In his talk before the College Conference last night, President Eliot brought out many interesting and significant facts in relation to Harvard's development and the advance of the whole educational system in America. Of his observations perhaps none was more striking than when he spoke of the rapidity with which western colleges are approaching the high standard of the eastern colleges. For Harvard at this time such a fact has especial significance. We are now in the midst of a discussion, for and against, the reduction of the requirements for the A. B. degree. As we understand it, one of the principal arguments of the opposers of the new plan is that the college should not give way to the professional schools; that Harvard College still has the same function to fulfill which it has always had, and that there are no indications that the college will not be called upon to exercise these functions to its largest extent; in other words, that there is no sign of a falling off in the number of students for the college.

The opponents to this line of reasoning, those who are for the change, would seem to gain a point from President Eliot's observation, if it be accurate. He says that the Western colleges will soon be practically as highly developed as our Eastern colleges; and that, consequently, men will stop coming to the Eastern colleges from the West. The opponents to the proposed reduction at Harvard claim, as we have seen, that such would not be the result. If they are willing to acknowledge so remarkable a growth and future career for our Western colleges, they must draw conclusions diametrically opposed to those of President Eliot. On this one point alone, it ought to prove interesting to study which of the opposing conclusions is the right one.