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or by fear of losing。 personal prestige among the ignorant； even
though he has no substantial ground； personal or official； for so
yielding to current prejudice。 Such appears to be the state of
the case in these instances； where the exigencies of university
politics afford no occasion for strategic compromise with the
worldly…wise； which pointedly suggests that the like threadbare
motives of unreflecting imitation and boyish make…believe may
also have unduly much to do with academic policy； even in that
common run of cases that might otherwise have best been explained
as an effect of shrewd strategy； designed to make terms with the
mischievous stupidity of an underbred laity。
But any discussion of motives necessarily has an invidious
air； and so can not but be distasteful。 Yet； since this executive
policy can be explained or understood only as the outcome of
those motives that appeal decisively to the discretionary
officials； it is necessary to pursue the inquiry a degree farther
at this point； even at the cost of such slight odium as may not
be avoided； and at the risk of a certain appearance of dispraise。
It is perhaps needless to say that this question of motivation is
not gone into here except as it may serve to exhibit the run of
the facts。 The run of the facts is not intelligible except in the
light of their meaning as possible motives to the pursuit of that
policy of which they are the outcome。
On the above considerations； it follows that the executive
heads of these competitive universities are a picked body of men；
endowed with a particular bent； such as will dispose them to be
guided by the run of motives indicated。 This will imply that they
are； either by training or by native gift； men of a somewhat
peculiar frame of mind； peculiarly open to the appeal of
parade and ephemeral celebrity； and peculiarly facile in the
choice of means by which to achieve these gaudy distinctions；
peculiarly solicitous of appearances； and peculiarly heedless of
the substance of their performance。 It is not that this
characterization would imply exceptionally great gifts； or
otherwise notable traits of character； they are little else than
an accentuation of the more commonplace frailties of commonplace
men。 As a side light on this spiritual complexion of the typical
academic executive； it may be worth noting that much the same
characterization will apply without abatement to the class of
professional politicians； particularly to that large and
long…lived class of minor politicians who make a living by
keeping well in the public eye and avoiding blame。（4*）
There is； indeed more than a superficial or accidental
resemblance between the typical academic executive and the
professional politician of the familiar and more vacant sort；
both as regards the qualifications requisite for entering on this
career and as regards the conditions of tenure。 Among the genial
make…believe that goes to dignify the executive office is a
dutiful protest； indeed； a somewhat clamorous protest； of
conspicuous self…effacement on the part of the incumbent； to the
effect that the responsibilities of office have come upon him
unsought； if not unawares； which is related to the facts in much
the same manner and degree as the like holds true for the
manoeuvres of those wise politicians that 〃heed the call of duty〃
and so find themselves 〃in the hands of their friends。〃 In point
of fact； here as in political office…seeking； the most active
factor that goes to decide the selection of the eventual
incumbents of office is a tenacious and aggressive
self…selection。 With due； but by no means large； allowance for
exceptions； the incumbents are chosen from among a self…selected
body of candidates； each of whom has； in the common run of cases；
been resolutely in pursuit of such an office for some appreciable
time； and has spent much time and endeavour on fitting himself
for its duties。 Commonly it is only after the aspirant has
achieved a settled reputation for eligibility and a predilection
for the office that he will finally secure an appointment。 The
number of aspirants； and of eligibles； considerably exceeds the
number of such executive offices； very much as is true for the
parallel case of aspirants for political office。
As to the qualifications； in point of character and
attainments； that so go to make eligibility for the executive
office； it is necessary to recall what has been said in an
earlier chapter（5*） on the characteristics of those boards of
control with whom rests the choice in these matters of
appointment。 These boards are made up of well…to…do businessmen；
with a penchant for popular notability。 and the qualifications
necessary to be put in evidence by aspirants for executive office
are such as will convince such a board of their serviceability。
Among the indispensable general qualifications； therefore； will
be a 〃businesslike〃 facility in the management of affairs； an
engaging address and fluent command of language before a popular
audience； and what is called 〃optimism；〃 a serene and voluble
loyalty to the current conventionalities and a conspicuously
profound conviction that all things are working out for good；
except for such untoward details as do not visibly conduce to the
vested advantage of the well…to…do businessmen under the
established law and order。 To secure an appointment to executive
office it is not only necessary to be possessed of these
qualifications； and contrive to put them in evidence； the
aspirant must ordinarily also； to use a colloquialism； be willing
and able to 〃work his passage〃 by adroit negotiation and detail
engagements on points of policy； appointments and administration。
The greater proportion of such aspirants for executive office
work their apprenticeship and manage their campaign of
office…seeking while engaged in some university employment。 To
this end the most likely line of university employment is such as
will comprise a large share of administrative duties； as； e。g。；
the deanships that are latterly receiving much attention in this
behalf； while of the work of instruction the preference should be
given to such undergraduate class…work as will bring the aspirant
in wide contact with the less scholarly element of the student
body； and with those 〃student activities〃 that come favourably
under public observation； and more particularly should one go in
for the quasi…scholarly pursuits of 〃university extension〃； which
will bring the candidate into favourable notice among the
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