GRADUS AD PARNASSUM
WASHINGTON HAS DRAFTED President Hopkins to clear one of the most vexing and difficult bottlenecks of them all—steel and iron priorities. For the next few months he will give all his talents, time, and energy to the colossal task of studying defense vs. consumer needs, and establishing methods of solving a multitude of intricate problems of policy and procedure of vital and immediate importance. In the emergency of this magnitude President Hopkins accepted the call, with the approval of the Board of Trustees for the necessary absence from the College.
In his 25 years of administration and leadership of Dartmouth affairs Mr. Hopkins has built a strong organization and this process has been particularly notable within the past decade. It is not likely that there will be bottlenecks in faculty or administration matters comparable to those that confront him in Washington. But just as often as the need arises he can and will be consulted and may be able to return to Hanover on occasion. He expects by spring to be on a part-time basis in his work with the Office of Production Management. Meanwhile the cooperative spirit that has been a distinctive quality of the undergraduates, faculty and staff, and the alumni body will carry the College along in his absence.
Mr. Hopkins had looked forward to meeting with some number of alumni clubs and associations in the next few weeks. These reunions with large groups of alumni will need to be postponed until another year, to his disappointment and theirs.
DARTMOUTH HAS NOT often been asked to share its president with others, to any considerable degree. As trustee and director in various connections he has given some of his time to outside affairs but always with the best interests of the College in mind. Soon after his inauguration he was summoned to Washington by Newton D. Baker as Assistant to the Secretary of War in charge of Industrial Relations. This was comparable to his present service although the complexities of his task now may be even greater than in 1917-18.
Of that war-time work nearly 25 years ago Mr. Baker has often spoken in the highest praise and gratitude. On a visit to Hanover some years ago the War Secretary was asked in a group of undergraduates why he had taken the time and trouble to come from Cleveland for a public lecture, and for a series of his informal, stimulating conferences with students. His reply was: "I'll come to Hanover anytime if I can see Ernest Hopkins."
Perhaps it is something of this quality for arousing the loyalty and affection of men that prompted President Roosevelt, Messrs. Knudsen, Stettinius and others to urge Dartmouth's President to tackle one of their major jobs. He may not know molybdenum from iron ore but he does know how to get along with men, how to get men together, and how to pick men. These things he does superlatively well when there is much at stake and the going is tough.
The Trustees may approve his going. All Dartmouth men can be willing. Mr. Hopkins himself feels an obligation in the situation. But we all ask him to save much of himself for the years in Hanover that are to come.
THE NEW BIG GREEN football coach is D.O. (Tuss) McLaughry. News of his appointment was greeted with immediate and sincere approval in Hanover and especially among the football squad. Cap. Lou Young said: "He's the best choice as far as the players are concerned. We're all pleased."
Mr. McLaughry is welcomed to Dartmouth as an experienced and well qualified coach of proven ability. He has the maturity, wisdom, and poise needed in the leader of college football who is required to be an executive one moment and an expert strategist the next. Through years of experience at Amherst and Brown he understands the objectives of a liberal college. That Tuss McLaughry is a fine citizen, and will be a top-notch representative of the College, is agreed by all who know him. He proceeds to the selection of his assistants recognizing, as do all familiar with the game, the importance of expertness in coaching the backfield and line and in training the team.
Dartmouth is grateful to Brown for releasing Tuss McLaughry from his contract; and grateful to the members of our Athletic Council for making this fine selection for a position of large responsibility in the official corps in Hanover.
