CORNELL ALUMNI NEWS VOL. xxxv No. 7 ITHACA, NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 10, 193:1 PRICE 1.2. CENTS Andrew D. White: The Scholar in Politics The Public Career of Cornells First President, whose Centenary Occurs this Week, was as Distinguished as His Academic Record HE centenary of the birth of Andrew Dickson White, on November seventh, coming at the climax of what will probably be one of the most important political contests in the history of the United States, recalls to mind Tthat many of the problems which challenge solution by contemporary statesmen were vital problems in the time of Dr. White. So important and permanent were Dr. White's contributions to education, and so widely celebrated is he as an educator, that it is often overlooked that he was among the foremost American statesmen of his time. His interest and enthusiasm were not confined to the class-room and the library, but extended into the legislative halls of his State and Nation, and even into the chancellories of the most important world powers. Although the most notable of Andrew duced great things. It laid the foundation D. White's achievements was the found- for Cornell University; but it also laid ing, with Ezra Cornell, of a great Ameri- the foundation for Andrew D. White's can university, designed to meet the public career. It is not apposite, at this requirements of American life, and un- point, to describe how Dr. White, by trammelled by the curricular and peda- virtue of his position as Chairman of the gogic conventions of the Old World, he Committee on Education, fought shoulder left behind him a record of public ac- to shoulder with the senator from Tomp- complishment that should have secured kins County, to defeat the rapacity of his fame had he never worn cap and certain established educational institu- gown. Dr. White enjoys not only a place tions, and to preserve the benefits of the among the great teachers and educational Morrill Act intact for Cornell University. administrators of his time; he belongs That has been adequately dealt with in also with the public servants, the states- many places. men of his era. While it is true that he Then, as now, the internal corruption enjoyed a prestige in academic circles that of the municipal government of New was equalled only by that of the late York City was so shocking as to present President Eliot of Harvard, he was also a problem to the Legislature. Dr. White's ranked as a statesman with Hay, Root, membership on the Committee on Mu- and Adams. His was that rare position in nicipalities coincided, fatefully enough, ANDREW D. WHITE American society—the scholar in public with the birth of "Tweedism" in New life. more quiet one. My ambition, whether I York City. Dr. White's careful speech, in It would be expected that a young man have succeeded in it or not, has been to the session of 1866, against the rottenness of sensitive spirit and refinement would set young men in trains of fruitful of the Health Department of the city, and be repelled by the coarseness and venal- thought, to bring mature men into the the wretchedness of tenement conditions, ity of partisan politics. As James Russell line of right reason, and to aid in devising has been called '' the first skirmish in the Lowell wrote,'' There is more rough and and urging needed reforms, in developing battle against Tweedism." It is interest- tumble in the American democracy than and supporting wise policies, and in ing to observe that today, almost seventy is altogether agreeable to people of building up institutions which shall years after the struggle in which Dr. sensitive nerves and refinement." Dr. strengthen what is best in American White participated to purge New York White recognized this; but he found it life." City of parasitic politicians, the corrup- possible to overcome his revulsion, in the When Dr. White entered public life, in tion of the municipal government of that realization that he could serve his 1864, at the request of his Syracuse city still presents one of the chief issues country in a capacity no less useful than neighbors, he had no idea of the tre- of a political campaign. unique. He says in his Autobiography: "I mendous significance of his act. Among Another of the great issues of today, have no capacity for the rough and his colleagues in the legislature was which Dr. White recognized, and which tumble of politics. I greatly respect many Ezra Cornell, as characteristic a product was perceptible only to himself and a of the men who have gifts of that sort, of the American democracy as was Dr. handful of well-informed legislators, was but have recognized the fact that my in- White of the American aristocracy of the need for a revision of the criminal fluence in and on politics must be of a learning. The alliance of these two men, code. "Social questions" had not yet different kind. I have indeed taken part the one contributing a proletarian vigor forced their way to the attention of in some stormy scenes in convention and shrewdness, the other the sensitive- politicians, when it became plain to this meetings and legislatures, but always ness, vision, and erudition of the care- perspicacious statesman that they de- with regret. My true role has been a fully-nurtured aristocrat, inevitably pro- served a place in the [Continued on page 86 84 THE CORNELL ALUMNI NEWS November 10, Red i5~yard line. An exchange of kicks Cornell rallied and, when Albright gave Cornell the ball on its 43-yard completed a pass to an ineligible receiver, ATHLETICS marker, and the Red backs ripped through took possession of the ball on the visitors' for another touchdown, Viviano going 2.8-yard line. Beyer raced through right off his right tackle for 14 yards and the tackle to the five-yard line, and Goldbas, POWER PLAYS GO WELL score. George missed the goal, and the substituting for Viviano, plungedthrough The football team won its first game half ended with Cornell leading, 13-0. for the touchdown on third down. since early October by defeating Albright, George kicked the goal. 40-14, on Schoellkopf Field November 5. Switzer, in for Grant, scored the third touchdown early in the third period on The final score resulted from another Although the outcome was never in intercepted pass, Hedden catching De- doubt, Cornell piling up 2.6 points before one of the outstanding plays of the game. With the ball on Albright's 39-yard Franco's toss on Albright's 30-yard line Albright scored, the game turned out to and returning to the 13-yard stripe. be a more than a "breather," and Cor- mark, Switzer, taking a short pass from Viviano in the backfield, skirted his left Switzer turned left end for first down on nell's first team was in action most of the two-yard line, and Beyer hit right the time. end and ran for the score, with Irving blocking out Hino, Albright's safety tackle for the final touchdown. George Albright presented an outfit consider- booted the goal to make the final count, ably heavier than Cornell with three fast man, halfway to the goal line. George again missed the goal. 40-14. backs, and a wild, but at times, brilliant The lineups: aerial attack. One touchdown was scored Switzer intercepted Hino's pass on CORNELL (40) Pos. ALBRIGHT (14) on a pass; the second resulted from an- Cornell's 4x-yard mark, and the Red and Wallace LE Daub other toss that was easily the most White marched to another score, cli- George LT Gass spectacular play of the game. Albright's maxed by the only forward pass for Cor- Borland LG Dittman aerials, however, were frequently inter- nell. Viviano and Switzer rushed to two Brock C Hatton Kossack RG Karlovich cepted to give Cornell scoring oppor- first downs, putting the ball on Al- Murdock RT Suydam tunities. Fumbles on running plays in the bright's 36-yard mark. Then Switzer Irving RE Bolton Albright backfield likewise afforded the passed to Beyer in the end zone for the Grant QB Hino Red and White several scoring chances. touchdown. George converted the point, Hedden LHB DeFranco Viviano RHB Orr Cornell confined its efforts principally and Cornell led, 2.6-0, with the second Beyer FB Hepler to rushing, netting 3x2. yards and 18 first string ready to go in. Score by periods: downs .The interference worked smoothly, But the reserves were kept on the side- Cornell 7 6 13 14—40 Albright o o 7 7—14 and the power plays directed at the lines as Albright scored on two passes, Touchdowns—Cornell: Beyer 3, Viviano, Albright tackles were consistent gainers. DeFranco to Conway. These aerials Switzer, Goldbas. Albright: Conway, Iatesta. Cornell scored early on a 58-yard netted 5Z yards. Conway took the first to Points after touchdowns—Cornell: George march, aided by a 15-yard Albright Cornell's 37-yard stripe and scored on the 4. Albright: DeFranco 2.. Substitutions—Cornell: Switzer for Grant, penalty for roughing and the running of second after racing xo yards. DeFranco Anderson for Wallace, Shaub for Borland, Viviano and Beyer. Beyer scored on a kicked the extra point as the third Spellman for Brock, Geoffrion for Beyer, sweep from the four-yard mark and period ended. Goldbas for Viviano, Reiber for Irving, Wilson George kicked the goal. Another Red and for Kossack. Albright: Fromm for Daub, Albright halted a Cornell drive on its Haldeman for Fromm, Slack for Hino, Lease White drive in the first period, after 10-yard line early in the fourth quarter.