It was during the next year (1919) while Howard was not recovered from the S. A. T. C., that Wienstien [sic] came to Howard under government pay to conduct the singing in the “camp.”4 He had a magnificent tenor voice, and wore his khaki well. He had worked with Prof. Wesley, also a tenor, in the war camps of the country and together they had us singing lustily.5 We liked it. We sang lots of things: “Long, Long Trail a Winding,” “K-K-Katy,” “Roll Jordan Roll,” and “Gointer Study War No Mo’” among other things but we always ended with “Alma Mater.”6

  After Wienstein left, the singing was continued under Wesley. He used to come out before the faculty on the platform and lead the singing daily. The President would arise with beaming face and ask us to sing our songs for him. He said that Negro music began where “white” music left off. We used to respond cheerfully. Then we would select any song from the book we liked. Hymn 245, “God of Our Fathers,” and 180, “Immortal Love Forever Full,” were our favorites.7 This went on for weeks and weeks. Spring was approaching.

  One day I wrote Dr. Durkee a note and left it on the pulpit as I came into Chapel, asking him to read the 91st Psalm.8 He has a marvelous speaking voice and I could wish nothing better than hearing him read that beautiful piece of prose poetry. He did not read it. I felt snubbed and disappointed, but the next day he began that beautiful one, “The Heavens Declare the Glory of God.”9 The sun shone in mellow tones through the stained windows, tendrils of the ivy vine crept in the open windows and the sparrows chirped incessantly in the midst of their nest building.

  The President knew it perfectly and before he was fairly under way he had his audience on the edge of the seats so that the last tones left us still hanging there. And when we realized that he was really through we sank back tremendously moved.

  Howard was unutterably beautiful to me that spring. I would give a great deal to call back my Howard illusion of those days.

  Every day after that for a month the President read a psalm. It took a long time to reach the 91st, but I did not care. He never looked in the book—I am certain he knows them all by heart. E. H. Sothern in Hamlet has nothing on Dr. Durkee reciting the psalms.10

  I dwell on these seemingly trifling details to give one a picture of Howard before the storm.

  A few days later and the first storm broke. A great number of students but not the entire body of students by any means were holding indignation meetings alleging that they had been forced or commanded by the President to sing “Spirituals.” He was denounced as a despot, a tyrant, who was dragging us back into slavery.

  Though there were spokesmen among the students, various members of the faculty were credited as the real leaders. Among whom were Miss Childers, Mr. Tibbs and Miss Lewis.11 Some said Miss Childers didn’t like the idea of Wesley leading the singing as she used to “raise” all the songs. The papers printed things down in the city and some members of the Senate denounced us as ingrates and accused us of being ashamed of ourselves and our traditions.

  The President held a conference with the students one day after Chapel to find out how he had offended. There were speakers for and against the “Spirituals.” John Miles, now of Yale Divinity School, was one of the “Pro’s,” May Miller and another young lady whose name has slipped me were “Anti’s.”12

  The “Pro’s” made the usual stand: (a) the beauty and workmanship of the songs. (b) Only American folk songs. (c) Only beauty that came out of slavery. The “Anti’s” held: (a) They were low and degrading, being the product of slaves and slavery; (b) not good grammar; (c) they are not sung in white universities.

  The thought that any Negro could or would be ashamed of Negro music, had never occurred to Dr. Durkee I am sure, for he seemed pained that he had unwittingly offended and never since has suggested them.

  After a few days of bluster this affair died down but not before a perceptible rift had been made in the faculty and student group.

  II

  A little later that same year, Senator Smoot arose on the floor of the Senate with a book in hand which he informed the Senators was a highly culpable Bolshevistic volume which he had received from the hands of a Howard student.13 He understood it came from the university library and insinuated that it was in the curriculum. He held forth that a government supported institution that was making bolshevists should be allowed to toddle along without government aid seeing that this was the U. S. and not Red Russia.

  Rumors flew thick and fast among the students as to who had engineered the book into the Senator’s hands. It is to be remembered that Smoot was head of the Appropriation Committee. Durkee hastened down to the Senate Committee room and explained that the book had been given by the Rand School and it was the policy of the university to accept all gifts.14 It was neither taught nor recommended. This satisfied the Senator evidently, for finally the appropriation came through. He was denounced by some on the Hill and some off for having cringed before the Senate.15 He should have informed that body that we could teach what we liked and if the money was withheld we could have the satisfaction of being untrammeled. I even saw a typewritten, unsigned card on the bulletin board on the second floor of The Main Building to the effect: “It is better to lose $250,000 than our manhood.”

  After the smoke had cleared away, a young man known to be socialistic, a close friend of mine, left Howard forever. I saw him recently in New York. He says he has been around the world twice since 1919 but never feels right to go back to any school.

  More than one person was accused of having sent that book to Smoot by the student. Some say that a professor in the law school did it, others that a teacher in the department of history, to embarrass the Administration. Perhaps it will not be known just who, but anyway, Senator Smoot never drew it from the library.

  “The University Luncheonette” run by two law students, Dyett and McGhee, was a place where a great deal of discussion went on, Mr. Dyett being known as the anti-administration man.16

  About this time the “contemptible puppy” rumors began to circulate. Students were beginning to see that there was something wrong somewhere. Some faculty members and the Administration were not so “clubby,” so to speak, as they might be. There were stories flying about the campus that certain members were giving certain trusted students “tips” on faculty meeting doings.

  Dr. Emmett J. Scott had been made secretary-treasurer of the university, succeeding both Cook and Parks in their respective jobs.17 This, some felt, was unjust and muttered that an attempt was being made to “Tuskegeeize” Howard.18 Dr. Scott being the first gun fired. There was no one to whom these rumors could be definitely traced, but the students passing along the complaints always claimed faculty sources. For instance a young lady friend of mine stopped me in the upper corridor of [The] Main Building to tell me that Dr. Durkee should be thrown out. I was astonished and asked her why she thought this.

  “Well,” she said, “he called Kelly Miller a black dog to his face.”19

  “How did you hear it?”

  “A very high member of the faculty—an official told me, and I know he wouldn’t lie.”

  This was the first time I had heard the story, but not the last by any means. I heard it variously repeated. In one story Mr. Miller had been called a “puppy dog”; in another “a black dog,” in another a “contemptible puppy.” From neither of the principals have I ever heard a syllable on this matter, but whether it is true in any part, it had a tremendous effect upon the students—a Negro professor being called out of his name by a white man—no matter what the provocation, if any.

  More and more it came to be that every official act of the faculty must be subject to student scrutiny. In some way or other Z. Alexander Looby, George Brown and Fred Jordan had a pretty thorough knowledge of what went on in the chamber.20 But Mr. Looby was President of the Student Council and perhaps had a chance to know things that way.

  A great many of us took no stock in the hurly-burly feeling that we could not as students act in the capacity of the Administration, but a great number were flattered at these rumored confidences. I discount most of it as being untrue—the figment of persons wishing to enhance their own importance in student eyes by appearing as the confidant of the faculty. One instance I know to be true.

  In political science Mr. Tunnell digressed one day from government in general to government in particular and told the class that Dr. Durkee was a joke; that some one (I forget who) had foisted that fisherman on us and that he was being paid a high salary to raise funds, but he was a failure.21 He then told us the President’s salary was $7,000 per year and his house. He then told us that Emmett J. Scott had been brought on from Tuskegee and paid $5,000 ($4,500 salary, $500 incidentals) to divert the golden stream from that school to Howard but he was a white elephant.

  Of course I was surprised at such confidences but so much was being said here and there on campus that one could expect about anything. It was evident to me now that the faculty (I mean by that term the entire governing-teaching body) was a Spartan youth concealing a fox under its clothes.22

  Then there was the instance of the famous note on the desk of Senator Smoot written by Professor Kelly Miller. It had to do with the appropriation rules. The Administration was making a tremendous fight for the $500,000 for the Medical School. A number of Senators were doing battle for and against it, but a strong group had pledged themselves to see it through. President Coolidge in his message to Congress had urged that it be given [to] Howard.23 Dr. Durkee is a Massachusetts man and his Senators had taken the field openly in his behalf.

  In the midst of this came Prof. Miller’s note to Senator Smoot asking him not to ask for the half million dollars for fear of losing the regular appropriation of $267,000, I think it was, and threw the Administration friends into confusion. The daily press of Washington accused the professor of attempting to embarrass the Administration since the President stated that Miller’s action was unauthorized. I have never seen an authorized version of the affair from Prof. Miller’s pen, and shall therefore suspend judgment until I do. There have been a number of stories pro and con, but so far as open statements are concerned, the affair remains where the press left it.

  There are those who hold that Prof. Miller aspires to the presidency of the university. No one can deny the urge to ascend in humanity. If we do, we preach stagnation. His ability to bring this about, if it is true, and if so rather to his credit than otherwise, what man is satisfied and his fitness for the job is being hotly debated all over the country at present. Some members of the alumnae claim that all that has happened at Howard in the way of disturbances is part of the ladder up which Dean Miller prepares to ascend. The human mind unexpressed being unreadable, all these things pro and con on the subject are still conjectures. Every one who reads or listens knows how often mole hills of trifling incidents are stretched to mountains and given special significance.

  On the other hand there are those who contend that Dr. Durkee is an obstruction in the path of Howard’s progress. This calls attention to the accomplishments of his administration. His bitterest enemy cannot but admit that more has been done for the advancement of the university under him than in all the other administrations put together. The following are excerpts from “Facts,” a pamphlet issued by the university:

  By vote of the Trustees, June 4, 1919, the offices of Secretary and Treasurer were combined, and Dr. Emmett J. Scott elected as Secretary-Treasurer. He began his services July 1, 1919.

  The office of Registrar was created as a separate position, and a Howard alumnus, Dwight O. W. Holmes, was elected to that position, and succeeded by Mr. F. D. Wilkinson, upon the former’s appointment as Dean of the School of Education.24

  Both the offices of Secretary-Treasurer and Registrar have been put by these officers on the most modern administrative basis with extensive rooms on the first floor of The Main Building.

  The office of Dean of Men was created, and to it elected Dr. Edward L. Parks, former Treasurer.

  The office of Dean of Women was created and to it has been elected Miss Lucy D. Slowe, a Howard alumna, formerly principal of the M Street Junior High School of Washington.25 Miss Slowe is completing her first year most successfully.

  For the academic deans has been created a group of offices on the first floor of [The] Main Building, with clerks. The Dean of Men and Dean of Women each also have been given fine offices with clerks.

  There is also a University Council, composed of two members of each school of the university, including both undergraduate and graduate schools. The purpose of this Council is for a better understanding between the schools and for a more united purpose. This Council meets three or four times a year.

  It has long been felt that an Alumni Secretary was necessary to our greatest success. In June, 1921, the Trustees voted as follows:

  “Authority is granted to the President to secure an Alumni Secretary under conditions which will be of best advantage both to the University and to the alumni, paying such salary as shall be needed, money paid not to exceed $1,000 toward the salary of the person employed.”

  Mr. Norman L. McGhee, College ’19, Law ’22, a member of the Secretary-Treasurer’s office force, is temporarily heading up this movement for closer affiliation with our alumni.26

  In February, 1920, the Board of Trustees voted as follows:

  “One Trustee may be elected each year from a number recommended by the Alumni Association of the University, such Trustee to automatically retire at the expiration of his term of office.”

  Since the report of the Committee, no vacancies on the Board have occurred. It is interesting to note that eight Alumni of Howard University are now serving as members of the Board of Trustees.

  Building and Grounds

  New buildings erected: The Greenhouse, erected in 1919, at a cost of $8,000, and the Dining Hall Building with class rooms for the Department of Home Economics, erected in 1921, at a cost of $201,000. Plans are now under way for the new gymnasium and stadium. The General Statement, given below, will show numerous renovations made. Howard Hall, General O. O. Howard’s old home, used for so many years as a detention house for incorrigible children, has been reclaimed, the old outbuildings torn away, and the home restored as a dormitory for girls.27 In The Main Building, a United States post office has been established, thus serving the postal needs of the student body and faculty. In The Main Building, also, has been equipped a Rest Room for girls and also one for women teachers and workers. Both were greatly needed.

  The items in the General Statement “Improvement of Grounds” includes the following: Reclaiming of the bank overlooking the Reservoir, formerly a dump for cans and a place for burning rubbish; trees on the campus have been treated twice; large flower beds of rare beauty have been placed; plaza and front of Thirkeld Hall made beautiful and splendid concrete walks and steps to Sixth Street provided; fence surrounding the lower half of main campus; unsightly plot of ground on Georgia Avenue changed into a beautiful little park with paths crossing and steps leading up to Sixth Street; surroundings of Howard Hall graded and granolithic walks and steps placed; grounds surrounding School of Music beautified; underground electric lighting system installed with posts and globes like those used in the District of Columbia—this latter one of the biggest improvements.

  It also became necessary for the Trustees to appropriate certain amounts out of general funds so as to complete the improvements and repairs mentioned.

  A summary of the amounts spent since July 1, 1919, up to the period ending December 30, 1922:

  Repairs to sundry buildings, including The Main Building, Science Hall, the Chapel, President’s House, Spaulding Hall and various residence properties of the University

  $55,487.34

  Repairs to Clark and Miner Halls, dormitories for young men and young women

  21,625.08

  Improvement of grounds

  15,896.98

  Repairs to Law School Building

  15,530.06

  Improvements, Library Building

  1,388.61

  Repairs to Medical and Dental Schools Buildings

  13,745.46

  Installation New Electric Feeders, thereby making more efficient the heating and lighting facilities of the University

  1,246.20

  Repairs to Boarding Hall, while in basement of Miner Hall

  478.30

  Repairs to Manual Arts Building

  732.56

  $126,130.59

  Curriculum

  At the close of the school year 1918–19, all secondary schools were abolished, leaving a college registration of 1,057. Dire disaster was everywhere prophesied[.] [B]y the following year the college opened with 1,567 college students.

  The whole plan of undergraduate work was changed. The four years’ college course was divided into two periods of two years each—the first two years named the Junior College, and the second, the Senior Schools. A student entering the undergraduate department will take two years of general college subjects leading to his last two years of specialized work in whatever field he may choose, graduating at the end of four years with his degree from that particular school. The College of Liberal Arts cares for all those students who desire four full years of undergraduate non-professional work.

  New courses of study authorized by the Trustees during the present administration:

  Architecture

  Art

  Dramatics

  Public Health and Hygiene

  Reserve Officers’ Training Corps