Friday, October 14,1921 COMPLETE TEXT OF PRESIDENT THOMAS’ ADDRESS (Continued from first page) jjid to the students in ms inaugural address, "You are here as members of fir-t Agricultural College which has co ne Ini*> mhtcsm’ul operation In flic i'ljite-i State'”, ami he never referred :0 the institution as anything but a 15-.;: the term "college” was 4r oid,.Hl i:i the charter In order that there miyht be no confusion with the existing type of literary college, and misunderstanding that here was an attempt to make a new start in the frlue.i’lonai ejit»T|irises of the nation. A New Type of College The college* was to be of a new order lo that the emphasis was Lu he upon tcit-nre, not upon letters. There was to a definite abandonment of the tra ditional curriculum. “The object of the fanners’ High School,” Slid the first catalogue, '.s lo afford a system of in struction as extensive and thorough as that of the usual course of our best col leges; but to differ from the latter in devoting no time to the study of the an* c!«nt languages, ami in devoting a cor respondingly large time to scientific Instruction.” It is difficult now to rea lize how revolutionary that statement tras in It was the announcement, j.yl of a iwisvd curriculum, but of a oca genus In American educational in tUiatiuus. That this college was designed to I* of a. new order was indicated further: by the fact that it was to be, not an instrument of general literary culture, but frankly vocational, to prepare youth as definitely and practically as fur specific callings, and in particular for the occupation of a far mer. The aim was to provide for the note ambitious youth, a college educa tion which would not by its very’ nature attract them away from the furnis and (arlorics and send them Into the learn ed professions, hut which would re- Itrn them, or at least some of them, to their homes with the knowledge, skill, sod characters to make them success ml hi the occupations pursued by the <real body of citizens. This was a new purpose and ambition fur an American college. and it was fully recognized that the institution would need to bo organized on a new* system in order to fulfil! its function. Underlying Purpose of the N'ew Collego gut there was something deeper and more fundamental in the minds of the projectors of the Farmers’ High School. They were looking toward the exten sion of higher education to a new class of students, and the inclusion lu .;<* benefits of all classes and conditions of men in the great American democracy, especially of the people on the farms and in the industries. All American colleges, then as now, were theoreti cally democratic, and the doors of all were generously open to youth of ev ery class and station, liut the youth who sought them from the farina and irom the homes of workers were led almost iueviutbly from the occupations id their fathers. Tiiu colleges did not train llielr students for industrial life, and business and the industries did not feel the need of such men as the col leges then trained. The result was that industry, agricultural and other, was without educuted leadership, and was losing Its power and Influence In the political and social life of the Re public. Democracy was in peril be cause dominance in af fairs was tending to pass into the hands of the learned men of the professions, while the great masses of men of business and men of the farms and industries were without the ability and skill to bring their power to bear. “The great body of our citizens,” said Frederick Watts, "have not the power and the influence which they ought to have for the prop er balance of power in our political and social relatluns. Something must be done to -increase their power—bow •hall we do it?” Now note the answer. “Education will Impart Influence, but it must be nth education as trill lead to the de sired end- Here Is our want- At present we” (1. c n the great body of tlliiens).—“have no suitable college In ulslem , e.__Now the institution we ■re striving to establish, at the earliest possible periud, is inteuded to supply Ibis great social, political, moral, aud economical want.” That utterance of the first President of our Hoard of Trustees made July 2, 1857, to an audience of farmers in a tern on this campus is worthy of pre servation in the history of American education. For the foundation of this college was part of a widespread movement toward scientific and indus higher education in the middle of the past century, and in all the pro phetic utterances which stimulated that educational revolution none more deeply into the underlying causes « it than those words of Frederick IVhtts. The New Type of College aud Atnerl. can Democracy The new type of American college w»» due to the Instinct of self-prescr vilion In Americau democracy, it was the effort of the great body of citizens 0 “trdntahi their place and power In • oc * al ai »d political affairs. The pton !* r w3th the axe and the plow had won j? r l * e nation its magnificent home. , e had Penetrated through these val *>s. over the Alleghenies down the ™ valley of the Ohio, and over the soundless prairies to the Rockies and * rac «ic. In subduing the continent Electrical Appliances Displayed in Parade Furnished by the Electric Supply Co. We are always willing to demonstrate. he had wrought the national character, : —the manhood of the frontier, strong,; hardy, independent, resourceful, full of energy, enthusiasm and the love of freedom. Insistent above all things upon absolute equality of all men in right and privilege. Rut the men who had rrohquercd the forests and fought the j savages found themselves unequal in councils of state and in social privil ege to the men of the cities and the learned professions. When they turned to educational institutions for. the knowledge that would give them; liower, they found they could attain, skill In large affairs only at the sacri- * ficc of the occupations to which they I had given their life. There were no i American colleges to match the chief: Interests aud occupations of American' life. The schools of higher learning! which had been scattered carelessly on I western territory during the fron-! tiersinan’s advance across the contin- j ent were utterly inconsonant with the life which had grown up about them, j They were weak copies of seaboard in- ■ .stitutioiis, which in turn were repli-! ms of the aristocratic universities of, England, and which had changed mar vellously little in studies, manners, and purpose from their European models. For the saving of his manhood wrought in his fight with the Wilder ness. for the maintenance of the equal ity in right and privilege earned by his giant labors and granted him by the constitution, the American began the erection of his own type of higher school. The movement had no single exponent who adequately symbolized it, and its story must be brought together from scattered sources. But whether in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, or in Illinois, where for twenty years Jona than li. Turner pled the cause before agricultural societies and teachers’ con ventions, the fundamental Idea was the same—to provide education of the highest grade free and open to all classes, for the children of the farms and shops and factories, and to give them such education as would not re move them from common industry and business, not even the business of the farm, and thereby to raise the level of American in dustrial life to an equality of professional lire. It was an attempt to realize democracy, to make good the doctrine of the Declaration that all men are created equal, or as Freder ick Watts put it, to increase the power and influence of the great body of our citizens. Tiie Morrill Act and the Land Grant The culmination of this educational revolution was the approval by Presi dent Lincoln on July S, 1862, of the act sponsored by Senator Morrill of Ver mont, which granted lands from the national domain for the endowment, support, and maintenance, in each state which cared to accept the provisions of the Act, of a college that would realize the ambitions then stirring In the musses of the nation. The needs of tlie agricultural and Industrial class es were first In mind, and It was pre scribed that the Institutions thus creat ed by .joint authority of the federal und static governments should be col leges where “the leading object should be, without excluding other scientific and classical stadles, and Including military tactics, to teach such branch es of learning as are related to agri culture and the mechanic arts." The broad purpose to democratize higher education, to provide for the ambitious youth of all classes the widest and most extensive opportunities and ad vantages, was set forth In the declara tion that the purpose of the land-grant colleges was “to promote the liberal und practical education of the Indust rial classes in the several pursuits and professions of life." * The Morrill Act and the designation of this institution as the college to carry out its purpose in the State of Pennsylvania both clarified and broad ened the aims and objects of the pro jectors of this college. From that time forward the goal was clear and the educational aim was enlarged to in clude a thorough education of college grade and also at the same time a practical and liberal training for posi tions of responsibility Jn any of the in dustries of the state. The Institution took Its place as one of the land-grant colleges of America, and In due time (he name was changed to “The Penn sylvania State College.* One still hears occasionally the sug gestion that a land-grant college, and this college in particular, should con fine itself to the teaching of agricul ture exclusively. A college is under obligation to carry out the terms of Us charter, and the charier of this college Includes the Act of Legislature of 1863, accepting the grant of the Morrill Act “Four New York Store*” Qeneral Offices: Broadway, Cor. sglh Street Wallach Bros. HART 9CIIAITNBR * MARX Our Mr. Jack Arthur and Mr. Henry Salten are planning to visit you with an interesting assortment of correa clothes, hats, and haberdashery for College Men EXHIBIT AT NITTANY INN Thursday, October 20 Friday, October 21 > Saturday, October 22 t Yowr inspection is most cordially invited ‘Satisfaction or Money Back” “with all Its provisions and conditions," to which acceptance the far-reaching engagement was added, “the faith of the state Is hereby pledged to carry the same into effect.” Unquestionably the provisions and conditions of the federal act of 1562 cannot be carried out without a strong and worthy school of agriculture, generously supported and directed in all its operations to ward the promotion of all agricultural Interests of the Commonwealth. Loyally and with utmost sympathy with the endeavor The Pennsylvania State Col , lege throughout Its history has recog : nized and discharged that obligation and today is eager to perform its full duty by the fundamental industry of the nation, llut Just as clear as is our duty to teach agriculture Is our obli gation also, lu this mighty industrial state, to teach engineering and mining ami natural selence and the liberal arts. In Pennsylvania we cannot "promote the liberal and practical education of the Industrial classes in the several pursuits and professions of life" with out regard for the youth, farmers’ sons as well as others, who wish to equip themselves for positions of responsibil ity in the mines and mills, the factor ies aud schools, and transportation sys tems and commercial enterprises of this great state. Justin Morrill was a master of exact language, and if he had intended the organization of farm schools, devoted solely to empirical instruction lit prac tical agriculture, he would have found words to express his purpose. It was the youth of the industrial classes whom the Vermont storekeeper and son of a blacksmith had in mind. He sought to provide for them a liberal education ns well as a practical train ing. His statute forbade the exclusion qt any scientific and classical studies, which the needs of aspiring youth re quired. Behind his effort was a mighty nation-wide popular movement, as was' indicated by the passage of the Act by two .successive congresses, the sec ond time by an increased majority In both houses. That movement was (he cmieuvor of the Industrial classes, es pecially of (lie great body of Intelli gent American farmers, to extend free popular education Into the upper grades, and to make that edu eallon both broad and practi cal, thoroughly American, and suited to the people for whom U was Intend-1 eil. It was not a movement from with in the schools or the learned circles; 1 Its sponsors and advocates were not; educational leaders or professors in ex- I laving institutions. They were far- 1 sighted commoners from the rank and file, and the whole movement was the | press upward of democracy into higher ' education. ■ The Pennsylvania Stale College has been true to Its charter and loyal to Its genius, not only In the furtherance of agriculture, but also and equally in tho development of strong schools of en gineering, natural science, mining, und liberal arts. It has not broadened its curriculum more than was necessary and right in order to carry out the specific terms of the Acts of Congress und of the State Legislature. Its trustees would have been false to the trust reposed in them If they had con sented to a more restricted educational program. The young people of the Commonwealth , by the steady increase of their number who have eougbt the industrial courses have set their ap proval upon the broad opportunities offered them. No work of the public institutions of the nation has been more in the spirit of the movement which founded them than tho inspiration which came to hundreds of the gradu ates of this college in Its chemical laboratories under the genius of Doc tor Pond. ’ There is not time today to recite the history of this college, but I cannot resist mention of the appeal of Presi dent Pugh (o the Legislature not to divide tho Morrill fund among several Institutions. It is one of the ablest documents in the early history of the land-grant colleges. He was a giant of a man, that first President. Teach ing school and working as a black smith to pay his way to the labora tories of Europe, the Quaker youth made contributions to science which are still recited in the history of chem istry. The course of study he laid out for this college was a half century ahead of his time. The trials and ob stacles he overcame in the early years of this college almost surpass belief. In this day of confidence and hope, it is fitting that we pause a moment in honor of the memory of the first President and the first martyr of The Pennsylvania State • College—Doctor , Evan Pugh. Two other names stand out in the story of its hard, heroic struggles,—General James A. Beaver, 'the sturdy fighter for Penn State for THE PENN STATE COLLEGIAN nearly half a century, and Dr. George W. Atherton, President for twenty-four years, father of the school of engineer ing. under whom the college first ho gan to come to its own in the Com monwealth of Pennsylvania. A Slate Institution Whether in dark days or brighter, this Institution has held true to its charter, and hns developed steadily, though sometimes slowly and painfully, toward the hope of Its founders as the public institution of higher learning of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. From tho first projection of a Formers* High School In the meetings of the Pennsylvania Stule Agricultural Soc-, lety, the purpose has bevn kept steadily In mind to affect this college to the fullest possible extent with a public ehuraeter, ami public duty, its trustees were chosen by the people through tho state and county agricultural societies. It was directed to render “a full and detailed account of the operations of the institution” each year to the Leg islature. Funds from the public treas ury completed the erection of Its first building, and from the first it was ex pected Mint the college* would be sup ported by the state. Representatives of the stale government, never less than ihree, have served continuously In Us governing body. It Is now and alwuys has been solely dependent upon state, and federal funds for Its maintenance. It Ims always been free and no Penn sylvania student has ever paid one penny of tuition Into its treasury. Its genius and spirit is thnt of the groat slate institutions of the West, with whom it has shared the benefits and obligations of the Morrill Act. Like them it regurds the whole territory of the commonwealth U 9 Its campus and its field of service, and today Us rep resentatives are in sixty-two counties nf the state, cooperating with the Fed eral and State Departments of Agri culture and carrying directly to farms and homes the latest knowledge of ag ricultural experiment and research. In shops and factories also, and in the mines of both the eastern and western sections, teachers from this college are bringing the light of science, so far as resources permit, to the great indus trial population. The Slate College Should Become The State University President Atherton looked forward to the time when the college should atlll further broaden its function and change Us name accordingly. When Governor Pattison opened tho engin eering building in 1893. he said, "May agencies arise when a public system of education in Pennsylvania shall ex tend from the primary though the graded school to tho university." When he finished. Doctor Atherton said "I want to add that this shall be the univ ersity." The time has now come, after twelve years of notable advanee under the leadership of Doctor Sparks, when the ambition of Doctor Atherton should be realized and The Pennsylvania Btate College should frankly assume the' name and function which its present strength and service Justify, and be come In name us It Is now In fact The! Pennsylvania Slate University. j pww I L. K. METZGER Penn Si H “The Fastest Growing , ' i s i % i & & 33 i & 33 .» 33 * s»: & sk :<$ :o: & 33 & 33 X 33 % 33 8 1 i 33 « 33 % 33 X 33 * 33 X 33 8 8 33 38B88SB0a»0a»0a»0a»a688a8B6a6e6e6BeQ6BeQSBia8Q8@8QSaSGee5BSase6aSQSa8B9B8Be98Bt88BeaSE L. I<. METZGER IVo Imre now a state university la all but name. Our selioo] of agriculture is recognized by experts as one of the strongest In Ifu; nation. In point of at tendance of agricultural students, it is the third largest in the country. Its services to agricultural science during the past fifty years have been among the most notable. ‘Wherever, the world over, is intelligent interest In nutrition and the conservation of food, the name of Armsby is held in honor. Xo college of agriculture in the United States has so good a farm close at hand for oiKjvalion and experiment as we have In our two thousand acres. On these farms are the oldest fertilizer experi ments in American, referred to in all discussions of preservation of soil fer tility. Here are the largest experimen tal orchards in the United States de voted to the study of methods of or chard culture. Tills school of agricul ture is the only cause you can name why Pennsylvania In ten years Ims ad vanced from thirteenth to seventh plaee In the value of agricultural pro ducts. Another worthy Integral element of a state university already existing here is our school of engineering. We have 30 per cent more students in engineer ing than we have in agriculture. A year or two ago ours was Uie sixth engin eering school in thu country in point of attendance, and had facili ties been furnished us for well quali fied students, who were eager to enter —Pennsylvania students—we should today rank third. In ten years the en gineering school has increased its at tendance from «;,» (o 110(1. .More than 900 engineering graduates are today serving the industries of Pennsylvania. Of the 25SU graduates in engineering, in civil, mechanical, electrical, ami oth er courses. 00 per cent are in engineer ing occupations today, 05 per cent of them in Pennsylvania. In this nihility Industrial stale, the first In the nation, nothing but lurk of resources stands In the way of development of utt engin eering college second to none. The personnel and (lie spirit ou which to build it aje already here/ Our school of mines, though the youngest of our schools, enrolls a larg er number of Pennsylvania mining .students than any other mining school In the state. The buildings are not creditable to the first mining and met allurgical state in the country, but the foundation Ims been laid for a rollegc of mines worthy of Pennsylvania. Tile schools of liberal arts and of natural science, Into which. years of devoted and skillful labor have gone, thd departments of home economics, military science, and physical educa tion are here as the constituent elements of a university. The large department of education presses for recognition as a separate school. Last year we en rolled 114 candidates for advanced de grees, in addition to graduate students iat the summer session. In at least a score of departments of instruction, wo have today sufficient facilities fur study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The college Ims been too modest In Its published statements concerning its graduate work, and many an institu tion with a pretentious graduute selwol' ims fewer advantages and Is doing less I • You Alumni who were in college in 1913 will remember our small beginning —with one small show window and a few feet of floor space—in the grocery store owned by I. C. Hohres. We have rapidly enlarged our store and our stock so that we might better serve the needs of the community. Another eight years will see even greater changes in our store. If possi ble a modern building will be erected in the near future with an entrance on Cob lege Avenue and one on Allen Street. 111-115 Allen Street. ‘work of uradtmte tirade than wo now ; college has grown into, or has Wen do mi onr campus. -attached to. a state university in no K-ss than twenty-three of the common wealths of this nation. In the list are Xu Obstacles In Constitution There Is nothing In our constitution s ' uh great institutions as the Universi or organization to prevent the addition of Wisconsin, .Minnesota, Illinois, of other technical or professional school l a,,d Ohio. Xo less than by creation here or by affiliation with '» ,u ‘ }l: tve »ni»te precisely the change existing schools elsewhere, as the need* 1,1 s!;nuo "'hioh l am suggesting for and welfare of the Commonwealth innv Pennsylvania. Only a few months a«o demaml. Here are the foundation and 1111,11 -Maryland and Oeiaware took this the structure carefully and painfully s! '*p. ““d *1»»* end Is not yet. The more In>lit up for nearly three quarters of a far-sighted knew at the beginning that century for a slate university worthy something far greater than schools of of the Imperial Commonwealth of IVun- agriculture alone would he the outcome syivania. The background Is here, the * no Merrill Act. Abraham Lincoln subtle but most substantial spirit and donnthan It. Turner, “If I am genius out of which alone a university elected. I will sign your bill for state of the state and for the state van he adversities.” Tl»e advance from land 1 erected. There Is mi example in the Jiran: to state university is a history of American higher education i"”'uetly natural and normal one. There of a large ami successful state uuiver- !s l «'‘dved no elmnge In ideal or pur sity liiiilt upon a private foundation. In 1,,,t only 5,M expansion o' educa tes learned company, 1 make that tl '* wal program tunl tm enlsvr v:\ent of statement without fear of challenge. It ~u*u * 1,11 Sl ‘rvlre. lias not htvn done lieeause It cannot be The Slate Owns and Controls The done. \ou cannot Inject the qualify r „ ayd genius of ibe American state un!v‘- OIUSI ershy into an old eslaldlsbed institn- This college is now ready for such thm fathered by private motive and de- exi'ansion. Only otic other Institution veloped under private control, in the Culted States of so many stud <>n the other hand, the land-grant (Continued on fourth page) t *■ * • -- *. £ •!* i £ i | Poverty Day | ,j. | PICTURES | s * t I I - i s i I l | AT ¥ i | t ' \ s • ? 1 • I | TMt OnOP j | - 212 E. College Ave. | * i i *• - i *X~X'd~X'*X'*X~X“X"X'X-XXX~X“X~X*-X»*X"X**X**X*‘X~X-X~X~X~X-5* ate 1915 Store in State College” Page Three METZGER
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers