LY, JANUARY 23, 1921 THE MICHIGAN DAILY ratorical Board Fails To $60,000,000 Meet Opportunities, Charge AND (By Prof. William Herbert Hobbs) The request of The Daily for "criti- cism on any matter pertaining to ldichigan" leads me to ask the priv- ilege of.putting before your readers the subject of popular University lec- tures. The nearly ten thousand young men and young women upon the campus constitute a picked body, and with the opportunities which they here enjoy they should, with similar- bodies else- where, become the moulders of thought of the coming half century. Michi- gan's great asset in the Hill audi- torium affords it the opportunity to bring the student body into face to face contact with the great men and women of the day-those who have won the esteem of their compatriots and who can inspire others to follow them to high achievement. Charges Failure This opportunity of the University, of Michigan is not being met by the Oratorical association, which now pre-1 Tempts the field of popular University lectures. Lecturers brought here from outside the University to address the student body are by presump.-" tion chosen from among those whose record can be emulated- ' they are in effect set up upon ' pedestals before the student body." Far from measuring up to the re. qurements set by the conditions, the record of the Oratorical asso- clation's speakers during the war, and post-war period is not one " which can be regarded with satis- faction. I can testify as chairman of the Na- tional Security league in this com- munity that one of the influences which weighed most heavily against, our efforts to bring about an enlight- ened sentiment for meeting the menace to civilization was found in the choice of lecturers for the Oratorical asso- ciation's courses. Among these lecturers I do not recall one who treated national and international issues from any other standpoint than that of the pacifist or pro-German. Bryan, the prize American pacifist who even today indicates no contrition for the thousands of innocent lives which Were sacrificed to his folly; Dorman Angell, the world's champion pacifist whose responsibility is even greater; and Francis Neilson, the renegade British M. P., who wrote books and toured this country in lec- tures in order to show that England and not Germany was the culprit of the war,-these were the stars who exhorted and denounced from the campus rostrum. No Theodore Roose- velt, Leonard Wood, James M. Beck, George Haven Putnam, Lindlay M.1 Garrison, or other red-blooded Ameri- can citizen was included in the asso- ciation's list of speakers. Cricizes Program I should hardly bring up this matter now if it related to past conditions only, but I refer your readers to the present season's program for indica- s tion that no change of policy is yet a yoA IH I discernible. Of the eight lecturers who discuss THE PLEASING METRO S' national or international issues, one only, Governor Allen, has a war rec- ARE ord that students could be asked to emulate.- The majority of the others were either pacifists, pro-Germans, or both, during our great crisis. Bryan is not alone the prize American paci- fist, but he shares with Henry Ford a notoriety by reason of his unenlight- AT THE efked viewpoint in the field of learn- ing* His Sunday lecture, represent- ing as it did a viewpoint abandoned a half century ago, was essentially a repetition of one he 'had already de- livered upon the campus of the Uni- versity a decade or more since. Ex- FOR Senator Beveridge, by reason of his pro-German attitude during the war, has been largely ostracized by loyal T O D A Y 0 1 Americans. His book written to prove the innocence of Germany of provok- ing the war was put upon the index TIE STORY by the government and refused admis- sion to army camps. "Jim Ham" It is of Mary Manchester, driven by circumstance and a sionto rmycamp. "im am"sonate a wealthy woman who is really dead, but whose cont Lewis, becausehe went wrong on the of her millions by two unscrupulous bankers. war, was retired from the United That is the start; doubtless the men who read George Ki States Senate by the suffrage of a Book know it fairly completely and will wish to witness the people which had at last found itself. Rabbi Wise was both pacifist and pro- German and has made use of his pul- pit for German propaganda. The ad- vertised subject of his lecture here is SUNDAY "Americanism, True and False." Continuous Shows Fail to Reach Standards WEEK DAYS Of Emeline Pankhurst and Thomas 12:00 - 3:30 - 7:00 - 9:00 R. Marshall it is perhaps sufficient to say that neither their record, their manners, nor their methods, measure up to the standards which are called for by the situation. The object of this communication is to urge with some emphasis that so important a matter as popular Univer- sity lectures should be placed in'the hands of a committee representing a vigorous and enlightened American viewpoint and one that will commend itself to the student body, which is certainly neither pacifist nor pro-Ger- man. FACULTY MEN DENY "SLEEP" CHAG Is the University of Michigan asleep? In the opinion of the University fac- ulty and officials it is decidedly not asleep. And many faculty members believe that in many phases of college life the University is wider awake than ever before. In scholarship, in faculty alertness, in student activities, and in musical and'educational activities of every na- ture Michigan is showing up as well as it ever has and in many cases to better advantage. It is true that here at the present time, As in every university in the United States, the results of the recent war are evident. The dance craze which has reached its height is mani- fested here' to a certain extent but that is to be expected. Grades on Percentage It has been declared als that a cer- tain small percentage of students in the University of Michigan are secur- ing the highest grades and are taking part ,in student activities. The state- ment is true, but this has always been the case. The marking system in the Literary college shows that only a certain percentage of students secure A's, a larger percentage B's, etc. "Never before have I felt the facul- ties more keenly alive to ,education problems and a desire for reorganiza- tion in various ways than at the pres- ent time," said Dean John R. Effinger of the Literary college. "The faculties have been very desirous to improve the quality of work and to keep up the high standard of this University." In the opinion of Registrar Arthur G. Hall, of the Literary college, the University is decidedly as much awake as it has ever been to what are con- sidered the most desirable aspects of college life. The University, he be- lieves, is not low in scholarship or in any other respect. Interest In Arts Neyer before in the history of the University of Michigan has there been so great an interest in music, oratory, and lectures. In a statement made re- cently Prof. C. A. Trueblood, of the public speaking department, declared that the oratorical association lectures in Hill auditorium were more largely attended than hitherto. "In 1888," said Charles A. Sink, of the Schol of Music, "there was ittle musical appreciation in this Univer- sity. Since that time Prof. A. A. Stan- I ley has endeavored to build up a musi- cal atmosphere and the results of his untiring effort are clearly seen at the present time. "Our choral union concerts are bet- ter attended this year than they have ever been, and the audience is com- posed largely of students. Attendance at our extra concerts series has been doubled. This year we have been forced to use the balconies in I-Bill auditorium for the faculty concerts. Orchestra Popular "Last Sunday the entire main floor and first balcony were filled to hear the University orchestra and the stu- dents manifested a deep apprecition in the orchestra's work. "In fact," said Mr. Sink, "both the University orchestra and chorus have much larger memberships and a better quality of musicians in them. The stu- dents are taking a keener interest in the better form of music." x --- I QARRI,C K Saturday Matinee 50c to $1.50 Nights 50c to $2.00 -ANNUAL TOUR- America's Leading Irish Singer WALTER SCANLAN In a Romantic Irish Comedy "Hearts- of Ern 4 HEAR Hear Mr. Scanlan sing these new songs- "There's Always a Smile in the Emerald Isle" "Nora", "Daddy's Dudeen" i , I k _ SCHUBERT ETROIT ,Nights 50c lo $2.50 Sat. Mat. 50c to $2.00 The One Big Show You All Know The Messrs. Lee & J. J. Shubert Present The Glittering New York INTER GARDEN Gorgeous, Hilarious 125 Entertainers