The Sauk Centre herald., 1932-09-01
Brains Are Very Best
Asset U of M Dean Asserts
Says Research viii Contribute
Most to the Future Prosperity
of Minnesota

into newer and more valuable ones,
largely through the researches of
the laboratory, offer the way to
Minnesota's future growth in finan-
cial and social well-being, Guy
Stanton Ford, dean of the Graduate
School in the University of Mime
sofa, declares in his annual report
to President Lotus D. Coffman.
What Minnesota is suffering
from is not growing pains but set
thing down palms." DR.. Ford as
serts. Minnesota is no longer a
young state. 1t is at least middle
aged. That ought to justify atten-
ton to preserving and utilizing
every resource we now have in
sight. The laboratory of the schol-
ar and not the office of the booster
will create our future increase in
wealth."
With this condition in mind Dean
Ford expresses keen concern lest
current economy programs weaken
and damage the states educational
system on which, he declares, Min
nesota must depend for the devel-
opment and the discoveries that
will enable us to make the best
use of our natural assets.
The deans statement refers to a
long series of things which the Uni
versity of Minnesota is doing to
benefit Minnesota directly. Among
these he lists the Institute of Child
Welfare, the Employment Etabili-
zation Institute, the study of Min
nesota taxation by Professor Roy G.
Blakey, which will soon be publish
ed, and the important studies OF
consumer interest being made by
Professor Roland Vaile and Dean
Russell A. Stevenson of the School
of Business Administration. Stu
dies of the agricultural outlook and
the possibilities of land utilization
in a more effective form under way
by Prof. o. B. Jesness, Dean Wal
ter c.. Coffey and others at Univer-
sity Farm are also cited. These, he
explains, have been financed to
great extent by grants from the
wealthy foundations and by the fed
eral government, both of which
thus recognize the leadership of the
university's graduate department.
The University of Minnesota has
so far been able to carry on its es-
sential functions undiminished.
The most essential of these, if it is
to be a real university, is the sup
port of research he said. Indeed in
times like these, it is more impor-
tant than ever. Depression breeds
more social and political quackery
than any normal period. 1t also
breeds, or should breed, sound crit
ical and contructive thought. Dis
interested scholarship removed
from party and group pressures and
prejudices is never more precious
than in times like these. 1t is true
it's voice may not reach the masses
so directly as that of the demago-
que with his simple formulas for
complex situations, but in the end
the scholar who offers no quick
.panaceas and ventures few proph-
ecies is the true prophet. In a GER
tain sense it is fortunate that the
national and world situation has
revealed the hollowness of the
pretence to leadership of certain
groups all too dominant in shaping
our national life and ideas. If they
can be reduced to science we may
hear the voices of more disinter-
ested leaders.
Selfish group interests are never
more clamorous than on the eve
of an impending change, whether
it be a tariff law or a revolution of
social values. At the present they
are going to great lengths to
arouse the distrust of the unthink-
ing in the activities and agencies
Of government established to Sc
cure the common welfare. They do
not attack education and the
schools directly. They might even
deny in good faith that they meant
to. But they are coming perilously
near to it in every state and COM
munity where they seek to direct
the economies forced by their own
folly, against the most precious
and the most defenceless of our
social bulwarks, the schools. In
deed all the social services that
reach the average man and make
government worth supporting are
in real danger, while the activities
that benefit elected and organized
groups are we'll defended and even
seeking expansion.
mo one would deny that the
present declining birth rate, as
well as previous periods of expan-
sion, called for a closer scrutiny
and more careful planning in edu-
cational expenditures. But that is
quite a different thing from the
blind slashing that has gone on in
many communities and states.
"The teacher and the scholar who
serves no interest but the general
good and the oncoming generation
is too often defenceless. The pub
lie that owes more to a university
or a public school system for its
present material well being than 1t
does to a gaudy public building or
a battleship makes the former the
object the subject Of ruthless re-
trenchment when. depression is
on"
For three days while crossing
A-I11 AHo,,~ko;~e &. 0a.,fI,