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SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXVI. No. 935 



abstract science and professional interests 

 would rob it of the larger share of its possi- 

 bilities. With a vital connection with the 

 mass of people it will be on a basis of serv- 

 ice and growth of marvelous proportions. 

 Secretary Wilson has shown the qualities 

 of largest university administrative sense, 

 in sending his young workers out to the 

 work, wherever found in America or other 

 continents, that they might be "seasoned" 

 for their work in the broadest possible way. 

 No other administrator at any time has 

 built up such a corps of seasoned men, very 

 many of whom have been supplied to uni- 

 versities and experiment stations in this 

 country and abroad. The proposed uni- 

 versity must touch the present problems of 

 the people, else it will become academic and 

 pedantic, and will be attended because its 

 certificates are valued as a matter of fash- 

 ion or family pride. 



The atmosphere of science and art is be- 

 coming more and more vocational and dem- 

 ocratic. While "pure science for science 

 sake ' ' is growing in number of workers and 

 in character, applied science is growing 

 much the more rapidly. There is much of 

 both at Washington, and a national uni- 

 versity should recognize every phase of 

 both. And why should it not especially 

 deal with those phases of science, art and 

 citizenship, which deal with national life 

 and the life of the whole people? A di- 

 vision of labor would place with the uni- 

 versities in the states matters of local con- 

 cern and with the national university mat- 

 ters of interstate, national and interna- 

 tional concern. Such an institution in this 

 greatest of nations might in many ways 

 function as an international institution. 

 And why should it not receive, from private 

 sources, endowments for international 

 functions? Among these could be the 

 creation of commissions, financed under the 

 guidance of the university, to study inter- 



national problems. As examples of these 

 problems, the following are worthy of sug- 

 gestion : 



World-wide atmospheric and weather investiga- 

 tions. 



Studies of the seal and fishes which inhabit the 

 high seas. 



Birds which are international in their habit. 



World area statistics of crop conditions, acre- 

 ages, harvests, stocks in transit and in store 

 and prospective demand; and in connection 

 therewith the international relations of mar- 

 kets which deal in margins on options and 

 futures and thus place the ownership of mar- 

 gins along with crop conditions as factors in 

 determining prices. 



The welfare of labor which periodically crosses 

 international boundaries. 



International relations of currency plans. 



Eugenic factors needing regulation in immigra- 

 tion. 



Other endowments, made by the public 

 or by private parties, might deal with very 

 many interstate matters which can not so 

 well be studied by local universities. Even 

 a general scientific inquiry as to the reap- 

 portionment of functions between the 

 federal and state governments might here 

 be made. A study might be made of all 

 our voluntary economic and fraternal as- 

 sociations. The legal department might 

 properly lead in developing the principles 

 of cooperative law as different from cor- 

 porate law — laws under which coopera- 

 tive forms of production, transportation, 

 distribution, etc., would be encouraged, 

 with a view to the democratization of much 

 business now becoming less democratic 

 under the corporation laws which make 

 for business autocracy. Here vocational 

 education might be studied with a view 

 to broadening out our educational system 

 to produce at once stronger citizens and 

 more efScient producers of wealth and 

 makers of better homes. Our state, na- 

 tional and international judicial system 

 might here be studied with a view to ex- 



