The most striking feature of the military mass meeting held in the Union last night was the serious and sober manner in which the eleven hundred undergraduates who crowded the Living Room received the sound advice of Dean Yeomans and President Lowell. In their two strong speeches the reasons for the University's action in regard to the R. O. T. C. in the present crisis was explained and the men were urged to vindicate that action by steady work through the special examination period as well as by cool and deliberate service after May 7.
Not Days for Talk.
"These days are not days for talk," said Dean Yeomans. "The Faculty has by unanimous consent and with the utmost confidence in you, made every concession to enable you to enter and serve in the cause of the nation. What difference does it make if the Faculty has done this if you do not stand by the Government. We have been criticized for going too far, for giving the students an opportunity to conceal 'slacking' and demoralization. The country is watching how you are standing up, and is asking questions. 'Can you submit to subordination, discipline, and self-control?' You might as well begin to answer these questions now as later."
President Lowell, who spoke after Dean Yeomans, laid stress upon the need of team-play, and the development of morale. "This morale of the army," he said, "depends upon the character of its officers. And character cannot be developed in a moment. It comes through a life of right thinking and right doing, through the exercise of patience and self-control. To accomplish this end, all training is vital. Without training there can be no officers, and the army will be an unready mob to be slaughtered like sheep.
Self-Control Needed.
"The officer must exercise self-control even under the most trying circumstances, even when someone has blundered. There will be a lot of mistakes made; we expect them; they are bound to happen. But when the game begins, do your command as it is given. Back your officer, back your country, back your Government. There must be team play, regardless of whether or not we think the command is the right one or not.
"It is not a pleasure to see you threatened by risk, danger, and sacrifice. But these are stern times, and we must do our duty. We who have known you have complete confidence in you."
The meeting was concluded by "The Star Spangled Bauner," played by the Regimental Band.
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