SECOND ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SECRETARIES.

The second annual meeting of the Secretaries of Classes and Alumni Organizations was held at Hanover, Friday evening and Saturday morning, February 16 and 17. The roll call showed the following representatives present:

General Alumni Association—F. A. Sherman, '70

'53 Silvanus Hayward '56 E. N. Goddard '57 J. H. Clark '67 C. H. Merrill '68 C. F. Emerson '69 C. P. Chase '71 M. D. Bisbee '72 T. W. D. Worthen—E. J. Bartlett '73 C. F. Bradley '75 J. V. Hazen '76 J. W. Staples '77 J. M. Comstock '78 W. H. Small '79 C. C. Davis 'BO D. M. Dustan '83 S. W. Robertson '85 H. D. Foster '86 W. M. Hatch '87 F. P. Emery '88 F. T. Dunlap '90 C. A. Perkins '91 F. E. Rowe '92 Barron Shirley '94 H. N. Hurd '95 C. A. Holden '96 C. H. Richardson '97 J. M. Poor '98 H. W. Blake '99 E. W. Barstow '00 A. P. Fairfield—H. E. Keyes '01 E. M. Hopkins '02 W. C. Hill '03 Jeremiah Mahoney '04 H. E. Woodward '05 W. H. Lillard

Concord (N. H.) Association—E. K. Woodwortli

Western Massachusetts Association—J. F. Drake

Connecticut Association—A. B. Wilson Dartmouth Club of Western Pennsyl-vania— L. H. W. French.

Dartmouth Club of Worcester—D. M. Dustan.

In the absence of the President, H. W. Stevens, Esq., '75, the meeting was called to order by the Secretary. W. H. Small '78 was elected temporary chairman. A committee of three, Worthen '72, Hatch '86, and Perkins '90 were appointed to bring in nominations for the coming year. The meeting then took up the topics of the evening, according to the program.

Mr. Hopkins made a" brief report on THE DARTMOUTH B1-MONTHLY showing that the magazine now had upon its list 815 paid subscribers—considerably more than had been expected for the first year.

The second address on the program was "The Football Situation Among the Colleges, and Dartmouth's Position," by Prof. Edwin J. Bartlett, chairman of the Faculty Committee on Athletics. He said in part as follows: "When the storm of football criticism burst upon us we were greatly surprised, but nevertheless in a snug harbor. As a result it has not hurt us in the least. At the present time we have reached as nearly an ideal position in athletics as any institution that I know. This fact is. due to several reasons. In the first place, we have honestly done our best in upholding the eligibility rules. Second, we have had a gentleman for a coach, in the person of Mr. Folsom, who disapproves absolutely of dirty work. On account of his policy we have been free from charges of brutality and in return have met with little mean treatment. Third, we have had an exceptional man for a trainer, Professor Bowler. He has had this year, as in past years, absolute authority over the physical condition of the men, and, as a result, we have had no serious injuries and a very small percentage of minor ones, the most serious of which have kept the men from the game only a few weeks. So far as we are concerned the game would have gone on without any protest from us.'' Professor Bart-lett then took up in detail the history of the; football conference and the changes proposed by it. He spoke of the honor to the College in the selection of E. K. Hall as a member of the football rules committee, and Mr. Hall's efficiency upon the committee. He was of the opinion that the one year residence rule—thus debarring Freshmen from participation in athletic contests,—would work a very great reform. Dartmouth at this time, however, is committed in no way to this rule, he stated.

Dean Emerson spoke next on "The Responsibility of the Class Secretaries for Records of their Classes." He said in part: "The truly successful class secretary should have a love for his work, patience, perseverance, and method. There is no man who can do more good than a secretary, for the general welfare of the College. He should know the career and record of each man in his class, for such knowledge is invaluable to the College. The needless amount of work in making out a supplement for the general catalogue attests to the urgent need of reform in this line. I would advocate the starting of a class record as early as the freshman year in order that it may be as complete as possible."

In the absence of Mr. H. H. Hilton '90, of Chicago, a letter from him was read which outlined some ways in which the alumni can help the College. The substance of it was as follows: "Owing to the decreasing rate of interest, the scholarship fund has now an annual deficit of about $10,000. It is my suggestion that each alumnus shall contribute, whenever possible, a sum from $5.00 to $100.00 for the meeting of this deficit. I would also suggest that a central committee of three be appointed to superintend the subscriptions, and to have the power of appointing subcommittees in various districts."

President Tucker then took up the plans of the administration. He spoke upon the general development of the College along three lines: The general conveniences, as heating, sewerage, the working part of the college plant, and the dormitory accommodations. "This year," he said, "has seen the installation of our own electrical plant, which is very successful and to some extent profitable. The working part of the college plant has been increased by the addition of Dartmouth Hall." Dr. Tucker then gave a general description of the building and the uses to which it will be put. He spoke of the lecture room as one of the most beautiful of its kind in northern New England. "It is to be expected that the contracts for "Webster Hall will be let- the last part of this month, and the building, which will be used entirely for academic purposes, will be completed a year from next Commencement. Owing to the growth of the College another dormitory must be built immediately, but the definite plans concerning its structure and site are not yet ready for publication."

Financially, the College has had a large gain growing from unusual circumstances. The greater part of the alumni subscriptions, amounting to about $230,000, has come in; this amount including $50,000 from Stephen M. Crosby. The College has also received several beneficencies from Mr. Amos Tuck, and several scholarships from other sources.

Emphasis along the educational lines of the College is constantly changing. At one period the emphasis lay on the alumni, then on the college plant, and at the present time is on the faculty. The faculty of Dartmouth College today is a strong, compact, well organized and exceedingly efficient force. The strength of the College today lies in its faculty. Among the other great questions that confront us are the questions pertaining to the distribution of the teaching force and the stimulation of scholarship among the undergraduates. There is a great opportunity for enthusiasm for scholarship today and it is the policy of the administration to make the master's degree an objective point in this regard." At the conclusion of Dr. Tucker's address the meeting was adjourned until Saturday morning.

The session of Saturday morning was called to order at ten o'clock and the report of the committee on nomination of officers heard and accepted. Walter H. Small '78, Superintendent of Schools at Providence, R. I., was elected president for the coming year, and Ernest M. Hopkins '01 was reelected secretary. ,

The first matter taken up was the athletic situation, and this led to a most profitable discussion of the whole eligibility question.

Mr. Shirley '92 spoke in opposition to having the contemplated rule of one year residence apply to track athletics and baseball. Mr. Shirley spoke also very strongly in favor of summer baseball. He said, "A student should be allowed to play on the baseball team provided he is in regular standing in the College, and the matter of his having played baseball for money should not be allowed to enter into the question." S. W. Robertson '83. spoke also in support of Mr. Shirley's position, as did W. H. Small '78 and J.W. Staples 76. C. A.Perkins '90 was opposed to such a measure, and thought that Dartmouth would be lowering the standard which she now has attained. The pride of Dartmouth men in the victories of Dartmouth teams lay in the fact that these were amateur teams conforming to standards as high or higher than those of their opponents. Everything else aside Dartmouth could not afford to stand alone in such a project.

Professor Bartlett spoke most strongly in defense of the athletic committee's present position. He said in part: "In any branch of athletics there must be some standard. As soon as we depart from the amateur standard and attempt to draw other distinctions we will be in a class by ourselves, for any other standard at present is impossible, is unlivable. " The whole matter was threshed out to a considerable extent in a discussion in which Messrs. Per-kins '90, Hopkins '01, Hatch'86, Lord '85, Robertson '83, Shirley '92, Staples '76, Rowe '91, and Lillard '05 took part.

The idea of an older alumnus of the importance of athletics was expressed by Mr. Hayward '53, who said: "What does all this discussion amount to, anyway? I believe that it would be much more valuable to teach our boys how to make mud pies in the streets. I hope and pray that at next year's conference, a discussion of Latin and Greek will generate as much interesting discussion as this nonsense has."

Professor Bartlett concluded the discussion by explaining the present standing of men on Dartmouth's teams, and the matter was dropped without any action being taken by the conference.

In explaining the financial condition of the B1-MONTHLY, Secretary Hopkins said that within three years it was expected that it would be self-supporting and would cover any deficit incurred up to that time, if the present interest in it could be maintained among the alumni.

Under the discussion of the responsibilities of the class secretaries, D. M. Dustan 'BO proposed that the names of the class secretaries be placed in the annual catalogue,—a suggestion which was accepted by President Tucker.

The conference then took up Mr. Hilton's plan, and adopted the following resolution with the vote that it be presented to the alumni at the annual meeting in June, by the officers of the Secretaries' Association.

Resolved, That the Association of Secretaries of Dartmouth College endorses the plan, proposed by H. H. Hilton '90, for raising annual funds from the alumni for purposes of reducing the deficiency in income now available for scholarships and the establishing of an adequate scholarship fund, and for the needs of instruction; and be it further

Resolved, That the proposition be submitted to the alumni at the annual meeting in June for final action, with data concerning the success of similar plans at other institutions.

Mr. Shirley '92 moved "that the conference extend its heartfelt thanks for the gracious welcome of the College to her home-coming children." The motion was carried by a rising vote.

President Tucker then rose and said:

'The gratitude of the secretaries toward the College is more than returned by the feeling of the College toward the secretaries. In the last year there has been nothing more inspiring than our recollection of the first annual conference. It was a distinct reidentification of the alumni with the College. We now, as never before, have the promise of the actual working unity which we all desire. We are not expected to analyze our college spirit, but we are expected to give it substantial form and expressive force. The outside of Dartmouth Hall is the same as before; the interior is changed; the spirit is permanent. ''

Final adjournment was made as the bell in the new hall rang the hour of twelve.