University Gives 2148 Degree Today; Smith Among Those on Honorary List

In the largest award of honorary degrees in many years, President Lowell today bestowed degrees on a distinguished group representing leaders in a variety of fields.

Leading the list of recipients was Alfred E. Smith, former governor of New York and famous Democratic leader. Smith's choice, news of which leaked out earlier in the week, came as a surprise to the public generally but it was pointed out that the "Happy Warrior" has long been held in high esteem by President Lowell and by many members of the Faculty.

Among the other well-known recipients of degrees are Sir Ronald Lindsay, British ambassador to the United States, and Andre de Laboulaye, the French envoy. The award of these two degrees is regarded as especially opportune coming, as it does, during the World Economic Conference now meeting in London.

Other notables receiving degrees were Lewis William Douglas, director of the federal budget; Wilbur Lucius Cross, Governor of Connecticut; Harry Emerson Fosdick, pastor of Riverside Church, New York City; Louis Edward Kirstein, Boston philanthropist; Harlow Shapley, director of the Harvard Observatory; George David Birkhoff '05, Perkins Professor of Mathematics; Philip Hale, dramatic critic of the Boston Herald; Francis Welles Hunnewell '02, secretary to the Harvard Corporation; Joseph Rochomont Hamlen, president of the Harvard Alumni Bulletin.