Thegoverningboards——trustees,regents,curators,fellows,whatevertheirstyleandtitle——areanaimlesssurvivalfromthedaysofclericalrule,whentheywerepresumablyofsomeeffectinenforcingconformitytoorthodoxopinionsandobservances,amongtheacademicstaff。Atthattime,whenmeansformaintenanceofthedenominationalcollegescommonlyhadtobeprocuredbyanappealtoimpecuniouscongregations,itfelltothesebodiesofchurchmentodoserviceassturdybeggarsforfundswithwhichtomeetcurrentexpenses。Sothataslongastheboardsweremadeupchieflyofclergymentheyservedapecuniarypurpose;whereas,sincetheircomplexionhasbeenchangedbythesubstitutionofbusinessmenintheplaceofecclesiastics,theyhaveceasedtoexerciseanyfunctionotherthanabootlessmeddlingwithacademicmatterswhichtheydonotunderstand。Thesolegroundoftheirretentionappearstobeanunreflectingdeferentialconcessiontotheusagesofcorporateorganizationandcontrol,suchashavebeenfoundadvantageousforthepursuitofprivategainbybusinessmenbandedtogetherintheexploitationofjoint—stockcompanieswithlimitedliability。(1*)
Thefactremains,themoderncivilizedcommunityisreluctanttotrustitsseriousintereststoothersthanmenofpecuniarysubstance,whohaveprovedtheirfitnessforthedirectionofacademicaffairsbyacquiring,orbyotherwisebeingpossessedof,considerablewealth。(2*)Itisnotsimplythatexperiencedbusinessmenare,onmaturereflection,judgedtobethesafestandmostcompetenttrusteesoftheuniversity’sfiscalinterests。
Thepreferenceappearstobealmostwhollyimpulsive,andamatterofhabitualbias。Itisdueforthegreaterparttothehighesteemcurrentlyaccordedtomenofwealthatlarge,andespeciallytowealthymenwhohavesucceededinbusiness,quiteapartfromanyspecialcapacityshownbysuchsuccessfortheguardianshipofanyinstitutionoflearning。Businesssuccessisbycommonconsent,andquiteuncritically,takentobeconclusiveevidenceofwisdomeveninmattersthathavenorelationtobusinessaffairs。Sothatitstandsasamatterofcoursethatbusinessmenmustbepreferredfortheguardianshipandcontrolofthatintellectualenterpriseforthepursuitofwhichtheuniversityisestablished,aswellastotakecareofthepecuniarywelfareoftheuniversitycorporation。And,fullofthesamenaivefaiththatbusinesssuccess\"answerethallthings,\"
thesebusinessmenintowhosehandsthistrustfallsarecontenttoaccepttheresponsibilityandconfidenttoexercisefulldiscretioninthesematterswithwhichtheyhavenospecialfamiliarity。Suchistheoutcome,tothepresentdate,oftherecentandcurrentsecularizationofthegoverningboards。Thefinaldiscretionintheaffairsoftheseatsoflearningisentrustedtomenwhohaveprovedtheircapacityforworkthathasnothingincommonwiththehigherlearning。(3*)
AsbearingonthecaseoftheAmericanuniversities,itshouldbecalledtomindthatthebusinessmenofthiscountry,asaclass,areofanotablyconservativehabitofmind。Inadegreescarcelyequalledinanycommunitythatcanlayclaimtoamodicumofintelligenceandenterprise,thespiritofAmericanbusinessisaspiritofquietism,caution,compromise,collusion,andchicane。Itisnotthatthespiritofenterpriseorofunrestiswantinginthiscommunity,butonlythat,byselectiveeffectoftheconditioningcircumstances,personsaffectedwiththatspiritareexcludedfromthemanagementofbusiness,andsodonotcomeintotheclassofsuccessfulbusinessmenfromwhichthegoverningboardsaredrawn。Americaninventorsareboldandresourceful,perhapsbeyondthecommonrunoftheirclasselsewhere,butithasbecomeacommonplacethatAmericaninventorshabituallydiepoor;andonedoesnotfindthemrepresentedontheboardsinquestion。Americanengineersandtechnologistsareasgoodandefficientastheirkindinothercountries。buttheydonotasaclassaccumulatewealthenoughtoentitlethemtositonthedirectiveboardofanyself—respectinguniversity,norcantheyclaimevenamoderaterankas\"safeandsane\"menofbusiness。Americanexplorers,prospectorsandpioneerscannotbesaidtofallshortofthecommonmeasureinhardihood,insight,temerityortenacity;butwealthdoesnotaccumulateintheirhands,anditisacommonsaying,ofthemasoftheinventors,thattheyarenotfittoconducttheirown(pecuniary)affairs;andthereminderisscarcelyneededthatneithertheynortheirqualitiesaredrawnintothecounselsofthesegoverningboards。ThewealthandtheserviceableresultsthatcomeoftheendeavoursoftheseenterprisingandtemerariousAmericanshabituallyinuretothebenefitofsuchoftheircompatriotsasareendowedwitha\"safeandsane\"spiritof\"watchfulwaiting,\"——ofcaution,collusionandchicane。Thereisahomelybutwell—acceptedAmericancolloquialismwhichsaysthat\"Thesilenthogeatstheswill。\"
Aselsewhere,butinahigherdegreeandamorecogentsensethanelsewhere,successinbusinessaffairs,insuchmeasureastocommandtherequisitedeference,comesonlybygettingsomethingfornothing。And,baring——accidentsandwithinthelaw,itisonlythewaitinggameandthedefensivetacticsthatwillbringgainsofthatkind,unlessitbestrategyofthenatureoffinesseandchicane。NowithappensthatAmericanconditionsduringthepastonehundredyearshavebeenpeculiarlyfavourabletothepatientandcircumspectmanwhowillratherwaitthanwork;anditisalsoduringthesehundredyearsthatthecurrenttraditionsandstandardsofbusinessconductandofbusinessliketalenthavetakenshapeandbeenincorporatedinthecommunity’scommonsense。Americahasbeenalandoffreeandaboundingresources;whichistosay,whenconvertedintotermsofeconomictheory,thatitisthelandoftheunearnedincrement。Inalldirections,whereverenterpriseandindustryhavegone,theopportunitywaswideandlargeforsuchashadthepatienceorastutenesstoplacethemselvesinthewayofthismultifariousflowoftheunearnedincrement,andwereendowedwiththeretentivegrasp。Puttingasidetheillusionsofpublicspiritanddiligentserviceability,sedulouslycultivatedbytheapologistsofbusiness,itwillreadilybeseenthatthegreatmassofreputablylargefortunesinthiscountryareofsuchanorigin;norwillitcostanythingbeyondasimilarlesiontotheaffectionstoconfirmtheviewthatsuchistheoriginandlineofderivationoftheAmericanpropertiedbusinesscommunityanditscanonsofrightandhonestliving。
Itisacommonsayingthatthemoderntastehasbeenundulycommercializedbytheunremittingattentionnecessarilygiventomattersofpriceandofprofitandlossinanindustrialcommunityorganizedonbusinessprinciples;thatpecuniarystandardsofexcellencearehabituallyacceptedandappliedwithunduefreedomandfinality。Butwhatisscarcelyappreciatedatitsfullvalueisthefactthatthesepecuniarystandardsofmeritandefficiencyarehabituallyappliedtomenaswellastothings,andwithlittlelessfreedomandfinality。Themanwhoapplieshimselfundeviatinglytopecuniaryaffairswithaviewtohisowngain,andwhoishabituallyandcautiouslyalerttothemainchance,isnotonlyesteemedforandinrespectofhispecuniarysuccess,butheisalsohabituallyratedhighatlarge,asaparticularlywiseandsaneperson。Heisdeferredtoasbeingwiseandsanenotonlyinpecuniarymattersbutalsoinanyothermattersonwhichhemayexpressanopinion。
Averyfewgenerationsago,beforethepresentpecuniaryeraofcivilizationhadmadesuchheadway,andbeforethecommonmaninthesecivilizedcommunitieshadlostthefearofGod,thelikewide—sweepingandobsequiousvenerationanddeferencewasgiventotheclergyandtheiropinions;forthechurchmenwerethen,inthepopularapprehension,proficientinallthosemattersthatwereofmostsubstantialinteresttothecommonmanofthattime。
Indeed,thesalvationofmen’ssoulswasthenamatterofasgraveanduntiringsolicitudeastheircommercialsolvencyhasnowbecome。Andthetrainedefficiencyofthesuccessfulclergymanofthattimefortheconductofspiritualandecclesiasticalaffairslenthimaprestigewithhisfellowmensuchastogivehisopinions,decisionsandpreconceptionsgreatandunquestionedweightintemporalmattersaswell;hewasthenacceptedasthetypeofwise,saneandbenevolenthumanity,inhisownesteemaswellasintheesteemofhisfellows。Inlikemanneralso,inothertimesandunderotherculturalconditionsthefighting—manhasheldthefirstplaceinmen’sesteemandhasbeendeferredtoinmattersthatconcernedhistradeandinmattersthatdidnot。
Now,inthathardandfastbodyofaphoristicwisdomthatcommandsthefaithofthebusinesscommunitythereiscomprisedtheconvictionthatlearningisofnouseinbusiness。Thisconvictionis,further,backedupandcolouredwiththetenet,heldsomewhatdoubtfully,butalso,andtherefore,somewhatdoggedly,bythecommonrunofbusinessmen,thatwhatisofnouseinbusinessisnotworthwhile。Morethanoneofthegreaterbusinessmenhavespoken,advisedlyandwithemphasis,totheeffectthatthehigherlearningisratherahindrancethanahelptoanyaspirantforbusinesssuccess;(4*)moreparticularlytoanymanwhoselotiscastinthefieldofbusinessenterpriseofamiddlingscaleandcommonplacecircumstances。Andnotoriously,thelikeviewofthematterprevailsthroughoutthebusinesscommunityatlarge。Whatthesemenarelikelytohaveinmindinpassingthisverdict,asshownbyvariousexpressionsonthishead,isnotsomuchthehigherlearninginthepropersense,butratherthatslightpreliminarymodicumthatistobefoundembodiedinthecurriculumofthecolleges,——forthecommonrunofbusinessmenarenotsufficientlyconversantwiththesematterstoknowthedifference,orthatthereisadifference,betweenthecollegeandtheuniversity。Theyarebusywithotherthings。
Itistrue,menwhoseconstructionofthefactsiscolouredbytheirwishtocommendtheschoolstothegoodwillofthebusinesscommunityprofesstofindgroundforthebeliefthatuniversitytraining,orratherthetrainingoftheundergraduateschool,givesaddedfitnessforabusinesscareer,particularlyforthelargerbusinessenterprise。Buttheycommonlyspeakapologeticallyandofferextenuatingconsiderations,suchasvirtuallytoconcedethecase,atthesametimethattheyareverypronetoevadetheissuebydwellingonaccessoryandsubsidiaryconsiderationsthatdonotsubstantiallytouchthequestionoftrainedcapacityfortheconductofbusinessaffairs。(5*)Theapologistscommonlyshiftfromtheundebatablegroundofthehigherlearningasrelatedtobusinesssuccess,tothemoredefensiblegroundoftheundergraduatecurriculum,consideredasintroductorytothosesocialamenitiesthatdevolveonthesuccessfulmanofbusiness;andinsofarastheyconfinethemselvestothetopicofeducationandbusinesstheycommonlyspendtheireffortsinarguingforthebusinessutilityofthetrainingaffordedbytheprofessionalandtechnicalschools,includedwithintheuniversitycorporationorotherwise。Thereisgroundfortheircontentioninsofaras\"universitytraining\"is(bysubreption)takentomeantraininginthose\"practical\"
branchesofknowledge(Law,Politics,Accountancy,etc。)thathaveaplacewithintheuniversityprecinctsonlybyforceofanon—sequitur。Andthespokesmenfortheseviewsarecommonlyalso,andsignificantly,eagertomakegoodtheircontentionbyadvocatingtheintroductionofanincreasedproportionofthese\"practical\"subjectsintothescheduleofinstruction。
Thefactsarenotoriousandleavelittleroomforcavilonthemeritsofthecase。ParticularlyistheawardofthefactsunequivocalinAmerica,——thenativegroundoftheself—madebusinessman,andatthesametimethemostadmirablythorough—pacedbusinesscommunityextant。TheAmericanbusinesscommunityiswellenoughasitis,withoutthehigherlearning,anditisfullysensiblethatthehigherlearningisnotabusinessproposition。
Butagoodruleworksbothways。Ifscholarlyandscientifictraining,suchasmaywithoutshamebeincludedunderthecaptionofthehigherlearning,unfitsmenforbusinessefficiency,thenthetrainingthatcomesofexperienceinbusinessmustalsobeheldtounfitmenforscholarlyandscientificpursuits,andevenmorepronouncedlyforthesurveillanceofsuchpursuits。Thecircumstantialevidenceforthelatterpropositionisneitherlessabundantnorlessunequivocalthanfortheformer。Ifthehigherlearningisincompatiblewithbusinessshrewdness,businessenterpriseis,bythesametoken,incompatiblewiththespiritofthehigherlearning。Indeed,withintheordinaryrangeoflawfuloccupationsthesetwolinesofendeavour,andtheanimusthatbelongstoeach,areaswidelyoutoftouchasmaybe。Theyarethetwoextremetermsofthemodernculturalscheme;
althoughatthesametimeeachisintrinsicandindispensabletotheschemeofmoderncivilizationasitruns。Withtheexcisionorseriouscripplingofeither,WesternCivilizationwouldsufferadislocationamountingtoarevolutionarychange。
Ontheotherhand,thehigherlearningandthespiritofscientificinquiryhavemuchincommonwithmodernindustryanditstechnologicaldiscipline。Moreparticularlyisthereaclosebondofsympathyandrelationshipbetweenthespiritofscientificinquiryandthehabitofmindenforcedbythemechanicalindustriesofthemodernkind。Inbothoftheselinesofactivitymenareoccupiedwithimpersonalfactsanddealwiththeminamatter—of—factway。Inboth,asfarasmaybe,thepersonalequationissoughttobeeliminated,discountedandavoided,soastoleavenochancefordiscrepanciesduetopersonalinfirmityorpredilection。Butitisonlyonitsmechanicalsidethattheindustrialorganizationsocomesintouchwithmodernscienceandthepursuitofmatter—of—factknowledge;anditisonlyinsofarastheirhabitsofthoughtareshapedbythedisciplineofthemechanicalindustriesthatthereisinducedintheindustrialpopulationthesamebentasgoestofurtherortoappreciatetheworkofmodernscience。Butitwouldbequitenugatorytosuggestthatthegoverningboardsoftheuniversitiesshouldbemadeupof,orshouldcomprise,impecunioustechnologistsandengineers。
Thereisnosimilarbondofconsanguinitybetweenthebusinessoccupationsandthescientificspirit;exceptsofarasregardsthoseclericalandsubalternemploymentsthatliewhollywithinthemechanicalroutineofbusinesstraffic;andevenasregardstheseemploymentsandthepersonssooccupieditis,atthemost,doubtfulwhethertheirtrainingdoesnotafterallpartakemoreofthatastuteandinvidiouscharacterofcunningthatbelongstotheconductofbusinessaffairsthanofthedispassionateanimusofscientificinquiry。
Theseextenuatingconsiderationsdonottouchthecaseofthatbodyofbusinessmen,inthepropersenseoftheterm,fromwhichthemembershipofthegoverningboardsisdrawn。Theprinciplesthatrulebusinessenterpriseofthatlargerandpecuniarilyeffectualsortareamatterofusage,appraisement,contractualarrangementandstrategicmanoeuvres。Theyaretheprinciplesofagameofcompetitiveguessingandpecuniarycoercion,agamecarriedonwhollywithinthelimitsofthepersonalequation,anddependingforitsmovementandeffectonpersonaldiscrepanciesofjudgment。Sciencehastodowiththeopaquelyveracioussequenceofcauseandeffect,anditdealswiththefactsofthissequencewithoutmentalreservationorulteriorpurposesofexpediency。Businessenterpriseproceedsonulteriorpurposesandcalculationsofexpediency;itdependsonshrewdexpedientsandlivesonthemarginoferror,onthefluctuatingmarginofhumanmiscalculation。Thetraininggivenbythesetwolinesofendeavour——scienceandbusiness——iswhollydivergent;withthenotoriousresultthatforthepurposesofbusinessenterprisethescientistsarethemostignorant,gullibleandincompetentclassinthecommunity。Theyarenotonlypassivelyoutoftouchwiththebusinessspirit,outoftrainingbyneglect,buttheyarealsopositivelytrainedoutofthehabitofmindindispensabletobusinessenterprise。Theconverseistrueofthemenofbusinessaffairs。(6*)
Plato’sclassicschemeoffolly,whichwouldhavethephilosopherstakeoverthemanagementofaffairs,hasbeenturnedonitshead;themenofaffairshavetakenoverthedirectionofthepursuitofknowledge。Toanyonewhowilltakeadispassionatelookatthismodernarrangementitlooksfoolish,ofcourse,——ingeniouslyfoolish;but,also,ofcourse,thereisnohelpforitandnoprospectofitsabatementinthecalculablefuture。
Itisafactofthecurrentstateofthings,groundedintheinstitutionalfabricofChristendom;anditwillavaillittletospeculateonremedialcorrectionsforthisstateofacademicaffairssolongastheinstitutionalgroundofthisperversionremainsintact。Itsinstitutionalgroundisthecurrentsystemofprivateownership。Itclaimstheattentionofstudentsasafeatureofthelatterdayculturalgrowth,asanoutcomeofthepecuniaryorganizationofmodernsociety,anditistobetakenasabase—lineinanyinquiryintothepolicythatcontrolsmodernacademiclifeandwork——justasanyinquiryintothecircumstancesandestablishmentsoflearninginthedaysofscholasticismmusttakeaccountoftheecclesiasticalruleofthattimeasoneofthemaincontrollingfactsinthecase。Thefactisthatbusinessmenholdtheplenarydiscretion,andthatbusinessprinciplesguidethemintheirmanagementoftheaffairsofthehigherlearning;andsuchmustcontinuetobethecasesolongasthecommunity’sworkdaymaterialinterestscontinuetobeorganizedonabasisofbusinessenterprise。Allthisdoesnotpromisewellforthefutureofscienceandscholarshipintheuniversities,butthecurrenteffectsofthismethodofuniversitycontrolaresufficientlypatenttoallacademicmen,——andthewholesituationshouldperhapstroublethemindofnoonewhowillbeatpainstofreehimselffromthe(possiblytransient)preconceptionthat\"theincreaseanddiffusionofknowledgeamongmen\"is,intheend,moretobedesiredthantheacquisitionandexpenditureofrichesbytheastutermeninthecommunity。
ManyofthosewhofancythemselvesconversantwiththecircumstancesofAmericanacademiclifewouldquestiontheviewsetforthabove,andtheywouldparticularlydenythatbusinessprinciplesdoorcanpervadethecorporatemanagementoftheuniversitiesinanythinglikethedegreehereimplied。Theywouldcontendthatwhiletheboardsofcontrolarecommonlygiftedwithallthedisabilitiesdescribed——thatmuchbeingnotopentodispute——yettheseboardsdonot,onthewhole,inpractice,extendtheexerciseoftheirplenarydiscretiontothedirectivecontrolofwhatareproperlyspeakingacademicmatters;thattheyhabituallyconfinetheirworkofdirectorshiptothepecuniaryaffairsofthecorporation;andthatinsofarastheymayattimesinterfereintheuniversity’sscholarlyandscientificwork,theydosointheircapacityasmenofculture,notasmenofpropertyorofenterprise。Thislatterwouldalsobetheviewtowhichthemenofpropertyontheboardswouldthemselvesparticularlyincline。Soitwillbeheldbythespokesmenofcontentthatvirtuallyfulldiscretioninallmattersofacademicpolicyisdelegatedtotheacademicheadoftheuniversity,fortifiedbytheadviceandconsentoftheseniormembersofhisfaculty;bythefreechoiceofthegoverningboards,inpracticedrawnoutfromunderthecontrolofthesebusinessmeninquestionandplacedinthehandsofthescholars。Andsuch,commonly,isatleastostensiblythecase,inpointofform;moreparticularlyasregardsthoseolderestablishmentsthatareburdenedwithacademictraditionsrunningbackbeyondthedatewhentheirgoverningboardsweretakenoverbythebusinessmen,andmoreparticularlyintherecentpastthanintheimmediatepresentorfortheestablishmentsofamorerecentdate。
Thiscomplaisantviewoverlooksthefactthatmucheffectivesurveillanceoftheacademicworkisexercisedthroughtheboard’scontrolofthebudget。Theacademicstaffcandolittleelsethanwhatthespecificationsofthebudgetprovidefor;
withoutthemeanswithwhichthecorporateincomeshouldsupplythemtheyareashelplessasmightbeexpected。
Imbuedwithanalertsenseofthosetangiblepecuniaryvalueswhichtheyarebyhabitandtemperamentinapositiontoappreciate,asagaciousgoverningboardmay,forinstance,determinetoexpendthegreaterproportionoftheavailableincomeoftheuniversityinimprovinganddecoratingitsrealestate,andtheymaywithbusinesslikethriftsetasideanappreciableproportionoftheremainderforasinkingfundtomeetvaguelyunforeseencontingencies,whiletheacademicstaffremains(notoriously)underpaidandsoscantilyfilledasseriouslytocurtailtheirworkingcapacity。Ortheboardmay,again,ashasalsohappened,takeathriftyresolutionto\"concede\"onlyafraction——saytenorfifteenper—cent——ofthedemandsofthestaffforbooksandsimilarworkingmaterialsforcurrentuse;whilesettingasideagoodshareofthefundsassignedforsuchuse,toaccumulateuntilatsomefuturedatesuchmaterialsmaybepurchasedatmorereasonablepricesthanthosenowruling。Theseillustrationsarenotsuppliedbyfancy。
Thereis,indeed,avisiblereluctanceonthepartofthesebusinesslikeboardstoexpendthecorporation’sincomeforthoseintangible,immaterialusesforwhichtheuniversityisestablished。Theseusesleavenophysical,tangibleresidue,inthewayofdurablegoods,suchaswilljustifytheexpenditureintermsofvendiblepropertyacquired;thereforetheyareprimafacieimbecile,andcorrespondinglydistasteful,tomenwhosehabitualoccupationiswiththeacquisitionofproperty。Byforceofthesamebusinesslikebiastheboardsunavoidablyinclinetoapportionthefundsassignedforcurrentexpensesinsuchawayastofavourthose\"practical\"orquasi—practicallinesofinstructionandacademicpropagandathatarepresumedtoheightenthebusinessacumenofthestudentsortoyieldimmediatereturnsinthewayofacreditablepublicity。
Astothedelegationofpowerstotheacademichead。Thereisalwaysthereservationtobekeptinmind,thattheacademicheadislimitedinhisdiscretionbythespecificationsofthebudget。
Thepermissibledeviationsinthatrespectarecommonlyneitherwidenorofasubstantialcharacter;thoughtheinstancesofauniversitypresidentexercisinglargepowersarealsonotextremelyrare。Butincommonpractice,itistobenoted,theacademicheadisvestedwithsomewhatautocraticpowers,withinthelineseffectuallylaiddowninthebudget;heisineffectresponsibletothegoverningboardalone,andhisresponsibilityinthatdirectionchieflytoucheshisobservanceofthepecuniaryspecificationsofthebudget。
Butitismoretothepointtonotethattheacademicheadcommonlyholdsofficebychoiceofthegoverningboard。Wherethepowerofappointmentliesfreelyinthediscretionofsuchaboard,theboardwillcreateanacademicheadinitsownimage。
Inpointofnotoriousfact,theacademicheadoftheuniversityisselectedchieflyongroundsofhisbusinessqualifications,takingthatexpressioninasomewhatspecialsense。Thereisatpresentanincreasinglybroadandstrenuousinsistenceonsuchqualificationsinthemenselectedasheadsoftheuniversities;
andthecommonsenseofthecommunityatlargebearsoutthepredilectionsofthebusinesslikeboardofcontrolinthisrespect。Thenewincumbentsareselectedprimarilywithaviewtogivethedirectionofacademicpolicyandadministrationmoreofabusinesslikecharacter。Thechoicemaynotalwaysfallonacompetentbusinessman,butthatisnotduetoitsincliningtoofartothesideofscholarship。Itisnotaneasymatterevenforthemostastutebodyofbusinessmentoselectacandidatewhoshallmeasureuptotheirstandardofbusinesslikeefficiencyinafieldofactivitythathassubstantiallynothingincommonwiththatbusinesstrafficinwhichtheirpreconceptionsofefficiencyhavebeenformed。
Inmanycasesthealumnihavemuchtosayinthechoiceofanewacademichead,whetherbycourtesyorbyexpressprovision;
andtheresultsunderthesecircumstancesarenotsubstantiallydifferent。Itfollowsasaninevitableconsequenceofthecurrentstateofpopularsentimentthatthesuccessfulbusinessmenamongthealumniwillhavethedecidingvoice,insofarasthematterrestswiththealumni;forthesuccessfulmenofaffairsassertthemselveswitheasyconfidence,andtheyarelookedupto,inanycommunitywhosestandardsofesteemarebusinessstandards,sothattheirwordcarriesweightbeyondthatofanyotherclassororderofmen。Thecommunityatlarge,oratleastthatportionofthecommunitythathabituallymakesitselfheard,speakstothesameeffectandonthesameground,——viz。,asentimentalconvictionthatpecuniarysuccessisthefinaltestofmanhood。
Businessprinciplesarethesacredarticlesofthesecularcreed,andbusinessmethodsmakeuptheritualofthesecularcult。
Theoneclearnoteofacclaimthatgoesup,fromtheavowedadeptsofcultureandfromthosewithoutthepale,whenanewheadhas,asrecentlybeencalledtooneofthegreateruniversities,isincommendationofhisbusinesscapacity,\"commercialsense,\"executiveability,financieringtact;andtheeffectualcanvassofhisqualificationsdoesnotcommonlyrangemuchoutsideoftheseprimerequisites。Themodicumofscholarshipandscholarlyidealsandinsightconcessivelydeemedindispensableinsuchacaseissomewhatofthenatureofaperquisite,andiseasilyfound。Itisnotrequiredthattheincumbentmeettheprepossessionsofthecontingentoflearnedmeninthecommunityinthisrespect;thechoicedoesnotrestwiththatelement,nordoesitsratification,butratherattheotherendofthescale,withthatextremewingofthelaitythatistakenupwith\"practical,\"thatistosaypecuniary,affairs。
Astotherequirementsofscholarlyorscientificcompetency,aplausiblespeakerwithalargegiftofassurance,abusinesslike\"educator\"orclergyman,someurbanepillarofsociety,someastuteveteranofthescientificdemi—monde,willmeetallreasonablerequirements。Scholarshipisnotbarred,ofcourse,thoughitiscommonlythequasi—scholarshipofthepopularraconteurthatcomesinevidenceinthesepremises;andthefactthattheseincumbentsofexecutiveofficeshowsomuchofscholarlyanimusandattainmentsastheydoisingreatmeasureafortuitouscircumstance。Itis,indeed,asafegeneralizationthatinpointoffacttheaverageofuniversitypresidentsfallshortoftheaverageoftheiracademicstaffinscholarlyorscientificattainments,evenwhenallpersonsemployedasinstructorsarecountedasmembersofthestaff。Itmayalsoberemarkedbythewaythatwhen,asmayhappen,ascholarorscientisttakesofficeasdirectiveheadofauniversity,heiscommonlylosttotherepublicoflearning;hehasineffectpassedfromtheranksoflearningtothoseofbusinessenterprise。
Theupshotofitallshouldbethatwhenandinsofarasabusinesslikegoverningboarddelegatespowerstotheuniversity’sacademichead,itdelegatesthesepowerstooneoftheirownkind,whoissomewhatperemptorilyexpectedtoliveuptotheaspirationsthatanimatetheboard。Whatsuchaman,soplaced,willdowiththepowersandopportunitiesthatsodevolveonhimisadifficultquestionthatcanbeansweredonlyintermsofthecompulsionofthecircumstancesinwhichheisplacedandofthemoralwearandtearthatcomesofarbitrarypowersexercisedinatangleofambiguities。(7*)
NOTES:
1。Aninstanceshowingsomethingofthemeasureandincidenceoffiscalservicerenderedbysuchabusinesslikeboardmaybesuggestive,eventhoughitisscarcelytobetakenasfaithfullyillustratingcurrentpractice,inthattheparticularboardinquestionhasexercisedanuncommonmeasureofsurveillanceoveritsuniversity’specuniaryconcerns。
Auniversitycorporationendowedwithalargeestate(appraisedatsomethingover$30,000,000)hasbeengovernedbyaboardoftheusualform,withplenarydiscretion,establishedonabasisofco—optation。Inpointofpracticaleffect,theboard,orratherthatfractionoftheboardwhichtakesanactiveinterestintheuniversity’saffairs,hasbeenmadeupofagroupoflocalbusinessmenengagedindiversenterprisesofthekindfamiliartomenofrelativelylargemeans,withsomewhatextensiveinterestsofthenatureofbankingandunderwriting,wherelargeextensionsofcreditandthetemporaryuseoflargefundsareofsubstantialconsequence。Bytermsofthecorporatechartertheboardwasrequiredtorendertothegovernorofthestateayearlyreportofallthepecuniaryaffairsoftheuniversity;butnopenaltywasattachedtotheireventualfailuretorendersuchreport,thoughsomelegalremedycoulddoubtlesshavebeenhadondueapplicationbythepartiesininterest,ase。g。,bytheacademicheadoftheuniversity。Nosuchreporthasbeenrendered,however,andnostepsappeartohavebeentakentoprocuresuchareport,oranyequivalentaccounting。Butonpersistenturgingfromthesideofhisfaculty,andaftersomecourteousdelay,theacademicheadpushedaninquiryintothecorporation’sfinancessofarastobringoutfactssomewhattothefollowingeffect:——
Theboard,orthegroupoflocalbusinessmenwhoconstitutedthehabitualworkingmajorityoftheboard,appeartohavekeptafairlycloseandactiveoversightofthecorporatefundsentrustedtothem,andtohaveseentotheirinvestmentanddisposalsomewhatindetail——and,ithasbeensuggested,somewhattotheirownpecuniaryadvantage。Withtheresultthattheinvestmentswerefoundtoyieldacurrentincomeofsomethreepercent。(ratherunderthanover),——inastatewhereinvestmentongoodsecurityintheopenmarketcommonlyyieldedfromsixpercenttoeightpercent。Ofthisincomeapproximatelyone—half(apparentlysomeforty—fivepercent)practicallyaccruedtothepossiblecurrentuseoftheuniversityestablishment。Justwhatdisposalwasmadeoftheremainderisnotaltogetherclear;thoughitislooselypresumedtohavebeenkeptinhandwithaneventualviewtotheerectionandrepairofbuildings。Somethinglikeone—halfofwhatsomadeupthecurrentlydisposableincomewasfurthersetasideinthecharacterofasinkingfund,toaccumulateforfutureuseandtomeetcontingencies;sothatwhateffectuallyaccruedtotheuniversityestablishmentforcurrentusetomeetnecessaryacademicexpenditureswouldamounttosomethinglikeonepercent(orless)onthetotalinvestment。Butofthisfinallydisposablefractionoftheincome,again,anappreciablesumwassetasideasaspecialsinkingfundtoaccumulatefortheeventualuseoftheuniversitylibrary,——which,itmayberemarked,wasinthemeantimeseriouslyhandicappedforwantoffundswithwhichtoprovideforcurrentneeds。Soalsotheacademicestablishmentatlargewasperforcemanagedonabasisofpenuriouseconomy,tothepresentinefficiencyandthelastingdamageoftheuniversity。