Evening star., 1927-08-28
BY s. X. McCULLOCH.

w WITHIN the shadow of the
n I home of Thomas Jefferson
wv practical politician and ed
ucator. was closed August
20. a school unique in the
history of American education. an in
sttute of public affairs, sponsored by
the University of Virginia, and havine
for its objective the discussion of facts
rather than theories or political op1n
ions. In effect, it has been school fol
the exchange of practical ideas. an
open forum for the discussion of the
realities of government.
state and national problems which
call for immediate solution were dis
cussed and will be discussed each
year, according to the eXigencies of
the times. There is a decided diStinc-
tion between the Virginia forum and
its kin. the Institute of Politics, which
has been conducted since 1921 at Will
liams College.
Distinction i'm Purposes.
The Williamstown school has dealt
almost exclusively with the study Of
International relationships. considering
the theory rather than the practice of
systems of political philosophy. The
school at Virginia. however. studied
almost wholly domestic affairs. exam.
lining each question as a separate prob
lem, taking up its practical aspects
with a view to aiding those who have
to deal with it. whether in administra-
tive capacities or simply as voters.
Keeping pace with the march of
progress. problems of the moment
have been considered effectively. with
a view to their prompt solution, in
some instances at the next election.
Partisan creeds and dogmas have had
no place in the curriculum OF the in
stitute. Leaders of both parties de-
Iivered addresses, but their remarks
have reflected the unbiased plan of
the school and have been directed
toward the explanation of practical
measures with which they have be-
come recogniZedly familiar, rather
than with campaign issues.
In accordance with this plan the
prohibition question was considered
not as a question of morality or prin-
ciple but as a set of concrete facts
facing the Nation at the present time.
The eighteenth amendment was dis.
cussed by Edward Dunford. associate
of Wayne B. Wheeler in the work of
the Anti-Saloon League. and Senator
William Cabell Bruce of Maryland. a
pronounced wet"
Speakers on Program.
Likewise, Gov. Harry Flood Byrd
of Virginia, who instituted and active
ly carried out an economical reorgani
zation of the State and county govern
ments, spoke in detail of a plan of
practical political economy that has
made the Old Dominion like a great
business corporation, with the COVER.
nor as it's president the General As
sembly as the board of directors and
the taxpayers as the stockholders.
Gov. Albert G. Ritchie of Maryland.
who has become an authority on the
relationship between the rights of the
States and the privileges of the Fed
eral Government. spoke of the prob
lens affecting his State and the future
OF American democracy as evidenced
in present day tendencies in municipal
governments.
National attention was drawn to the
common sense business-like account
of Treasury financing. as outlined by
Ogden L. Mills, Undersecretary of the
Treasury, who took up also the prob
lem of growing tax burdens. and pro-
posed measures for their relief. Gen.
H. NJ. Lord. director of the budget.
delivered a strictly Informative ad-
dress on 1.-The Nations Business"
Other problems. including the flu
ture of aviation, our national defense,
the status of the Constitution. the
part of the scholar in politics and the
international debt question. were
taken up in the same informative
manner. without any tincture of bias
or partisanship. but with the purpose
of getting to the heart of the various
questions.
ROund-Table Discussions.
In addition to the public addresses,
of which there were two day during
the two weeks of the institute, round
table discussions were organized for
the detailed consideration Of national,
state and local governmental prob
lens, with the economic and social
questions underlying them.
DR.. A. r. Hatton. professor Of po-
Iitical science at Northwestern Uni