MEETING OF DARTMOUTH SECRETARIES
The ninth meeting of the Dartmouth Secretaries occurred in Hanover, March 14 and 15. In spite of soggy weather, sixty-one secretaries responded to the roll call that opened the meeting. William D. Parkinson '78, who had been indefatigable in his preparations for a live and effective conference, occupied the chair.
PRELIMINARY WORK
The first gathering was held at 5.30 on the afternoon of March 14, in the faculty room, of Parkhurst Hall. Light refreshment in the form of tea and sandwiches was served, in order to provide the Secretaries with sustaining power to attack the preliminary problems of the general session.
Following the roll call, the President announced the following committees: On Resolutions, J. W. Staples '76, H. G. Pender '97, W. M. Ross '09; on Nominations, E. D. Redington '61, G. C. Stoddard '81, H. E. Keyes '00.
The next matter to claim attention was the proposed amendment to the constitution of the Secretaries' Association, an amendment necessitated by the enlarged power of the Association in its duty to choose three members for the Alumni Council. After some discussion as to the actual intent of the amendment, motion to adopt it was unanimously carried: Section 2 of Article IV of the Constitution will now read as follows:
Section 2. The Association shall choose at each annual meeting from the alumni at large a member of the Alumni Council to serve for a term of three years beginning July 1 following, and shall fill for the unexpired term any vacancy that may exist in the quota of three members serving for terms expiring one each year. There shall also be chosen a managing editor to edit and control the DARTMOUTH ALUMNI MAGAZINE. The managing editor may select, subject to the approval of the executive committee, one or more associate editors. A business manager shall be chosen by the executive committee.
The amendment having been adopted, question arose as to the best procedure for choosing the three members of the Council. It was finally decided that the chair should appoint a special nominating committee who should present six names to be voted on by ballot. The chair accordingly appointed the following: W. M. Hatch '86, J. R. Eastman '62, J. W. Staples '76, J. P. Richardson '99, J. W. Thompson '08.
THE DINNER AND SPEAKING
Having thus cleared the way for the next session, the meeting adjourned to College Hall, where a sensible and excellent dinner was served. The viands disposed of, Mr. Parkinson introduced the evening's speaking, with a brief and characteristically trenchant address. He suggested that the so-called "new responsibility" is, after all, but a more generous assumption of the responsibilities that have always faced us; and that the alumni realization of their duty to the coming generation can only be made effective through organization.
Professor Keyes, who was next called upon, outlined the future physical development of the College, made possible by the Hitchcock estate. As the first step in this development he pointed out the necessity for a new bridge across the Connecticut and a new approach to the College. The plans thus far contemplated, he explained in some detail. The cost he set in the neighborhood of $175,000, though whence that sum might be derived he was unable to state —no one having, as yet, made himself conspicuous by offering to finance the project.
I. J. French '01, won the audience by his frank, clear, and thoroughly satisfactory talk on the athletic situation at Dartmouth. It is some time since the alumni have had opportunity to obtain direct information so unreservedly imparted. Mr. French outlined the general policy of the athletic control exercised by the alumni. He praised the sportsmanship of undergraduates and graduates alike in recent periods of uncertainty, and declared that Dartmouth's prestige must be safe so long as her ideals remained high and her methods above reproach.
Following Mr. French, H. G. Pender '97, representing the Tucker Fund Committee, read two recent votes passed by the Committee. These votes are printed in full on another page. Their large importance merits careful attention.
President Nichols brought the evening's speaking to a close. He outlined the policy of the past few years, which has had as its object the assured efficiency of the College on the side of education and on the side of the conduct of its business affairs. The College as a whole he declared to be an organism whereof each individual member is a contributing part. This organism he likened to the human body, constantly undergoing change in its cells and atoms, yet dominated throughout by something ' greater than itself—its personality. Continuing, he pointed to the fact of the growing power of scholarship in the world of affairs. The scholar, he said, has conquered the professions, controls the high places in politics, and, within a generation, will command the field of business. This fact, constantly more apparent, helps define the duty of the modern college.
SATURDAY MORNING SESSION
Election of Officers
Immediately after Chapel exercises on Saturday morning, the Secretaries reassembled in Parkhurst Hall. The first business of the day was the election of officers for the ensuing year, as follows:
President—Luther B. Little '82, New York.
Vice-President—Charles H. Donahue '99, Boston.
Secretary—W. Gray Knapp '12, Hanover.
Executive Committee—A. H. Morrill '97, Cincinnati; W. S. Young '01, Worcester.
Editor-in-Chief of ALUMNI MAGAZINE—Homer Eaton' Keyes 'OO.
Committee Reports
Professor Holden, chairman of the Committee on Students, reported for his committee, pointing out the Service which the Secretaries might render in organizing the effort of the alumni in bringing; desirable men to the College.
Moved,—that E. C. Farrington be elected a member of this committee to serve until 1915.
Moved,—that David J. Main be elected a member of this committee to serve until 1917. Both motions were carried.
Registrar Tibbetts presented an able report on the geographical distribution of freshman classes over a term of years and changes in the geographical sources of the College from 1885 to the present time. He discussed the causes operative in the various changes of distribution, and made suggestions as to means for keeping proportions more nearly stable.
Council Elections
Election of members of the Alumni Council was the next order of business. The slate presented by the committee was as follows: J. F. McElroy '76, A. A. Maxwell '83, M. C. Tuttle '97, E. M. Hopkins '01, H. W. Pierpont '03, H. R. McLane '07. From these six candidates, the Secretaries elected E. M. Hopkins, H. R. McLane, and M. C. Tuttle, in the order given. Mr. Hopkins will thus serve three years, Mr. McLane two years, and Mr. Tuttle one year.
The Alumni Magazine
Mr. Gray reported on THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE. He urged the Secretaries to bring the attention of the alumni to the value of the publication and to the necessity for giving it proper support. The financial statement presented showed the narrow margin upon which THE MAGAZINE is operating. It is here reprinted:
THE DARTMOUTH ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Receipts and Disbursements
September 1, 1911, to August 1, 1912 Cash Receipts: Balance, Sept. 1, 1911 $ 10.54 Subscriptions $1,125.65 Cash Sales 48.33 Advertising 177.00 Dartmouth College: Extra April Edition 165.00 Subsidy 75.00 1,590.98 $1,601.52
Cash Disbursements:
Accounts Payable, Sept. 1, 1911 $ 282.29 Cost of Printing, 1911-12 $1,433.98 Postage & Stationery 148.08 Editorial Expense 91.90 Binding & Indexing 11.00 Advertising 6.00
Cost of Publication for Year $1,690.96 Less Accounts Payable, Aug. 31, 1913 375.17
Disbursements of 1910-11 Account 1,315.79
Disbursements—Total $1,598.08 Cash Balance, Aug. 31, 1912 3.44 $1,601.52
Discussions of the Morning: The ClassSecretary
Maynard C. Teall '10, was now called upon to speak on the function of the Class Secretary. Mr. Teall spoke in part as follows:
"I am out of College but three years, and can say nothing of which I am absolutely certain; but I will give a few general impressions, theoretical and untried, of the functions of the Secretary of today as distinguished from those of the Secretary of yesterday. There was never a time in the history of the College when Dartmouth alumni were not animated by the Dartmouth spirit, by an enthusiastic love for the College and a desire to promote her welfare. But individual effort is not enough. Individual effort and abstract spirit are good, but the whole body of Dartmouth alumni should be organized. The result would be a united strength that ought to be irresistible. We have a chain of alumni associations, geographical units of the alumni body, clubs and small organizations; then we have the class unit and the Secretary at its head. After all, that class unit is the most important. Hundreds of Dartmouth men are scattered over the country who cannot take part in an alumni association. Moreover, the association does not reach every man; the class does.. Every man is member of some class and takes pride therein. To keep his class together, to know where every man is and what he is doing, to communicate this information to others, to keep their affection for the College, these are the duties of the Secretary. The means of interesting the class are class reports at regular intervals, round-ups, and other social gatherings, personal letters, and successful reunions every five years. It is these that keep the class together, that keep every man in it standing with face toward the College, glad to do his part in the work of Dartmouth men."
Dartmouth Clubs
On the interesting subject of Dartmouth Clubs, Horace G. Pender '97, who has been notably successful in building up the Dartmouth Club of Boston, made the following observations:
"I suppose that in the early days of the College, the association or club was an impossibility. The first class consisted of four men. They were soon scattered, and to associate would have meant daily travel on horseback. So the College was old before there was any organization. The first association was formed in 1864 in Boston. This was followed almost immediately by one in New York, showing that the influence of the College was beginning to be felt. After ten years of quiet, four more associations were formed :• three in the West, Chicago, St. Louis, and Cincinnati, and a fourth in Washington. These were the first indication of influence outside of New England. Then came the two associations of the Pacific and the Northwest. In 1893 there were twelve associations, and the College was only half its present size. There are some twenty-eight associations and clubs now. Growth of the associations comes from the tendency of Dartmouth men to herd. Material and social advantages of clubs is self-evident. One particular reason for the association, beyond the material and social, is the desire to learn. Relationship of the alumni and the undergraduates has never been close enough. The associations can bring this about.
"The club is a more informal example of the same thing. In the club there is great opportunity, particularly to the young man, for intimacy; also opportunity for Service. The club is more easily handled than the association. The Alumni Council in carrying out its work, will find the alumni club a very helpful instrument."
Secretary's Manual
No abstract can do justice to the remarks of C. H. Donahue '99, on the proposed Secretary's Manual. Perhaps later, Mr. Donahue can be persuaded to write them out in full for publication. As for the Manual,, that is a proposed guide book for future Secretaries, telling them what their duties are, and what experience has shown to be the best way of performing them. Such a book would be of immeasurable help to the Secretary first taking up his duties, and would, in some measure, serve as a help to classes in hitting upon the type of man best fitted to assume what is really the most important office in the gift of the class. A committee composed of Mr. Donahue, Professor Foster '85, A. K. Skinner '03, now replaced by W. G. Knapp '12, has been preparing such a book. Its general outline will be as follows:
Class organisation will be discussed. Younger classes think they must have constitution.
Missionary talk on place of nongraduates in class. A man is a Dartmouth man if associated three days with a class. Secretaries must get non-graduates into the fold.
Class Finances.
Reunions, annual round-ups, dinners after football games, getting families together. Manual, will discuss reunions from every side. Discussion of real purpose of reunions, part family plays in it, etc.
One section devoted to Secretaries of Alumni Associations.
One section devoted to Secretaries of Dartmouth Clubs.
Account of Dartmouth Association ofSecretaries. Its history, accomplishments, and purpose.
Appendix. Constitution of Secretaries' Association, perhaps sample of class constitution, forms of blanks for securing data, etc.
Professor Holden called attention to a previous vote, that the expenses of the Committee on the Manual be considered an unusual expense of the Association.
Professor Holden moved that the Executive Committee apportion the expense to the different members of the Association.
Mr. Carl Richardson amended the motion to read that the Committee on the Manual proceed to the printing and publication of the Manual, and make such arrangements for financing as to it seem wise.
Amendment was accepted, and motion carried.
Other Discussion and Reports
Secretary Knapp spoke to the Secretaries of the recently published book Dartmouth Out o' Doors, and urged the value of it to all members .of the alumni body and to red-blooded folk everywhere.
A letter from William H. Gardiner '76 was read, in which Mr. Gardiner stated that, having been in Hanover for a great many Commencements, and having taken photographs of reunions at such times, he would like, with the consent of the Secretaries Association to present to the College a collection of these negatives. Mr. Gardiner's offer was accepted with special thanks.
Emerson Rice '87 spoke interestingly of the work and organization of the Hyde Park Association.
The presence of President-Emeritus Tucker at the session was an unexpected pleasure to the Secretaries. A still greater pleasure lay in the opportunity to hear a few words from him: the first time that he has addressed anything other than the most informal of audiences since his retirement. He said, in part:
"This is a pleasure which I have foresworn, one of the limitations which I have accepted. I will say this, however, that as I listened to the speech which Mr. Donahue made I was reminded of an old-time friend in New York, whose father, one time principal of Phillips Academy, Andover, when speaking of his birth, used to say that his conscious life began at Andover. At this time I think this association has come to conscious life. I stand in wonder at the growth of this association. You are right; you do stand for a very great and substantial thing. The Class Secretary and the Class Secretaries Association, as a current between the College and the alumni, is something to be maintained and kept clear, and every Secretary fills a position which cannot be estimated. I think President Nichols will say, as he has listened, and is informed of your loyalty to the College, that he has much to expect. Keep this in mind, gentlemen, that the unknown thing in any" plans you make is far greater than the thing you see."
After summarizing the meeting, Mr. Parkinson called on President Nichols for a word of benediction. Dr. Nichols closed his message thus:
"You have come as members of this organization; I have come in a different way, yet I think I have gotten fully as much out of this as any of you. The hopefulness in looking forward to the increased work of this association certainly promises to be one of the great influences in strengthening and perpetuating the College and its traditions."
Resolutions Adopted
The following resolutions were presented during the meeting by the Committee on Resolutions and were adopted:
Resolved, that the Association of Secretaries desires to express its hearty commendation of the votes recently passed by the Tucker Fund Committee, and its belief that this action will result in broadening the influence and popularity of the fund, and usefulness to the College.
And that it is the opinion of this association that it is the duty of the individual members, as a part of the regular business of their office, to call to the attention of the alumni with whom they communicate, such work as that being undertaken by this Fund, and to urge their cooperation and more general response to the appeals of the Tucker Fund Committee for funds with which to complete their plans.
Resolved, that the plans of the College relating to the new approach to Hanover and the development of the Hitchcock property cannot fail to be of interest to this association, and to every alumnus interested in our common welfare.
And be it further resolved, that each secretary should make such investigation of his constituency as may be requisite, and in such manner as he may deem best, to determine if any suggestion may be made to the College touching upon the matter of financing and completing the desired improvements.
