Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-10

By the Associated Press
BROOkINGS. s. Oak. September
/ l0.-At the South Dakota State Col.
Iege, Brookings, dedicating the Lin
coin Memorial Library. President
Coolidge spoke as follows:
My fellow countrymen:
I'VE meet here TO dedicate another
temple 10 the cause OF learning. To
reach their full effect the buildings
used for educational purposes must
| assume the character OF, temples.
One of our learned men has told us
| that We do but GO where admiration
! leads the way. Unless we approach
our places Of learning in that spirit
we shall never receive their full bene-
! fits.
THE South Dakota State College
gives every appearance OF having
reached in full measure this posi-
ton. We can usually measure both
the desire and the appreciation that
exists for the advantages of this life
by the sacrifices we are willing to
make to secure them. 1t is evident
that in South Dakota this determina'
ton has Il very strong hold upon the
people. While this was 10 be eX
pacted for this is yet land or
pioneers who have come here in re-
Spouse to desire to improve their
condition. Yet the progress they have
made is nom the less astounding. II
is true. of course, that although this
is a comparatively new community.
it has been nurtured under all the
advantages OF modern science and in
vention. which did not accrue to the
n nf
early beginnings. Yet when we re-
member that South Dakota has been
admitted to statehood less than 40
years. that anything like A real settle.
ment has been going on less than Is
years, that during this short period
many thriving cities have arisen.
long lines of transportation have
been built, an adequate educational
system has been perfected, Il body OF
laws has been developed. a vast aSri-
cultural empire has arisen. method
OF local and State government has
/ been built up. the administration OF
justice has been made effective, and,
in short a great American Common
wealth has been established, we can
not fail to stand in respectful admire
ton for q people whose courage and
ability have been crowned with such
remarkab'e accomplishments. But this
il only typical of the growth and
progress of the West. and the West
is only typical OF the growth and
progress OF America.
Opened 4S Years Ago.
Perhaps there is no better example
Of this wonderful development than
your own State college. 1t was
opened 4S years ago today as pre-
paratory school with IS students
Since that time it has reached the
proportions OF Il college of agriculture
and mechanic arts, with an enroll
ment of about I 400 students. During
this short interval it has attained a
rank as an educational institution in
its field scarcely less than that which
was secured by some OF our eastern
universities after nearly two cen
turtles of existence. 1t is mighty
inspiration to realize that American
communities have capacity which is
demonstrated by their record for the
accomplishment of such wonderful
works
In communities such as these the
cause OF education has never failed
to hold very high place. OF course,
the people in their daily life would
give their first thoughts to religious
worship. but III the affairs of govern
ment education has come to be pre-.
dominant. The Importance attached
to it is signified by the large proper
ton of public money which is devoted
to its support. In the country at large
1t is probable that well toward three
fifths of all local taxes are expended
directly or indirectly for educa ton.
We hear very little criticism of the
amount Of money that is used for this
purpose. but il Is undoubtedly we'll
from time to time TO make careful
investigation of this very large item,
not so much to attempt TO reduce it
as to make certain that all wastes
are eliminated and that the commun-
ity is securing full value in return for
its large OUTLAWS No progressive
community can afford to neglect the
education Of its people. Considered
OH the basis OF economics, their devel.
scientific learning and skill with which
their efforts are directed The day OF
the rule OF thumb is past. The day
Of the exact application OF semitic
knowledge by persons technically
trained in all the affairs of life has
come. Any neglect in this direction
would mean al once stagnation. decay
and failure. 1t is impossible for any
community to hold lis place in mod
ern society unless it is fully equipped
in the educational field of arts and
sciences and research. This solid and
substa initial institution is incontroverti-
BILE evidence Of the devotion Of South
Dakota to these principles.
Hope In Books.
There has been long sta nding
controversy over the question of what
constitutes an institution of learning,
especially college. Some contend it
is the trustees. others the faculty, still
others the student body. / suspect
that it is the combination OF all of
these, and the better the quality of
each the better the institution will be.
But there is yet another element
which has come TO be al-important
in modern scholarship That is the
library While the teacher is the in
strum antality and the directing force.
to very large extent. for the train
ing Of youth and the diffusion of
knowledge. books are, after all, the re-
posit"rY OF learning. Without them
the wide scope OF modern scholarship
would of course. be entirely impos-
sible and no college would feel Itself
adequately equipped for the best serv-
ice which was not provided with we'll
chosen and extensive library. Books
contain not only the priceless records
of the past but they are to large ex-
tent the hops Of thu future. BY means
rNf H. L., ~