Part 7 (1/2)

Practically our only reliable statistics touching the raphical cyclopedias A few years ago a very interesting study was made of the data found in the current issue of _Who's Who in Araphies of such persons living at the time in the United States as have becoe, in other words, of ht and action in the educational, political, military, and business realms

Of the whole nuiven of 11,019 Of that nues; 1,966 had added to these only the advantages of secondary education, but 7,942 had coes and universities In other words, more than 72 of these leaders are shown to have received their final preparations for leadershi+p within college walls

Figures as interesting have been gathered thru a use of _Appleton's Cyclopedia of Biography_ A few years ago careful study was made of an edition just then out and it was found that of the college graduates of Aained sufficient distinction to nition in that cyclopedia, whereas only one out of 10,000 non-graduates, the public at large, had received such distinction In other words, the college graduate had 250 chances to the otherleadershi+p

Moreover, the higher institutions of learning have furnished every one of the Chief Justices of our Supreme Court, 75 of our Presidents, 70 of the hest courts, and ressnificant when one recalls our ress I have no authentic data of other fields, but all that one needs to do to satisfy himself practically as to other details is to call to his service his own knowledge of the general situation In the co the people whom you know either personally or by reputation, what are the facts? Who are the leaders? Where college people are found, are they leaders or followers?

There are exceptions, of course There come to you at once the names of men, a few of theth, unaided by college or university, have risen to deserved greatness I have only to land's present David Lloyd George, in the field of statesmanshi+p, or of Lord Strathcona or Sir Willias and empire builders, in the business world, or of Luther Burbank, in the realm of science, to make the fact of exceptions perfectly clear

But they _are_ exceptions--that's the point--and exceptions merely prove the rule

And even as to the few it is scarcely necessary to say that their positions, tho of leadershi+p, are, generally speaking, subordinate ones, they the in certain li the leadershi+p of others in broader fields which include their own--and the ones followed are they of the broader training This is especially true of men who have achieved success in the business world or in the political field Their success, their leadershi+p, is oftenas it does upon their advisers--broadly educated men Take Lord Strathcona, for example, or Mr Hill, as typical illustrations; with all their far-sightedness and their recognized ability, what could they have done, even in their own field of activity, had it not been for the trained physicist, the skilled cheave theines, and in many ways made it possible for them to realize their dreams? They would have been powerless Tho leaders, they followed, and their kind alill follow, the university student They e, but they are still indebted to hi them onward and upward

From a hasty survey, therefore, which, however, I ae no matter to what extent pushed, our statement seems to be justified

But let us look at it froarded by those of the present ti of man and of the nations of the world? By those people and those forces who feel the responsibility of providing leadershi+p for the next generation? What steps are being taken to reach the end--to provide the leaders? On any hypothesis other than the one assumed in my initial statement can you account for the lavish expenditure for the endow that so characterize our generation? From one side to the other of our broad land, aye, from distant lands and from the isles of the sea comes the same testimony: benevolent individuals seeifts for higher education Even soveren states and great nations, under the guidance of far-seeing leaders, are planting these institutions and, in a truly generousfor their present and future needs

That the college is the only source from whence can come our supply of leaders is a real conviction in the minds of men the world over, is shown by a recent incident in war-stricken Europe It was only a few n in Eastern Poland, even while shells were bursting and , that the Central Powers stopt, as it were, in the anize the old University of Warsaw More than that, they added to the old institution t faculties, or colleges, as ould call thee, isn't it? In the incident I can see but this logic: a recognition of the fact that, with the forces of destruction reaping such an awful harvest, their civilization was doomed unless some step could be taken, not, primarily, to check the present war but rather to provide, at its close, an adequate supply of leaders That seemed to them the only way to prevent a per back into a state of, at least, te the early Middle Ages under analogous circumstances And the step taken by those shrewd, coldly-calculating war lords was the strengthening of the forces of higher education One reason why, during the Middle Ages, there was this frequent dropping back is the fact that this relationshi+p between leadershi+p and education was not recognized

Under the powerful ie as a part of the broad university community is the only source of leadershi+p,for higher education as never before New institutions are being founded and old ones strengthened Magnificent buildings are being erected with seeht of cost provided only that they serve their purpose Libraries so thoroly equipt as to leave nothing desired, laboratories unsurpast in co every possible apparatus for bodily development, and other facilities of every kind and description, all irrespective of cost, are daily being added And better than buildings and grounds, more vital than equipment and endowment, are the trainednu freely offered on the sa, and attainments that in the world of business would yield their possessors independent fortunes, or in the fields of authorshi+p or politics result in honor and fame, are here freely offered The material return rendered for such service is the merest pittance absolutely needed for family support, and the immaterial, but one's enshrinerateful student plus the consciousness of having done one's duty Can such a generous outpouring of material and spiritual treasures be accounted for on any hypothesis other than a recognition of the great world's needs and a firm belief that those needs can be best satisfied thru an educated leadershi+p? Nay, verily, all these things are being done because the best thought of the day feels, both instinctively and with reason, that only thus can the kingdo men

What unique, important, and responsible position the State or Provincial University occupies a civic institutions! What splendid opportunities for usefulness are his who is the executive head of such an institution! Aye, and eighty responsibilities rest upon him!

Fellow teachers, what hty responsibilities rest upon you by virtue of the fact that you are teachers in such an institution! And e to you is the sae!_ Freely have you received, freely ive Tho the state does not, nor ever can, adequately pay you for your best services, still you must not falter

You h ideals of your noble profession The very acceptance of such positions in such an institution carries with it the obligation of perfore and university students who have such a large and i and development, because of that future, such elaborate preparations are being made? The university man--who and what is he? Likewise the university woman? Let us answer the question si that, tho sometimes rude and crude because ihtest, themen and women of the land They are the choice souls found, one here, another there, one in the hamlet and another on the farm, one in the city and another on the prairie, one in a palace, another in a sod house They are a picked lot selected not only froht and action, but as well frohways and by-ways of our broad land, chosen because of intellectual strength and h ideals and lofty purposes; chosen by themselves, it may be true, but chosen nevertheless, thru their equipment of mind and heart The very fact that you are here and others are not is testireater worth Exceptions, to be true, there are, but none too s in a spirit of flattery, not at all I a to help you catch the vision--to see your opportunity and accept the responsibilities But note the significance--those already best equipt by the superior quality of their brain matter and of their mental fiber and of their moral nature and who therefore without further preparation would easily distance the others, are here giving themselves even better equipment There can be no question as to the relative position of the two classes in the years to come--the one class is to furnish the leaders, the other the followers The one is to form the ideals, to set the standards, to decide upon policies, to oals set The two classes ood morally, equally worthy of respect and honor because equally faithful in the performance of duties suited to their tastes and abilities, but yet, fro ahead, the other following behind And in the years to coe men and women--you have already put yourself out of their reach--but froreater things, are to-day, in this and other si every nerve, to attain the highest possible degree of efficiency for future service You are not only to be leaders, but in so yourselves in a state of readiness

But does some one raise the objection that this theory of leadershi+p does not seeenius of our Aovernment all are equal; that all men, irrespective of intellectual attainment, share equally, not only before the law but in the veryof law; that in America all men are rulers? All this is true theoretically and, to a certain extent, practically, but it does not lessen the need of efficient leadershi+p; it increases that need, or, at any rate, it makes it necessary that the nureatly increased The very fact that all have a voice in the government, that all do share, consciously and potently, in its exercise and in its responsibilities, speakselse can of the need of wise leadershi+p If the great mass of people were not factors, they would not have to be taken into account Theyfactors and yet, in thecapable of adequate analysis of our hly intricate problems, they must be provided with safe and efficient leaders I believe in the honesty, in the good intentions, and in the good sense of the common people But I do not believe in their ability to detect relations, to draise conclusions, and to for the complicated political, social, and econonized fact that, as soe under which a democracy labors, as contrasted, let us say, with certain types of autocracy, lies in its inability to plan effectively with reference to re is difficult for the individual, but it is vastly roup, and its difficulty is intensified in both cases if it dee measures of present sacrifice” No, democracy must be led Leaders they must have If honest and disinterested ones are not at hand, selfish and dishonest ones will be accepted I grant that leadershi+p is not the greatest need of dee and intelligence, but I do claireatest _present_ need of democracy, since it is only thru that leadershi+p that the higher intelligence can be reached, without loss, and in the shortest possible tireat victories of the common people, so-called, when they have risen in the power of their ht, have put downtheo, and to New York City again and again, and to England a generation ago, as illustrations? True, in all these cases and in ained by and for the people But is it not also true that in every such case the people won victories because wisely led? Think you that corruption and violation of laould have been so checked in Missouri a decade ago and the breakers of law been so thoroly punished, had it not been for the clear-headed work of that fearless, public-spirited Joseph W Folk? Does not Charles S Whitle in New York City is mentioned? And Hiram W Johnson in California? And e recall the victories of the people in our own Motherland across the sea, do we not have at once a mental picture of the ”Grand Old Man,”

William Ewart Gladstone? Had it not been for these leaders or others who ht else have taken their places, half of the people whose votes helped win the victories would never have known that there were such victories to win They would never have realized the extent to which they were being wronged and mis-ruled

Certain conditions were not quite satisfactory All people felt, half unconsciously, that rights were not being respected, that justice was not being done--that so somewhere--but that was about all, about as far as they went or could go But these leaders, who, in years gone by, in the colleges and the universities, had been trained to search for causes, to see relations, and to draw conclusions, had scented danger fro out the evil and of finding reth of their splendidly equiptup the lead of surface reed, political domination, and Satanic selfishness in such kinds and a But they did not stop there--they searched for remedies and then went before the people and told therossly the people were being wronged--and they outlined programs of reform The people believed them; they rallied to their standards, accepted their leadershi+p, and won the victories And such victories, in greater or less degree, are being won all over the land, thank God! And back of every one of theer edition of Folk, Whitman, or Gladstone

And how about the future? Are all the victories won? No more such work to do? Ah! the question does not need an answer Then who are to be the leaders? Why not you? and you? and you? Depend upon it, they are going to be college e women, and who more capable or worthy than yourselves?

There are tays in which I want you young people to look upon this matter; in the first place, from the point of view of your own personal interests Here are opportunities for advance to you worldly success, and honor and fa you are fitted for the work

Seize, then, the opportunities and make the most of the to him who kno to use theitiht but one's duty to make the ram becomes censurable only when it absorbs all else--when one's own interest is sought at the _expense_ of the interest of other people instead of in connection with it or as a step in its realization

Now, the other way in which I want you to regard the matter is froe Let me put it like this: here is your body politic, the people of North Dakota, 600,000 strong, or, better yet, the people of the United States, some hundred nificent country, co-laborers in its adovern out of their destinies--each with a share and an influence and each expected to participate But so co consideration, so difficult of solution , and so infinitely vast the whole undertaking that the great majority of the people, thru either i, often do not knohat is best to do