The Fifty-Year Address

WE, of the Class of 1904, salute you. It is a great privilege to be here, and on behalf of the loyal alumni of 1904 to share some thoughts with you.

This occasion brings to each Dartmouth man an overwhelming flood of memories connected with our undergraduate years. We came to Dartmouth from different environments; we had different systems of training; but all were subjected to the influence of Dartmouth College. It is my purpose to attempt an appraisal of that influence. This varied in its effect on each individual; but it stimulated and benefited each one.

One vivid incident - that I might term my first exposure to the spirit of Dartmouth - came about, the third or fourth day of my attendance as a student. The first theme required in English I was entitled "A Description of Dartmouth College." Until I arrived in Hanover from my home in Tennessee, I had never been in New England. All that I knew of Dart- mouth was what I had learned from the catalogue. The theme required was duly prepared. It was a description of the physical plant of Dartmouth and the natural beauty of its setting. That theme went to Instructor Homer Eaton Keyes. He returned it with this notation: "A well written description of the exterior of Dartmouth College, but after all, Dartmouth is more than a collection of buildings." That was a challenging statement.

During the next four years, my classmates and I were striving to find the answer as to what Dartmouth was. What a glorious experience we had in becoming acquainted with the Dartmouth that was more than a collection of buildings! We began to live the more abundant life of mind and spirit; to subject ourselves to the intellectual discipline that would enable us to meet our obligations to the society of our time. We learned that we were living in an institution that was based on the true principle of democracy. Each man was rated on his worth as a man. Wealth and family status were not factors in the appraisal of the individual by his fellows.

There was a current college song which emphasized the situation I have tried to depict. It ran thus:

"I'll sing you a song of college days And tell you where to go; Johns Hopkins for your knowledge, Cornell to learn to row."

And, after characterizing several of America's great colleges in a manner not always complimentary, it concluded most boastfully:

"And to Dartmouth for your men."

But wherein was and is this institution more than a collection of buildings for our college generation and those that have followed? The answer is somewhat obvious. The President, his administrative assistants and the faculty are the important part of the institution known as Dartmouth College. No man who was a student during the administration of Dr. Tucker can discuss the Dartmouth College of his day without paying tribute to this great man. His individual contacts with the students were comparatively few, but no student could listen to his Sunday vesper talks without feeling that the message of the day was directed very specifically to him. The ideals of life relating to religion, to service, to society, and the obligations of citizenship were expressed with compelling force and spirit. Those messages of idealism became a part of our lives, became a part of the meaning of Dartmouth College to us.

Dr. Tucker had another ideal for Dartmouth, of which I became aware. I received a notice to report to his office. He wished to know why I had come to Dartmouth. He stated that he was greatly desirous of making Dartmouth a national institution rather than a provincial one; that he wished for students from all sections of the country, so that the thinking of the students would be not provincial but national. He desired that the influence of the ideals of the College should spread throughout this nation of ours. That vision, under the guidance of his illustrious successors, has been realized.

Then, there were the members of the faculty, many of whom exerted in their own fields a most striking influence upon the intellectual development of the students. Time will not permit the calling of the roll of these great men, but I must mention one - Professor Wells, affectionately nicknamed "Stubby," who, at that time, alone represented the Department of Sociology. The most stimulating course that I had in my four years at Dartmouth was one in Social Psychology, taught by "Stubby." At that time there were no texts available. It was a lecture course with required readings and individual research. Every student taking this course not only did the work required, but was so interested that he attempted additional research on his own.

In due course the Class of 1904 received their diplomas. We left the College halls to begin our careers. All of us carried the Dartmouth spirit. Now, after fifty years, we feel that it is still an influence in our lives.

IT has become the custom of this occasion for the speaker to pay some tribute to the members of his Class and to praise some for their achievements. This subject I approach with concern lest in listing some, I apparently should slight others equally worthy. In the beginning, let me say that our Class was a pretty good group, on the whole. Some words of praise could be spoken for each member of the Class, but the limitations of time and of your patience veto this.

During one summer I remained in New England and explored some parts of it. In the course of these wanderings I met a clergyman, a graduate of Dartmouth in the class immediately following Dr. Tucker's, from whom I learned much about the conditions of College life in the 1860's. He told one story, which he declared was true, that I wish to share with you.

In his college days there lived in Hanover a former slave who, with his wife, had escaped from slavery. They made their living by doing the students' laundry. On one occasion, while in a student's room delivering laundry, the student asked him:

"Sam, where are you going when you die?" "Going to hell, sah."

"What are you going to do when you get there?"

"Do students' washing, sah."

I hope we were a little better than that.

Many of our class have had distinguished careers, for which they have received special acclaim; others have given most valuable service to their fellow citizens, but without the acclaim. I am reminded of Harry Chase, who became President of the University of North Carolina, of the University of Illinois, and Chancellor of the University of New York. He has been a striking figure in the educational field of our generation. I am reminded of Bill Slayton, teacher and superintendent in the public school system, whose life has been devoted to education on the grammar and high school level. Both of these men are entitled to tribute. In the field of business and manufacturing, Ned Bartlett, King Woodbridge and Jig Leverone have had useful and outstanding careers. Tom Streeter has distinguished himself in law, in business, and in cultural pursuits.

Mose Withey has rendered great service in engineering, research and teaching, and is now Dean Emeritus of the School of Engineering, University of Wisconsin. Bruce Sanborn and John H. Watson have been recognized as distinguished lawyers. Gene Sewall is an honored member of the Maine judiciary. Wilfred Whittemore has had a unique career in international banking. He worked for thirty-two years in the Far East. Since 1938 he has been Vice-President of the Import-Export Bank in Washington.

Mat Bullock, held in high esteem by every member of our Class, has rendered devoted and useful service in promoting the interests of our citizens with Negro ancestry. In the Boston group are Ned Robinson and Carl Woods, who have had most successful careers in business, and who have shown great interest in affairs affecting Dartmouth College.

Then, there is a group - and a most useful one — who have added much because of their ability to live a zestful life and radiate happiness and good will among their fellowmen. There could be quite a list here: Sid Rollins; Beck Johnson; Squid Lampee; and Ike Charron are typical. They have likewise been outstanding in their devotion to the College.

Finally, we must add a brief tribute to Dave Austin, longtime Secretary o£ 1904, loyal to his Class and the College. Dave left this world on March 19, 1954. We feel that he is with us in spirit today.

WE all know of the importance of the work of Dartmouth College in the life of this country. Dartmouth, like other privately endowed colleges and universities, has tremendous financial problems. Interestingly enough, the number of students in the privately endowed colleges and universities in the United States is approximately equal to the number of students in the universities and colleges supported by public funds. The great majority of the privately endowed institutions are faced with the problem of having their expenditures run so far in excess of income from tutition and endowments that the question of survival for some of them has become a most pressing problem.

This situation is of deep personal concern. For thirty-three years, I have been a Trustee of the University of Chattanooga, and have been connected with other colleges and their financial problems.

In some areas of our country, an appeal has been made to manufacturing and business corporations to make contributions for educational purposes on the theory that the continuation of the free industry system of our country depends upon educating our young people not only technically, but they must be imbued with an understanding and love of the political and social institutions which make our way of life possible. I hope that the practice of corporate contributions to colleges may increase. Certainly, such contributions must be in addition to those of individual alumni. Dartmouth must be enabled to continue its great service to the life of our nation.

We, of 1904, extend our best wishes and congratulations to the Class of 1954. You have spent four years at a Dartmouth which has greater resources than were available to us. The Dartmouth spirit of our time still exists, enriched by developments of fifty years.

For you especially - but for all of us - I wish to quote the inspiring words of one of the great sons of Dartmouth. These emphasize the necessity of our continued loyalty to Dartmouth College.

On May 22, 1852, Daniel Webster, as the guest of the City Council of Boston, delivered an address in Faneuil Hall. He was commenting on the greatness of Boston and was praising its citizens for their many achievements, particularly their support of education. Then he said this, a statement which must have been inspired by his four years at Dartmouth:

"We seek to educate the people; we seek to improve men's moral and religious condition.

"...if we work upon marble, it will perish; if we work upon brass, time will efface it; if we rear temples, they will crumble into dust; but if we work upon immortal minds, if we imbue them with principles, with the just fear of God and love of our fellow men, we engrave on those tablets something which will brighten to all eternity."

Mr. Fletcher, lawyer from Chattanooga,who spoke on behalf of the Class of 1904.