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About Yale Alumni Magazine | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1900)
Vot IX. -No. 21 NEW HAVEN, CONN., WEDNESDAY, FEB. 21, 1900. SOPHOMORE SOCIETIES Petition of the Seniors to the Fac- ulty—The Latter’s Attitude. On February 12 and 13, a petition was circulated among those members of the Senior class who are not connected with any Sophomore society, asking the Faculty to abolish the societies. The petition reads as follows: “Whereas, It has long been a recog- nized fact that the existence of the Sophomore Societies is both unjust and harmful, because they are the destruc- tive factor of that democratic feeling and spirit “Or Unity. “which has’ dic- tinguished Yale life; and “Whereas, We realize that friendly cooperation with the Faculty is neces- sary to bring about a wise and adequate readjustment of this system; and “Whereas, We believe that a remedy lies in extending the Junior Fraternities over Sophomore and Junior years, and that such an extension should be de- termined upon by a committee of repre- sentative graduates and undergraduates ; and “Whereas, After nearly four years of contact and experience with the present system we feel that the need of change is becoming more and more urgent, and because we are unwilling to leave Col- lege without an effort to make a bene- ficial change, as members of the Senior class we feel ourselves forced, as an expression of our loyalty to the best interests of Yale, to go on record as thoroughly opposed to their existence. “We therefore respectfully petition the Faculty to codperate with the graduates and undergraduates in putting a stop to the evil by abolishing the Sophomore Societies.” The petition was circulated with great despatch and in a. little over a day, out of 272 members of the class who are not connected with either of the three Sophomore societies, 254 had annexed their names. The other 18, it was re- ported by the promoters of the petition, could not be reached in the given time. The petition was handed to the Presi- dent and has been acknowledged by him. As the WEEKLY goes to press, it has not yet reached the Faculty. No formal attempt has been made to secure the opinion of the members of the Faculty in regard to the petition, but it is possible to say that the sentiment, as far as it has been expressed, has been one of strong hope that it would not be necessary for the Faculty to step into the matter. The members of the Faculty are individually exceedingly interested in the situation and expect a speedy and satisfactory solution of it. They con- sider, however, as far as the WEEKLY can learn, that the matter is one for the undergraduates to settle themselves. Following the petition from the Senior class, those who have been foremost in agitating the matter have continued their efforts among members of earlier classes. No attempts has been made to canvass the sentiment of Juniors, Sophomores or Freshmen, because of the feeling that their relations to the societies, present or prospective, put them in a position where it was neither fair nor advisable to ask them to register their opinion in such a matter. A number of circular letters have, howéver, gone out to graduates of recent classes, although just how far this movement has gone it is not an- nounced. These circulars are headed “An Appeal to Yale Graduates,” and read as follows: | “On Wednesday, February 13th, the following petition requesting the aboli- tion of Sophomore Societies was pre- sented to President Hadley and the Faculty by the Senior class. Out of 274 men who are not members of a Sopho- more society, 254 have signed and 18 could not be seen. “In view of the fact that the Sopho- more societies will use all their influence to delay and prevent their abolition, it is hoped that the graduates will interest themselves in assisting the Senior class to secure this result and to establish without further delay a society system which will by its justice win the sanc- tion and approval of all, and best con- serve the interests of Yale. The per- sonal support of each graduate is essen- tial and an immediate expression of opinion to the Faculty would be of the greatest help in bringing about the best. results.” | There are no signatures to the circu- lars, ——_—_<$<$~—___-_—_ YALE CLUB QUARTERS, The Plans for the New Building En- dorsed— Financial Scheme. At the special meeting of the Yale Club of New York City held Friday, February 16, it was unanimously voted to accept a proposition of the council for new quarters at 30 and 32 West 44th street. The land it is contemplated to purchase is 50 by 100 feet and situated on the south side of the street, east of the Bar Association Building and al- most directly across the street from the new home of the New York Yacht Club. The house of the Harvard Club is in the same block on the other side of the street nearer Fifth avenue. The plan by the architects, Messrs. Tracy & Swart- wout calls for an eleven-story building of red brick and white stone. Several upper floors are to be taken up with sleeping rooms for members, this feature being deemed a wise means of meeting the expenses of the new building, until such time as the Club desires to occupy more of it for strictly club purposes. There will be one large dining room occuping an entire floor, so arranged that it will be adapated for use as a general meet- ing room. There will be another din- ing . floor for class dining rooms and smaller rooms for private parties. As a means of financing the project, it is proposed to organize a building company which will buy the land, erect the build- ing and lease it to the Club. The building company proposes to borrow on mortgage $200,000 and raise upon its stock $175,000, or so much thereof as may be needed. It is believed that the cost of the land and building will not exceed $350,000. The stock of the ‘building company is to pay dividends at 4% per cent. and the stock is being offered to members of the Club, who have already taken considerably over $50,000. i ene Forestry School Fund. It has been announced that a fund large enough to establish a School of Forestry in connection with the estate of the late Prof. O. C. Marsh, has been made. Neither the size of the fund nor the names of the donors will be given out at present. ——_-—_ + ¢ More Building Land Bought. Yale added another lot of land, on the North side of Wall street, to that already purchased in the square where the new buildings are to stand. This lot was bought from George R. Cooley, Yale 75 5. and has a frontage on Wall street of 47 feet. The price paid was $25,000. YALE AND NEW HAVEN. A Speech from the Treasurer on their Business Relations. Before the Chamber of Commerce of New Haven, at its meeting Wednesday evening, February 14, Mr. Morris F. Tyler, Treasurer of Yale, read a paper discussing the business relations of New Haven and the University, and con- sidering the University as a business institution. He said in part: “If there has been any fault to be found with the relations of the city and the University in the past, it is due to that fact that neither party was ac- quainted with the other. Well now, I think that so far as the business side of the University at present can be con- cerned, it may be said that the Univer- sity knows the town. I suppose it is not assumption on my part to say that I represent the business side of the Uni- versity. J have charge of it, so far as it is a business concern in the midst of us. And I think I know the town, and the town ideals and town ambi- tions. Circumstances have, in the last twenty years, shown me a good deal of the University, of the young univer- sity. I have been thrown into intimate relations with men who are as totally of the University in their origins and asso- ciations as I am of the town. I think I know, too, how the two classes look at one another, or rather how they used to look at one another. For after all the difference is largely a mere tradi- tion. A GREAT BUSINESS INSTITUTION. “T meant to speak of the University as a great business institution, among the other great business institutions of our city. I use the term ‘great’ ad- visedly. I think you will agree with me when I say that, were it not for the traditional method of looking at things, which is unavoidable where these things have been known from their youth, and where growth has not been carefully _ watched, the University would be ranked as a great business affair. A factory that had a weekly pay roll of $8,000, that, moreover, by the character of its work, required 2,500 men to live in this town, and that, too, under conditions which made them wholly consumers, and competitors in almost no sense at all; and that turned out a product which carried the name of the town as well as that of the factory throughout the. civi- lized world and into the highest circles of that world, would be called a great business establishment. Well, that is one side of the University.” RELATION TO NEW HAVEN BUSINESS. Speaking of the position which the University, as a business establishment should take in its relations with other business in New Haven, Mr. Tyler said: “There is one peculiarity in the posi- tion of the University which ought to be noticed; and that is that it is ex- clusively a buying and not a selling establishment. Of course it charges a price for its services. But so.far as this community is concerned, it charges that price to so small a number comparatively that it does not count as an influence; and it is perfectly well known to every- body that this price has no relation whatever to the cost of the service rendered. “In other words the University is a great consumer and not a great competi- tor. Now I am obliged to confess that I do not know just how the University Copyright, 1900, by Yale Alumni Weekly. has hitherto conducted itself in this matter of buying in all regards. I find, however, that as a general thing it is doing what we expect a good citizen of New Haven to do, making itself as far as possible the consumer of home trade.’ It must not be forgotten that, like every other buyer, the University must buy in the cheapest market. As it is not a money earner in the sense of a money maker, it must make the expenditure of its income go as far as possible. It must do as much for each dollar as it can. But with this understood, I can say to you, frankly that-I think it ought to buy as much at home as possible. “There have been some complaints made to me that it did not do this, but that outside merchants had been favored, to the injury and exclusion of home merchants. Upon a careful examination of the manner in which things have been done I cannot admit this to be true. It has been simply a question of prices. Wherever the same goods have been offered by a New Haven dealer at the same rates as by an outside dealer, I believe the New Haven dealer has al- ways been preferred. I can assure you, however, that whether or not this is true of the past, it shall be true of the future. “But I am free to confess that in one department of the University’s purchases we are obliged to go outside of New Haven because New Haven’s things are too good and its prices too high. I mean in the matter of investment. It would be a great pleasure to me if the funds of the University, the evidences of the generosity of its alumni and other friends, could be set to work right here, to earn the income which is to support the University. But New Haven invest- ments are too good. We are not yet in condition where we can afford to live on 3% and 4% returns on our capital. So we are obliged to go where money is dearer: and fetches better prices. But that is not the reason why the agents with whom we deal should not be usu- ally New Haven agents. I do not care to go into details in this matter: it is not necessary. But I wish to state that the policy of the treasury, so far as I can control it, will be to deal with our friends and neighbors at home; with men whom we know and trust; men who have, we believe, more than a dol- lars and cents interest in the University, rather than with others. I believe that I shall get as good advice and more disinterested advice from a New Haven financier than from a New York finan- cier. I believe that a New Haven bank will keep our money just as safely and will pay. our checks just as cheerfully and will in all ways accommodate us just as fully, as a New York bank. HELPING TO IMPROVE THE CITY. “What attitude should the University take, what attitude will it take, toward those general public movements which look to the material prosperity of the town in which we live? It has been said by some that the University has thought it for its interest that the town should remain small and unprogressive. Some have maintained that it has been obstructive, and that it has stood in the way of the general advancement of this community. Do not confound the per- sonal opinions of some elderly gentle- men who in times past may have be- longed to the University, with the atti- tude of the organization itself. There have been a good many old fogies in New Haven in times past. You and I have known them in business, and [ fear the University has not been without its share. I have heard so-called busi- ness men say that they thought the town was big enough; that its progress was rapid enough; that they did not want to see it any bigger or any more pro-
