Eastern Pennsylvania

OUR PAST two meetings, February 28 and April 2 provided two outstanding speakers, E. Kenneth Smiley 'si. Vice President of the Lehigh Association and Charles E. Widmayer '30, Director of the Dartmouth News Service and editor of the ALUMNI MAGAZINE. Perhaps never again will we have such oratorical talent to call on in any future consecutive six week period.

In belated fairness to Ken Smiley, our speaker in February, I must bungle through excerpts from his talk. The predicament of the colleges today throttled by the Federal Government's self-imposed retardation on higher education in the scientific fields offered considerable meditation. A sudden reversal shortly after our recent history lessons at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, when the true scientist contributed a real change in world events.

Any curt statement would fail to elucidate Ken's introspection of compulsary military training as the lesser of two evils. Should men be chosen for higher education through your vast impersonal governmental machine, or more scientifically chosen by tests preferred by the colleges?

Ken Smiley needed no introduction. He is outstanding in his chosen field; he excels in public speaking. It is only too obvious why Louis Eckstrom 'l2, our past president, had to barge past four integrated secretaries to secure Ken's services. It was equally obvious why he is in demand.

Election of officers was not the keynote of the evening, but worthy of note. When the fanfare cleared, all opposition squelched, we found Milt Shultz '30 again carrying the burden, this time as president, Bob Ritter '18 Vice President, A. Lloyd Krum '38 Secretary.

A word about Milt. For years he has been the tower of strength in our organization, carrying the full load as secretary, interviewing prospective students, scheduling meetings and attending dinner functions. The helm was placed in good hands. Best wishes for the ensuing year and a nice vote of thanks to LouEckstrom, our past president. Lou contributed his time and place to a great get-together.

The more fortunate other than those above at the meeting included, Valentine I. Klopp '09, Elliott W. Cheney '20, James Rick 3rd '31, Carl L. N. Erdman '37, Lawrence H. Callahan '47