1903-04 Volume 28 No 1–5 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

THE SCROLL. 375EDITORIAL,THE fraternity press is just now much given to the discussionof the problems of extension. As this is ever before usin many phases, it may be profitable to set forth some recentexpressions, in order that our relative position upon thisquestion may be better appreciated. The spirit of theseexpressions is that of conservative favorableness and advocacyof thorough investigation and perfectly fair consideration.In the Beta Theta Pi ior February the editor says:There are two essential factors to be considered in the matter of grantinga charter: First, Is the institution likely to be permanent and to attract- asufficient number of male students eligible for membership? Second, Hasit reached a stage of development at which such material is abundantenough to support a chapter? Of "course, there are larger questions ofpolicy to be considered, but, after all, these are the two essentialfactors. Thefirst factor can readily bfe determined. It is a matter of statistics and needcause little discussion. The second is a matter of opinion, and that is thereason why it is so fiercely debated.To these essential factors must be added a third, namely,will the fraternity, as a whole, be strengthened by the grantingof this application? This is the test insisted upon byour honored P. G. C, in a recent article, and in the insistencewe heartily agree with him. With these three essentialquestions we are quite ready to make a test of any application.It is in our views upon the latter two that we seemoccasionally to differ.AT the AKE convention in November a banquet oratorspoke as follows:AKE has always stood for expansion. She has added laurel afterlaurel to her treasures, but she has never rested on her laurels. She willhave to expand some day, perhaps, not because we are forced by weakness,but because we are not a static body. We will not expand because weare weak, we will not expand because we need strength, but we will expandbecause our ideals demand that we keep the greatest possible position in thecollege world.This suggests pertinently the question whether or not acontinual expansion among well approved institutions newly