Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-11

Ethnology and has done more than
any other one agency in this Dranch
of science. At the present moment
the encroachments of the white man
are obliterating forever the remains
of Indian civilization in America.
The Indians are being absorbed, for
getting their own languages. The
next few years offer the last oppor-
tunities to learn the story of Amer
ica's native tribes, and it would be
wasteful not to use to the utmost
the Smithsonians qualifications TO
make the most of these opportunities.
The same" he continued, is true
of the animal and plant life of the
world. Because of the encroach-
ments Of the white mans agricul-
ture and other activities, hundreds
OF thousands of species of animals
and plants have disappeared and
more must disappear"
The increase of knowledge, DR..
Abbot said, is only half of the smith
sonian's purpose. The diffusion Of
knowledge is equally important. In
spite of the value and Importance of
Smithsonian publications. he asserted,
the institution has not been able for
20 years, without outside help, to pub
lish one of its chief series, THE Con-
trlbutions to knowledge" and since
the Great War the miscellaneous col
lections have been reduced to a third
of their former size
Our country" DR.. Abbot declared
In conclusion, docs not need to stress
the utilitarian aspects of the increase
of knowledge. 1t has profited beyond
all other peoples in its application of
facts. Having leisure and means in
abundance, our people are now coming
10 a time when the profound salts
factions of knowledge will be sought
for their own sake
1T is not too much to say that
we have reached a turning point in
our intellectual history. Hitherto we
have been concerned mainly with fell
ing forests, building railroads, and
winning a living from a new land. In
these things we have attained an
overwhelming success.
The energetic minds of our people
are turning to new concerns. The
province of the mind offers itself as
message to Congress the President
of the United States expressed the de
sire that Washington should become
the national and world center of
science, education. art and literature.
Here is the great opportunity OF
the Smithsonian Institution. 1t has
woathily led the van hitherto toward
that great aim. Should 1t not go
strongly on?"
The list of conferees follows
The establishment of the SmitnSo-
MAN Institution-Preside Coolidge,
Vice President Dawes, Chief Justice
Taft, Secretary Kellogg, Secretary
Mellon, Secretary of War Davis, At
torney General Sargent, Postmaster
General New, Secretary Wilbur Sec
rotary Work, Secretary Jardine, Secre-
tary Hoover and Secretary of Labor
Davis.
Regents--Senator Smoot. Senator
Pepper, Senator Ferris. Representa-
tive Albert Johnson, Representative
r. Walton Moore. Representative wal
ter III. Newton, Charles F.. Choate, jr.:
Henry White, Robert S. Bookings, Ir-
win r. Laughlin, Frederic A. Delano
and Dwight w. Morrow.
Offieers-Acting Secretary Charles
G. Abbot and Assistant Secretary
Alexander Wetmore.
Invited conferees-Dr Edwin A.. AL
derman, Senator Hiram Bingham.
Robert w. Bingham, Charles F. Brush,
DIR. w. W. Campbell. Asa G. Gambler,
jr.; Emory w. Clark. Representative
Charles Crisp, Harvey >. F1reStOne,
Or, Simon FleXner. Representative Il.
A. F'rothingham, Gov. Fuller Ebert
H. Gary, Walter S. Clifford, Chauncey
j. Hamlin, Cordell Hull. Robert p. La
mont. Representative Nicholas Long
worth, Gen. II. NJ. Lord. DIR. John G.
Merriam, Senator Jesse, II. Metcalf,
Representative Ogden Mills, DR..
Henry Fairfield Osborn, Judge Edwin
b. Parker, John Poole. John j. Ras-
kob, Samuel Rea. Edgar Richard, DR.
Henry NJ. Robinson. William b.
Storey DR. S. w Stratton, Silas FL.
Strawn, DR.. George r. Vincent, DR.
William Henry WEIGH. Robert Win
s,o,,- q nd Dnran n Young