Evening star., 1923-10-14
ENDOWED COLLEGE
HELD AS STANDARD
Hoover, Praising Lehigh Fund
Drive, Says State, Schools
OvercroWded.

we must depend largely upon the
endowed colleges and universities
for the standards of education in
America. Our state institutions are
oVerburdened with numbers; their
support from taxation not infre-
quently fails to keep pace with edu-
cational demand" wrote Secretary
of Commerce Hoover to President
Richards of Lehigh University in
expressing regret that he was un-
able to attend the Lehigh radio night
dinner in New York recently.
On this night scores of alumni
dinners were held in all parts of
the country, including District of
Columbia, and were connected with
each other by radio, bringing about
almost the same results as though
the entire alumni association had
been gathered in one dining ROOM
Lehigh is out for a 100000 en-
aoWment' by November 3. Many prom
lnent speakers were present in New
YORK and their addresses were broad
cast TO all the dinners in the various
states. Secretary HooVers message
"hlch also was broadcast, follows:
All the things We hope for in the
future must take their root in our
educational institutions. Lehigh
STANDS nigh among them and must do
her full part. We must depend large
ly upon the endowed colleges and
universities for the standards of ed
ucat1on in America. Our state instf-
tut1ons are overburdened with num-
pers; their support from taxation not
lnfrequently fails to keep pace with
educational demand. The inspiration
and lifting up of public opinion, which
In turn Will support the state uni
Fersities on all these questions. must
receive contributions from the inde-
pendent colleges.
Grads Have Obligations.
We each have an obligation to
our individual Alma Mater of at
.east minimum equal to the amount
that that institution has expended
upon US. That obligation Is even
greater because we each incurred il
at a time when we could not then
individually afford to pay. 1t was
an advance to each of us and we
are In honor bound to support the
institution that has enabled us to
take greater and more important
positions In the world, to do more
enect1Ve work, than we could have
otherwlse accomplished. This ex-
pemalIure OF money should be re-
turned for the education of those
VINO follow us. Unless we do SO we
nave prejudiced the opportunities of
some one in our country to obtain
the advantages that have been given
10 US. If we could inculcate this
spirit of obligation amongst the men
VINO have left our universities the
nnanclai problems of our colleges
and universities would be solved.
Every college president should
have the unfaltering support of his
alumni, for they are dependent upon
hlm to maintain the reputation of
their college. 1t is the reputation
or our Alma Mater. it's status with
the public, that we in our profess
slonal life draw upon daily because
or the insistence upon proper equip
ment for the service that we propose
TO undertake. The high and growing
reputation of our Alma Mater adds
10 each of our own Individual assets
The president of any of our colleges
must look TO its graduates for the
inspiration of the high service which
ne must perform. Lehigh has had
a great past: 1t has made a great
contribution to American life, and
1t is the business of Lehigh men to
see to it that her future is secure"