Evening star., 1934-06-07
SOUNDS WARNING
TO CLASS AT c. v.
Or. Marvin Says Depend
ency Will Break Strength
of Nation.

The strength of the Nation will be
broken If political leaders permit a
continuance of dependency upon the
Government for livelihood, DR.. Cloyd
Heck Marvin. president of George
Washington University. warned last
night in his charge to the $50 gradu-
ates to whom he had just awarded
academic degrees in the institutions
18th commencement.
Secretary of State Hull, recipient OF
the university's honorary degree OF
doctor of laws, was among those who
heard the educators warning.
In your days of responsibility" DR..
Marvin declared. "the strength, en-
thusiasm and idealism of youth are
much-needed assets. While conven-
tional positions may be, dependent at
titudes aSSuredly mean personal and
a national liability. The present ten
dency of looking to Government for
livelihood and subsistence certainly
does not follow the strength OF our
forbears, and If our political leaders
permit such dependence to continue
it will ultimately break the strength
of the Nation"
COnfers Degrees.
DR.. Marvin had awarded the uni
versity'S degrees and certificates in
course to the universitys own stu
dents. Likewise, he had conferred
honorary degrees upon Secretary Hull
and upon John Lloyd Newcomb, pres
ident of the University of Virginia, and
upon Arthur Cults Willard, president
of the University of Illinois. All other
ceremonies of the commencement,
held in Constitution Hall, were COM
pleted, and then DR.. Marvin delivered
his charge to the class. 1t was the
only oratory of the graduation exer-
cises.
las long as man exists" he said,
"the selective processes OF evolution
will exact change in him. From the
standpoint Of history, the decades out
of which we are passing are more alb
normal than this day in which you
pick your life's work. Yesterday, So
cial organization made for standard
ization. Our beings were DOM
mated by specific criteria, their art
istic endeayors were ruled by canons,
their scholarship was designated by
conventions, their manners were set
by Rubric and their economic life de-
termined by fiat. Under such cond1-
tions, it is difficult to live intellect
ually.
Privilege to Advance.
I'm this day of new definition,
change assumes a dominant place. 1t
is often pointed out that we live in a
chaotic world where men are beWil-
dered. Do not let your minds dwell
upon such a negative point of view.
sibility, ever cognizant OF the lessons
of history, to move forward with un-
derstanding and enthusiasm.
DO not think of change for the
sake of change. Rather let your lives
make a development in the character
of the processes of change because
you understand progress as a natural
development.
With such an attitude in this day,
YOU can be happy because all ways
are open for minds capable of operat-
ing unfettered and with creative zeal
In the yesterday you might have hac
10 IOllOW Ill lllc lubo VA AOehAo eA ~eAN-J
much travelled
At this point in his charge, DR.
Marvin warned of the dangers OF toe
much dependence upon government
Continuing, he said:
Be Strong in Endeavor.
BE strong in your intellectual en-
deayor, for never has greater chal-
lenge in social, economic and politl-
cal thinking been placed before any
generation. There needs to be a full
consideration of the problems OF gov
ernment. They are not new prob
lens. We have been working upon
the problems that arise in the main
tenance of the fundamentals of civil
liberty or self-government for more
than 300 years. Our present form
of government has made it possible
to make such adjustments as have
been necessary to meet at all times
the social and economic changes, anc
no argument advanced at present
convinces as to the necessity fol
change in our supreme law.
"Of one thing I can assure you
The day of mechanical endeavor L
past and the change of our form o1
government will be of no value un'
less such change is the result of 6
common appreciation of the needs o.
men living together. Such nationa
attitude cannot be created under
stress, nor is it likely to be borr
Minerva-like from theoriZing. II mus
evolve out of protracted investigation
and sympathetic adaptation Of per-
fected usage"
Academic Procession.
The commencement was preceded
by the academic procession. DR.. Viii.
liam Allen Wilbur, provost, announced
the convocation and Rev. DR.. j. Hill
man Hollister asked the invocation
Candidates for degrees were presented
by the deans and directors of tht
various schools and divisions in thu
university and the degrees were con.
ferred by DR.. Marvin.
The award of honorary degrees fol
lowed the granting of the degrees il
course and the presentation of pro
feSsors emeritus.
Secretary Hull rose and faced Dr.