Evening star., 1936-02-22
Equality in Things of Mind
Held Basic Concept in
American System.
$4O0,OOO, 900 EXPENDED
IN EDUCATIONAL AIDS
Washington Favored U. S. Pro-
motion of Learning, President
Says in Temple Address.
(Tert OF Speech on Page A.


PHILADELPHIA, February o.
Declaring that true education de-
pends upon freedom in pursuit of
truth" President Roosevelt said today:
mo group and no government can
properly prescribe precisely what
should constitute the body of knowl-
edge with which true education is
concerned"
In Washington birthday ami
versary speech in which he accepted
an honorary degree of doctor OF juris-
prudence from Temple University,
Mr.. Roosevelt said the Father of His
Country deeply appreciated the inn
portance of education in a republic
and the responsibility of the govern
ment to promote it."
The Chief Executive asserted he
was proud to be the head of
Government that has sought to make
a substantial contribution to the
cause of education, even in period
of economic distress" He noted that
these efforts included appropriations
of more than S40O,000,000 to local
III 0(1lOO1o, SOllCSCo dll0
library buildings" as well as projects
for adult education and other pur-
poses.
Equality Held Basic Concept.
Besides freedom of thought, he listed
two other qualities of a true educa-
ton" One, he said, is a sense of
fair play among men"-a realization
nf thnis~ Sncccrfio1 lonorIorrn
another" The other is sense of
equality among men when they are
dealing with things of the mind
Inequality may linger in the world
of material things" he said, but
great music, great literature and the
wonders of science are and should be
open to all"
Although referring to George Wash
ington, Mr.. Roosevelt said he would
''break a century-old precedent" and
refrain from quoting from the first
President lest some captious critic
might search the Library of Congress
to prove by other quotations that
George Washington was in favor of
just the opposite"
N4O1C tAAoLl lac anu
breaking precedent once more, I do
not intend to commence any sentence
with these words-'if George Washing
ton had been alive today or if Thomas
Jefferson had been alive today or if
Alexander Hamilton had been alive
today or If Abraham Lincoln had
been alive today-beyond peradven-
ture OF a doubt he would have op-
posed-or, perhaps, favored-etc., etc.,
ETC.
Broad Education Vital.
Suffice it, therefore, to say that
President Washington pointed out on
many occasions and in many prac-
tical ways that broad and cosmo-
pol1tan education in every stratum of
society is necessary factor in any
free nation governed through demo-
cratic system"
After giving his definition of
true education, Mr. Roosevelt said:
In our ability to keep pure the
sources of knowledge-in our minds
freedom to winnow the chaff from the
good grain-in the even temper and
in the calmness of our every day re-
lationships-in our willingness to
face the details of fact and the needs
of temporary emergencies-in all of
these lie our future and our children's
future"
Then he concluded with a quota
ton from Rudyard Kipling:
Ion your own heads. in your own
hands, the sin and saving ies.'"
Large Crowd at Station.
A large crowd greeted the President
and Mrs. Roosevelt on arrival here.
After a short delay the presidential
party was driven l mile south on
Broad street to the university. Be-
fore going to the auditorium of Mitten
Hall, the President stepped on the
balcony, a floor below, and spoke a
few words to several hundred Temple
students assembled in the big indoor
court.
He waived response to their greet
fng and remarked glad to see you
all. Sorry the hall isn't big enough
for you all to get in"
Smiling broadly amid the cheers of
the crowd, he left the balcony and
proceeded to the stage of the audi
torium above.
VISITS HARVARD TONIGHT.