MINNESOTA ALUMNI WEEKLY VoL XV. MAY I, 1916 No. 30 A member of the senior class, a young Wqt iliUtttButa Alumni lIISttkly woman, made application for a position in Office: 202 Library Building, University. Minneapolis. Minn. a certain high school of this sta teo She Published by the General Alumni Association proudly cited the fact that she \\'a a mem­ of the University of Minnesota. ber of Phi Beta Kappa, as eyidence that he Entered at the Postofflce In Minneapolis as second-class matter. was fitted for the position she ought. She recei\'ed word from the school board that Lit e subscription, $26 ; annual subscription, $2. they could not consider her application as lfDleSN s ub8crlber8 direct a discontinuance It they bad decided not to employ anyone will b e assumed tbat a renewal I. de.lred. who \\"a - a member of a Qrority. The third annual short course for superin­ Advl~o...,. EdJtorial Committee. John F. Hayden. Chairman. tendent and principals held at the Univer­ Henry F . Nachtdeb. sity, April 19-22, was a g reat succes . About Hope McDonald, Charles A. Reed. four hundred were in attendance and every­ John H . Ray. Jr one seemed to be enthusiastic over what was offered in the way of entertainment and Editor and Manager, instruction. The pecial lecturers, Messrs. E. B. Johnaon. W. C. Bagley and E. P. Cubberley, made a AdvertI.lng, Oswald S. Wyatt. decided hit. The whole meeting was well calculated to make those who attended anx­ iou - to come again. It is the purpose ot the Weekly to present lacts upon which the alumni may base their own judgment; to orrer unbiased Interpreta­ tlve comment upon the facts In order to assist to a better understanding of the same; to PURDUE OFFERS PLAN. refiect. editorially, the opinion of the alumni as fal thtully as possible; to be always open The proposition put forward by the Pur­ for communications from any alumnus who desires to say anyth ing upon a matter of due Alumni As ociation which is printed Interest to the alumni, as alumnI. Construct­ elsewhere in thi issuf', will, we belieYe, Ive criticism, news and new subscribers are meet the hearty approval of a large majority each helpful and welcome. and combined. they of )Iinnesota alumni. It is difficult to un­ Impr ove the service rendered by the Weekly to Its su bscrl bers. derstand why all matters relating to inter­ collegiate athletic should not be handled l)pon a like basi -a gentleman's agreement. EVENTS OF THE WEEK. VI' e should like to see the resolution made (For calendar of the week see page 16.) still broader so a to do away with the "scoutinO''' ystem-which is only a little Ie s objectionable than the old "spy" sys­ Chas. H . Topping, '94, of New York City, tem. repre ented the U niver ity at the inaugura­ If all the colleges would enter into such tion of President Blodgett, of Adelphi Col­ an agreement no one college would suffer lege, Friday, April 7. In his Yery brief re­ by giving up the system and a practice, of port, Mr. Topping expressed his pleasure at which no one is proud, will be aboli hed. thus being able to serve the University, and We are glad that the Purdue Association said that inquiries made of him by delegates has started this movement and we hope that indicated that the reputation of the Univer­ it may be approved by all tbe alumni asso­ sity was increasing throughout the east. ciations of the "big nine." 2 THE MINNESOTA THE FIRST UNIVERSITY DIPLOMA. abolished. To this end we make this prop­ Henry M. Williamson Gives the University oSItIOn to all the Alumni Associations of the Western Conference Colleges: His Diploma. That there be introduced at the next an­ At the request of the University, Henry nual meeting of the different Alumni Associa­ M. Williamson, one of the two members of tions an identical resolution requesting the the first graduating class, that of 1873, has various athletic coaches of the college to given his diploma to the University to be pledge themselves not to receive or to use framed and hung up in some safe place information regarding the signals or plays about the University, where it can be seen of another team, which is not obtained from by anyone who is interested. regular scheduled games open to the public, The diploma is in Latin, except the offi­ or from the public prints. cial state certificate at the bottom. The The pledge would not prevent holding as size is 18 by 24 inches and the material genu­ much secret practice as desired, but if gen­ ine parchment-real "sheep skin." erally signed would remove the principal Even the name of the recipient is Latin­ cause for it: suspicion that plays disclosed ized and appears as "Henricum Martinum in practice would be reported to a rival team Williamson." and the knowledge used in counter prepara­ The diploma is signed by the full faculty­ tion. six names, as follows: William W. Folwell, We are certain our coaches as honorable M. A.; G. Campbell, M. A., B. D.; Versal J . men are chagrined at the false position in Walker, M. A.; Jabez Brooks, A. M., D. D .; which they find themselves and will wel­ E. J . Thompson, M. A.; N. H. Winchell, come any opportunity to change the atti­ M. A. tude existing between University coaching John S. Pillsbury, "Regentum Praeses," staffs from one of mutual suspicion to that signed the diploma for the regents and Hor­ of honorable trust. ace Austin, Governor and S. P. Jennison, The proposed form of identical resolution secretary of state, signed for the state. and pledge is intended to form a basis of discussion and is not offered as the best final form. WILL IT NOT BE WORTH WHILE? We should be pleased to hear from you very soon as to your likelihood of this idea Purdue Alumni Association, La Fayette, meeting with the favor of your governing Indiana. board. Our own annual meeting is June April 22nd, 1916. 6th, not a long time to arrange for joint action of nine bodies. To the Secretary of the Alumni Association, Yours very cord ially, Minnesota University, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Purdue Alumni Association, Dear Sir: We consider that one of the G. W. MUNRO, most humili ating conditions at American Treasurer. Colleges today is, that every football coach Resolution. deems it necessary to conduct a large part of the season's practice behind closed gates. WHEREAS, there has existed an unfor­ We believe that the suspicion that the vari­ tunate state of suspicion and distrust be­ ous coaches are trying by unfair scouting tween the ath letic coaches of our various methods to secure information regarding Universities and Colleges which we believe the plays of their rivals is mostly unjusti­ unjustified by either the actions or the char­ fied though there is undoubtedly a laxness acters of the men and, in the standards of sportsmanship in this WHEREAS, the honor system in vogue regard against which no coach feels that he between the Institutions in regard to the can contend single handed. fi nancial settlements and the enforcement Under these circumstances it seems that of eligibility rules has worked with much the alumni of the various schools may prop­ satisfaction, we believe that it can be ex­ erly and rightly take the initiative in bring­ tended to the members of the coaching ing about a new set of conditions where mu­ staffs with results no less gratifying; Be it tual suspicion between coaches may be therefore, ALUMNI WEEKLY. 3 RESOLVED, that we request all the rival team which I have any reason to be­ members of our athletic coaching staff to lieve has been obtained in ways other than sign and observe the following pledge: through observation of regular scheduled "1 will not accept or use information re­ games open to the public, or from public garding the training, signals or plays of a prints." COMMUNICA TIONS PROTESTS RAISE IN FEES. thinning out, let it be upon the basis of fit­ ness and scholarship. It would seem better Albert Lea, Minn., April 25, 1916. that the fee should be eliminated all to- Editor Minnesota Alumni Weekly. gether. H. C. CARLSON. I note with exceeding interest, the com­ munication of Mr. S. D. Catherwood of Austin, in your March 27 number, criticis­ REPLYING TO MR. NACHTRIEB. ing the previous article of Dr. J. B. J ohns­ Minneapolis, Minnesota, ton, entitled "Reason for Raising Fees." I April 19, 1916. would like to add to the protest of Mr. Catherwood. Prof. Henry F. Nachtrieb: Dear Sir: I read your open letter in the It is a matter of great surprise that any April 3 issue of the "Alumni Weekly," one connected with the University of Min­ addressed to "John M. Harrison and Fel­ nesota should urge the raising of fees and low Signers,"-to those who signed the cir­ especially that it should be urged upon the cular letter advocating amending the con­ grounds stated in that article. stitution of the General Alumni Association, It has always been assumed that the basis for the purpose of making it a more repre­ of admission to the University of Minnesota sentative organization. was scholarship and not the financial ability I assume that I was specifically mentioned of the student; that the institution was for on account of the fact that my name headed the benefit of all the people; maintained at the list of signers.