dent audience the Ten Commandments
The auditorium in Houston Hall was
filed with an intense quiet as the figure
-
forward with the open Bible.
~ am reading you this morning an
important passage of Scripture said
the provost 1T is of the Ten Com
mandmeuts. I want to call particular
attention to that commandment which
asks us not to use tho Lord's name in
vain. You st Pennsylvania must be
careful to obey this ono Of Gods com
mandments particularly we'll, Swearing.
as it is called is wrong it is not at all
effective and you must go forth and
remind those who orr in this respect.
Alumni Of the University, 1000
strong will applaud the provost at the
general alumni banquet in the Belle
vue -Strstford ballroom, Saturday. Feb
ruary 21 He will be asked IN address
the ''boys" of graduated classes.
Friday the students will assemble in
mass meeting at Wcigbtman Hall TO do
honor to Doctor Smith,
Typical Of Day
Appropos Of the great load which
this leader Of a great University has
carried since he became provost in 1911,
student prepared a truthful and un
exaggerated schedule of an ordinary
busy day Of the provost.
T :45-Nalk~ To office.
s :O0--Arrives. hoping to plan quietly
work for the day.
S:0i-Early morning visitor arrives.
Time consumed. one half hour.
S:3n-Lectures on chemistry.
:3n-LNctures on chemistry.
10.Q0 IN 11-ConductS chanel aXpr.