Smyrna times., 1924-03-26
HENRY RIDGELY, DOVER, MAKES
APPEAL TO U.OF STUDENTS
SAYS BIG THINGS ARE FORGOT
TEN IN EMERGENCY OF HOUR
Would Have Youth of United States
Look To Future and To Great
Tasks the World Is Facing


Tasks the World Is Facing
The underlying principles of the
Constitution of the United States
were forcefully protected by Henry
Ridgely, Thursday evening, at the
University of Delaware, Newark, in
the third of series of lectures on the
Constitution. Mr.. Ridgely showed the
limitations of the two-party system,
declaring it prevented one from ex-
ercising ones right of selection, dis
claimed modenists who would over
throw the present constitution, and
decried the beliefs of conservatives
that the fundamental law of the ma
ton, represented by the constitution,
should never be changed.
The lecture covered nearly every
phase of political and economic con-
nections with the document and en-
deavored to show how, by reasonable
and cooperative methods, the present
fundamental law might remain intact
and, yet be so amended that it would
amply provide for improvements made
in every phase of activity since its
origin.
Outstanding, as a theme of the en-
tire lecture was a plea to the man.
hood and womanhood of today to look
to the future wherein lies the COP
portunity to take part in the tremend-
Gus task the world is facing" and in
which lies "your opportunity to attack
1t with the spirit and vigor and con-
fident hope of youth"
"My generation" Mr.. Ridgely de-
clared with regret, ''has not made the
most of its opportunity"
New Generation Superior
According to the speaker, Gin ed
ucation, culture, manners and in gen
eral efficiency the average American
of 1924 is superior to the average
American of 1887 and 49," The ad-
vantages and disadvantages which the
one set held or holds over the other
were pointed out, but Mr.. Ridgely de-
clared the American of the past at.
tackled public matters with much more
concern than the man of today, where
in, he pointed out, rested one of the
greatest troubles with the moderr
generation; namely, lack of desire t.
participate in governmental matters
"The American of that day." he said
chad deep seated convictions, not
haphazard opinions. He was not the
pawn of a political party, nor knew
its fetishism. His was not the con
servatism of timidity. He was no
apathetic or lukewarm toward tn,
questions of the day. Public matters
were of burning interest to him."
Mr.. Ridgely did not attempt at an!
time to prove the government or coun
try in a deplorable or terrible condi
ton. From the general context of hi
statements, the opinion was draw
that he felt the government neede'
trimming, the old edges, resulting
from the stress and strain of tn
, years intervening between the tim
the Constitution was written and to
day, cut off, so to speak.
A certain group of people, he point
ed out, were only able to do this trim
ming. He addressed a group of col
lege men and women and told theT
that within their confines, within tn
walls of the college and universitie
Of the country were the men and VIC
men who would and could mould tn
, new era upon the fundamentals an
}. principles Of the old.
> Question How To Change
I, "The sweeping change in materi;
y conditions with its reflex on huma
. society has made life in the twel