New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-05-07
Colleges Vital
In Nations Life.
Saws Coolidge
More Important That Men
Should Know How to
Live Than How to Make
Living. He Declares
Builders of Character
Need for Specialists. He As
scris. but They Cannot Re.
place Liberal Education

NEW HAVEN. Conn. May 6 Vice
President Calvin Coolidge spoke Of The
oontr button OF its colleges to the wei
fare or tho United States to-day in an
address before the New England Asso-
citation OF Colleges and Secondary
Schools
Criticism Of colleges based upon the
earning power OF college graduates
ard Of men who had not been to col
'cge was unfair. he said II was more
important, he thought, that nation
should have men who knew how TO live
than men who knew how TO make
wing "Cesarism' of 10 dav, he said.
rad its source not in m,itarism. but in
economic conditions.
mo one can examine the history of
Amer ca calmly and candidiy.' he said.
and escape the conclusion that in its
main features il has oeen a success.
The foundation and support Of that
success had its main sources directly
and indirectly, in the learning. the
pietv and the reverence which Amer
can lleges had been established to
promote. They had been the great
builders Of character
Liberal Education Essential
Only the minimizing, Mr.. Coolidge
said. jumped TO the conclusion because
If modern standards of success. that
liberal education should be discarded
for something practical There was need
OF specialists and for the technical in
dustrial. commercial and professional!
school which turned them out, he said.
but such institutions were no substi-
tute for liberal education.
They cannot replace il; they sup
PIGMENT it." the Vice President contin-
ued They could not long endure with
out the support Of those influences
which flow from institutions of liberal
culture. There are men Of liberal edu-
cation who are unable to make finan-
cial success. There are those who know
how to live and vet do not know how TO
make living. If they make little posi-
tive contribution TO the general well
fare, at least they do not detract from
It. There is far more of danger. more
Of menace. from those who have the
power which great financial success
brings and vet are lacking the charac-
ter TO administer il wisely. They know
we'll how TO make a living but they do
not know how to live. The Casarism
~ the present day does not lie in the
military life of the Republic. but in
the economic life of the Republic
Basis of Economic Life
III the econ omic life of the nation
be examined it will be found to be
largely under the direction of those
who have had a liberal education.
There is here and there a genius of in
rentlon or organization who might ap-
pear to be an exception. But if those
around him are taken into cons dera
Ton, if his subordinates are examined.
# the means by which he accomplishes
his ends are taken into account there
is no doubt of its appearing that he
uses in others what he does not pos
sess himself. But to cite such exam
pies is 10 fail TO comprehend the cues
ton
III our colleges have yielded to the
spirit Of oommercialism. if thew have
swung away from their original moor
ngs of liberal culture they have. to
some extent. ceased to fulfill their
Original purpose Of supporting the
foundations Of government and reli-
2lon. The nasty conclusions by those
VINO are on the outside are not TO be
given too much weight. but there ia
consi derable public opinion which IS nv
no means lacking in expression that
there Is tendency in some of our col
.eges to give too much attention 10 tho
criticism Of the administration of gov
eminent and too little attention TO the
examination and demonstration of tho
soundness OF the fundamental nrin.
ciples Of free institutions. There is
some feeling. also. that they are NOT
giving effective instruction in the
truths Of religion
Founded to Support Government
The main emphasis of our educa-
t'onal institutions should be put on the
soundness Of the fundamental nrln.
ciples Of rec institutions"
Self government. the rule or the neo-
pie, IS hnalty II is the theory NJ
our Constitution. There is ONLY orc
substitute that can be made for il and
that is the rule of part Of the peonle
colleges were not founded to sunnort
governors; they were founded 10 sun
port government. II they fai! in that
they fail N one of their chief my
poses F
Inc meeting was under the auspices
Of Yale University and DR. James Row
'ano Angel, president Of the university.
MADE the address of welcome. Besides
zee President Coolidge, the speakers
we're President Frank Aydelotte 81
Swarthmore; President Alexander
| MeiAIe lohn. of Amherst; Dean Craven
Lavcock, Of Dartmouth. and John l..
l'ds'ey. district superintendent OF
hiSn schools in New York