Any criticism of The Dartmouth

should give due weight to the pressure of time under which that paper is produced. It is too much to expect that a college publication, issued thrice weekly by students who may be supposed to have some duties other than editorial to occupy their attention, should be free from errors of fact as well as of judgment. It is, nevertheless, unfortunate that such an editorial as that entitled "The Athletic Council" in The Dartmouth for January 14, should have been given publicity. Whatever the alumni discussion that prompted it, the editorial shows either a deplorable disregard of facts readily ascertainable in Hanover, or a confusion of statement that creates the. possibility of serious misunderstanding. Without entering into the question of whether The Dartmouth has assumed too much knowledge of alumni opinion, THE MAGAZINE takes specific exception to the following passage:

"The alumni, generally speaking, urge a reform in the present method by which the Athletic Council is chosen, and there is some ground for their contention. Under the present system of organizing the Council, it is virtually a self-perpetuating body. The Athletic Council chooses the assistant managers, who later become managers, and in turn, these managers choose members of the Council. Thus it is, to all intents, a close corporation. It is true that there is a slight limitation upon the organization by the undergraduates in the selection of assistant managers, for they must be chosen from the nominations of the sophomore class. Nevertheless, this does not alter the fact that the body is self perpetuating."

An examination of the first page of the "Constitution of the Dartmouth College Athletic Council" pretty thoroughly disposes of this contention. Copies of the constitution are easy to find in Hanover, but are, perhaps, less readily procured elsewhere. Hence it may be well to quote from it to ensure full understanding. Italics are the editor's:

"a. This body shall be known as the Dartmouth College Athletic Council, and shall consist of three alumni, threemembers of the faculty, and three undergraduates.

"b. 1. The alumni members shall beelected at the annual meeting of theAlumni Association; they shall enter upon their duties at the first meeting of the ensuing college year, and shall hold office for one year.

"2. The faculty members shall be appointed by the faculty, subject to theapproval of the alumni at their annualmeeting; they .... shall hold office for one year.

"3. The managers of the football, baseball, and track athletic departments, shall be ex officio the three undergraduate members."

Concerning the election of these managers the by-laws of the Council speaks as follows:

"A. The assistant managers shall be fleeted by the Council at the regular meeting in June. They shall hold office for one year, and at the expiration of their terms shall become managers.

"B. The assistant managers shall be chosen from sixteen members of the sophomore class, nominated by that class on the second Wednesday in February."

On the basis of these quotations from constitution and by-laws it becomes perfectly evident that the Athletic Council is primarily a representative body, in the choice of which each of the three elements of the College,—faculty, alumni, undergraduates,— has a voice. It becomes likewise evident that the alumni exercise the major control, first, by direct election of their representatives; second, by the check which they can operate upon the selection of -faculty members of the Council; third, by the check which their direct representatives from the general alumni, and their indirect representatives from the faculty can operate upon the selection of undergraduate members. The assumption that these undergraduate members, with three votes out of nine in choosing, not their successors but the assistants to their successors, can in any wise render the body self-perpetuating is manifestly absurd.'

THE MAGAZINE inclines to the belief that in the method of its constitution the Dartmouth College Athletic Council is a nearly ideal body. Since, however, the members of it are human, and those whom they represent are equally human,— and frequently less thoroughly informed,— it has, at times, occurred that complaint concerning the work of the 'Council has arisen. Occasionally there has been a good deal of excitement over some ruling whose significance was not altogether understood, and for the moment, could not well be publicly explained. The memory of THE MAGAZINE does not extend over many years, but it can well recall the storm that raged over the firm stand taken by the Council in the definition of amateurism in athletics. The Council had its eye to the long future; the undergraduates and some of the alumni could not well see beyond the coming season. Half the men (the writer of this editorial among them) who now pride themselves upon Dartmouth's reputation for clean sports and high standards were ready to scalp every member of the Council during that period of turmoil and vociferation. The issue then raised is now fortunately dead. That other issues will arise is, of course, beyond possibility of doubt. But dissatisfaction with a member or with members of the Council is one thing; when it reaches sufficient proportions the alumni have it in their power to wipe the slate almost clean. Dissatisfaction with the constitution of the Council is quite another thing; whosoever would change it must show cause not only based upon present conditions, but upon the history of the body during fifteen or more years, of constantly changing membership, but of unfaltering usefulness and efficiency.

The accuracy and efficiency of THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE will be materially increased if its readers will, in so far as possible, bear in mind the division of duties among its editors. Mr. John M. Comstock, of Chelsea, Vt., has exclusive control of the department of Alumni Notes; Mr. William R. Gray attends to the general business affairs of THE MAGAZINE. The Managing Editor en- deavors to ensure the proper distribution of all material that comes to him; but his somewhat multitudinous occupations would be. considerably eased, and the end of speedy adjustment of important matters would be more certainly secured if correspondents wishing to make corrections or to seek information should address themselves directly to the individual concerned. Class secretaries, particularly those of recent graduation, are urged to keep the Alumni Editor informed of the doings of their fellows. The older alumni are more systematic in this respect than their younger brethren. Valuable as are the annual class reports in keeping the members of lesser groups in touch with one another, the larger function of maintaining the unity of the alumni as a whole must devolve upon THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE.

The month just passed has brought to a conclusion the President's annual round of visits among the alumni associations outside of New England. This is the second trip of the kind which President Nichols has made. A year ago his errand was mainly that that of making new acquaintances; this, year it has been that of greeting old friends. A year ago he had barely assumed the reins of his administration; this year he can already point to definite accomplishment for the welfare of Dartmouth. For analysis or discussion of what he has done and what he is doing the time is not yet ripe. The newly appointed president of a modern college might well demand five years of grace before showing a single result worthy of comment. Nevertheless in its closing number for the year—that of July—THE MAGAZINE hopes to publish not merely a summary of the preceding two years of President Nichols' administration; but a general survey of the condition of the College in the various phases of its work, and some prognostications as to what may be expected in the future. If all plans carry, this will be an important number and something of a landmark in Dartmouth history.