4
THE HESPERIAN
CURRENT COMMENT.
Now that the election is over, and excitement in college
politics being at a low ebb, why would it not be a wise plan
to agitate athletic sports again? Certainly, if there is any
one thing that is neglected in our college courses, it is a
proper amount of out-door exercise. The executive com
mittcc of the old association are alive and willing to work.
Already they have shown their interest in the matter by
draughting a new constitution. It remains for the student to
say whether or not the association shall be permanent. If all
are willing to work there is no reason why we cannot estab
lish it on a solid foundation. The basement of the armoiy
would serve as a temporary place for practice during the
winter months. If we begin now, by the time field day ar
rives there can be no valid excuse if we fail to make it a
success. Last year things were arranged in a hurry, the con
testants had not had training, the committee neglected to do
'their duty, and yet, in spite of this, a respectable showing
was made. Let us get to work early this year, let us be or
ganized, and each member know his duty, and we will be
able to present a program on field day that will do credit to
the students of the University.
Among the many reforms demanded in this century,
:none is more worthy of attention than the reform needed in
our jury system. There is something wrong about it for it
lias received the condemnation of the best legal minds of the
age. Whether it should be abolished altogether or not is a
difficult problem to solve. If something better can be sub
stituted, then by all means let it be done, but if not let there
be a more stringent law enacted in regard to choosing jurors.
At present men arc supposed to be tried by a jury of their
peers. As a matter of fact, however, many juries have been
assembled in this country in the past year that were unable to
comprehend the import of the arguments produced by the
respective attorneys, and yet they are our peers and we must
be judged by them and receive their verdict. Of course an
appeal is always to be had, but in many cases it costs a great
deal to carry a case to a higher court and many men are
unwilling to attempt any such thing, even though they may
have the law on thair side. We believe the only way to
establish an effective remedy for present evils is to abolish
the jury system altogether and create in its stead a set of
judges. I: is universally admitted that the best way to
obtain justice is in the higher coutts where only judges
preside. There is-no bribery there and there is no likelihood
that there would be any in the lower courts should such a
system be adopted. The abolition of the system might
be followed by a short depression in court circles, but it
would not be lasting. Men would soon learn that educated
judges are better able to give important decisions than
illiterate juries.
The election is over and the fufiled sea of politics has once
again ceased to rage. Everybody seems to be satisfied with
trie Jesuit, although many are surprised and perhaps disap
pointed. In a free republic like ours, where the will of the
majority is law, a defeat is taken plilosopically. Four years
ago the republican party laid down the scepter. The dem
ocrats assumed control of national affairs. The ' policy pur
sued by them was in harmony with the teachings of dem
ocracy. Their stand on the tariff question probably brought
aboUthair'defeat. For the election was a battle.not of men
butbf principles. The republicans won and democtacy will
throw off its mantle and submit without a murmur, Although
the principles of the victorious party arc not in accord with
our own, we sincerely hope the party will legislate in such a
manner that future historians looking back to the anniversary
of the first centennial of the constitution can write a bright
page in American history for the party who steered the old
ship of state across the boundary line into a new ccntury,and
let us hope that the executive administration in the beginning
of this new century may be as firm, as wise and as judicious as
was the first administration after the great experiment of a
people's government had begun. Although the period of
formation has passed and the experiment has more than ful
filled the expectations of the most sanguine of its fathers and
proved to be a grand success, the American people must not
now shut their eyes and rely on the past for guidcancc. The
future demands changes. History proves that what is ac
ceptable to a nation at one time will at a later day be re
jected. Our shores serve as an asylum for the oppressed of
all nations. They bring with them an aversion for law and
order. In a few years, under a free republic, they prostitute
their irccdom and the sinister crests of pnarchy rise all over
our fair land. They heed not the fiat of the courts, but
spicad their nefarious teachings broadcast in every city.
Such a class is in our midst to-day; the laws of the past will
not restrain them. The future law makers must sound' their
death knell and sound it quickly.
SKE TCHES.
When this issue of the Hesperian appears, a number oT
the students will be under the paternal roof giving praise
and thanksgiving to the merciful Providence that has enabled
them to escape for a time, from the dominion of tutors and
profs, the influence of boarding house hash, and the wiles
and snares of the co-eds.
The average student seems to value the Thanksgiving
holidays as much as the Christmas vacation. There is great
enjoyment in meeting cousins, aunts, uncles etc., and infinite
satisfaction in creating a rumpus with the small juveniles.
The regulation meal served up to the students at their
boarding places has been slandered bevond measure. Un-
justly too, I think, or else a student is an indestructible
Deing, proo: against indigestible pie and sole leather steak.
Nevertheless the student when at home, declares that he has
not had a decent meal since school began. With this excuse,
he thinks he is justified in satisfying an appetite that is the
wonder of all observers.
The student returns to school with regret. A week passes
befoie he is reconciled to the commonplace life of this Uni
versity. Usually he gets back into the old manner of livim?.
just as the Christmas vacation begins. Then the student
liurnesaway to repeat the experiences of Thanksgiving time.
"The course of true love never does run smooth."
I suppose that is true. I deny, however, that any personal
experience in that line has been my lot. But several of the
students have become careworn in love experiences.
From my own observation and from what I have heard, a
"kid" brother is the greatest obstacle encountered by a stu
dent in a love experience.
Remember that the kid is not a student.
The brothers of some of the co-eds in this institution must
be prototypes of "Feck's Bad Boy." It is rather cmba'rassing.
when, upon leave taking, you find that the small biothcr has
decamped with your hat. You may not feel embarassed at..
that time. Far down in your soul you may believe that the-