STUDENTS NEEDED IN POLITICS

As an aid to men who are as yet undecided what their work after graduation shall be, the CRIMSON is planning a series of articles, the first of which is printed below, on the opportunities offered to college men by the various professions. Law, medicine, teaching, diplomacy, and similar subjects will be dealt with by men who are specialists in their fields, and who are acquainted with undergraduates and with college training, so that their suggestions may prove helpful.

There was a time not many years ago when the advent of a college man in politics was rather laughed at by so-called practical politicians, while by his friends it was regarded as a downward step. The politicians laughed because they thought the university graduate too unsophisticated to succeed, while the friends, on the other hand, thought the demeaned himself by association with these public servants. Yet these same friends who would not soil their hands, they say, by entering the arena, would not hesitate if their pockets were threatened by legislation to hire some lobbyist to act for them, and never feel a qualm as to any questionable methods that might be used. In England men of education and men representing property rights go into public life and present their views fairly in debate and fight in the open forum for the principles in which they believe. In recent years in this country the so-called scholar in politics has forged to the front and such men as Roosevelt, Hay, Lodge, Wilson, Root, and others have left a broad mark on the pages of history.

It is the duty of everyone, but especially of college graduates and men of education, to take an interest in public affairs. They need not run for office. Often more good can be done by helping others into office than by being a candidate one's self. The great assets that they and younger men bring with them to their work are enthusiasm and a belief in ideals. Their service will be of assistance to themselves as well as to the public. It will broaden them and open their eyes to the hardships and struggles going on in thousands of homes to earn a sufficiency for existence, it should teach them to appreciate the view-point, of the other side, to see how easy and yet how unjust it is for the one who inherits money but has never earned a cent to hold aloof and criticize; it should make them realize that it is just to levy taxes on inheritances.

There was never a time when greater events were transpiring than there are today, when educated minds were more needed to help solve the great problems confronting us. The question of preparing this nation on land and sea so that it can meet any possible foes is one of the burning and most discussed topics of the hour. American men will not lie down and allow their country to be invaded without making determined resistance. Such resistance can be effective only if we have an efficient army and navy.

There is no danger of this country engaging in an aggressive war because we are too isolated and all we desire is to be left alone. Surely if we need a police force to protect us from internal trouble, we need one proportionately large to protect us from foreign aggression. If we ever arrive at the age of a compulsory international peace tribunal or Supreme Court of the nations we must have a force sufficient to help guarantee support to the enforcement of its decrees. Educated minds are needed to aid in these movements. We need them to give expert thought to the protection of the industries of this country against the unloading on our markets of cheap foreign goods and labor after this cruel war is over.

Our civil service system, pure food and anti-monopoly laws, rate, railroad and anti-discriminatory regulations all need true and staunch men to uphold and develop them in the right direction. In the foreign service men who are educated and versed in foreign languages are needed as ambassadors, ministers, secretaries, and consuls. In state governments we are passing through an era of constitutional conventions. Various changes are urged as more adapted to our present-day conditions, while in city government we note a determination to concentrate power so as to have fewer abuses and to know whom to blame if any occur, and the strong executive type of charter and the commission form of government are being urged, or are already on trial.

There was a time in the history of our country when there was a greater field for usefulness in public service for broad-minded, intelligent, upright and enthusiastic men such as our colleges are pouring forth into the world