1921

A large headline in The Boston Globe on May 6 was entitled "Decision—making at Dartmouth." I think I have written about decision-making at Dartmouth when I first took on the task of writing these class notes, but with the emphasis and publicity which the newspapers and television are giving our College, I must repeat what happened to me way back in 1919. It seems that today the faculty and the student body (at least those who have all the answers to every problem) have the audacity to sign their names to petitions announcing that they could do a better job of running Dartmouth than our present, outstanding president, David T. McLaughlin.

One day in 1919 I was doing an errand in Lewis Parkhurst's office in Boston. He was Chairman of the Board of Trustees. It was "Hoppy's" second year in office. A telegram had arrived from Hoppy that morning in which Hoppy asked Lewis what he should do about a problem. Mr. Parkhurst laughingly showed me Hoppy's telegram, and he said, "Geilich, here is my answer." I felt just a little important that the man who was to sign my diploma should introduce me to the method used to operate Dartmouth College. He didn't call a meeting of the faculty, nor did he convene a group of us undergrads to ask our advice. At that time, the President and the Trustees ran the College.

Is there any sound reason why it should be different today? In the history of the College, there never was any question that it should be otherwise.

It is a pleasure to tell everyone what Horace Greeley told his readers in 1862: "I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors, and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views." It is such thinking that keeps the name of Horace Greeley alive in our literature.

Ralph W. Pendleton sent us a "Maro News" letter dated March 1967; "Maro News" was an organization dedicated to the Massachusetts Association of Relief Officers. Since it had more than 1,000 members and was sponsored by Lincoln Filene Center for Citizenship and Public Affairs and Tufts College, it can and must be said that the organization did a world of good amongst organizations devoted to public welfare. Our own Ralph was president of the organization for two years, during which time he did an outstanding job. We could write at much greater length, but space prevents us from listing all the good accomplishments and a list of some of Massachusetts' most prominent citizens who were members of this group. Good work, Ralph, even if it was 20 years ago on your life's calendar.

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