The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-02-22
(Text of Speech, Page 16)

II
United Press White House Correspondent
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 22.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt today defended edu-
cation against efforts by any group
or government to interfere with the
freedom of the mind"
The President, in Washington's
birthday address accepting an hon.
orary degree from Temple Univer-
sity, declared that true education
depends upon free iom in the pur-
suit of truth"
mo group" re said, land no gov
eminent can properly prescribe pre-
cisely what should constitute the
body of knowledge with which true
education is concerned. The truth
is found when men are free to pur-
sue it.
ut Is this belief in the freedom
Of the mind, written into our funda-
mental law and observed in our
every day dealings with the prob
lens of life, that distinguishes us
as nation"
Warns Against Quotations
Mr.. Roosevelt took advantage of
the Washington anniversary to is
sue-in satiric vein-a warning
against the practice of citing con-
flicting quotations from the works
of an historical parsonage.
George Washington Mr. Roose-
velt said, deeply appreciated the
Importance of education in a repub-
lie and the responsibility of the gov
eminent to promote it. Let this
simple statement stand by itself
without the proof of quotation.
II say this, lest, if I quoted ex-
cerpts from the somewhat volumi-
nous writings and messages of the
first President of the United States,
some captious critic might search
the Library of Congress to prove by
other quotations that George Wash
ington was in favor of just the
opposite"
Breaks Ancient Precedent
1t was recalled that on Lincoln's
birthday congressional spokesman,
both Democrats and Republicans,
cited conflicting quotations from
Lincoln. Democrats sought to show
Lincoln fighting the Supreme Court,
while Republicans cited passages in
which Lincoln praised the court.
"On this anniversary of WASH
ington's BIRTH" the President said,
II propose to break a century old
precedent. I shall not quote from
George Washington on his birthday.
More than this, and breaking
precedent once more, I do not in
tend to commence any sentence
with these words-'If George Wash
ington had been alive today or If
Thomas Jefferson had been alive
today or If Alexander Hamilton
had been alive today or eff Abra-
ham Lincoln had been alive today
beyond peradventure of a doubt
he would have opposed-or, perhaps
favored-etc., ETC., etc."
Cites Interest in Education
Without quoting directly, Mr..
Roosevelt went on to cite Washing
tons broad and continuing interest
in problems of education.
President Washington" he said,
pointed out on many occasions and
in many practical ways that broad
and cosmopolitan education in every
stratum of society is a necessary
factor in any free nation governed
through a democratic system"
Mr.. Roosevelt pointed to the great
gains made in education in the last
so years, declaring:
GAS literarcy increases people be-
come aware of the fact that gov
eminent and society form essential
ly cooperative relationship among
citizens and the selected represent
tatives of those citizens"
Duty to Provide Training
He called attention to New Deal
efforts in behalf of education and
said that despite economic adver-
sity" the government owed it to the
future of the nation to provide ed
ucational opportunities for those
who were willing and ready to use
them to advantage"
las education grows" he said.
men come to recognize their essen
tial dependence one upon the other.
THE second great attribute of
education is peculiarly appropriate
to great Democracy: 1t is a sense
of equality among men when they
are dealing with tn things of the
mind"