The Two Towers: Main

he called together a mass meeting of students, faculty, trustees, and alumni--the first in the history of the school--to discuss the serious financial challenge.

Worcester Tech had lost two of its presidents largely because of the frustrations concerned with money raising. Dr. Mendenhall's regime had ended in 1901 with his despairing comment that he could not "perform in the Institute the service of which it stands most in need; that is, an increase in its endowment."

His successor, Dr. Engler, felt the same nagging worry. It was only in perspective that the gains of Dr. Engler's administration were properly evaluated. His personality was unfortunately not so colorful as his accomplishments and prevented people from seeing either. During his years as Tech's president, the enrollment was doubled, the departments were reorganized, two buildings were built, and the power and heating systems revised. Student activities were increased, post-graduate courses were incorporated into the curriculum, and scientific and engineering societies were established on campus, as well as an honor society. It had been Dr. Engler's hope to make Worcester Tech a first-grade professional school.

According to Charles Washburn, "all this progress has been made without disturbance or friction." Nevertheless Dr. Engler was disappointed because he could not raise the money for further dreams. A fellow member of the Worcester Fire Society afterwards wrote sadly, "He came to Worcester as a stranger, gave the City ten years, then left almost as a stranger."

With Dr. Engler's resignation, attention shifted almost immediately to Mayor Logan. He was immensely popular and thought to be the perfect choice for Tech's presidency. Not only was the invitation unanimous from the board, but also from the alumni and students. Mayor Logan had left school when he was ten years old and had had no other academic background. "If he accepts," remarked an editorial in the Worcester newspaper, "it will be an honor never come to man in this country or any other."

At the Alumni dinner in 191 1, which by that time had become an annual tradition, Mayor Logan announced that he could not in good conscience accept the invitation to become president. For the time being, Levi Conant, the oldest member of the faculty, was made acting president.

It was Professor Conant who proposed to be responsible for raising a hundred thousand dollars in the drive for funds. The alumni tackled a similar goal, and Professor Arthur D. Butterfield was loaned by the school to promote the cause among the members of the thirteen alumni associations. Mr. Washburn himself promised $50,000.

On his jaunts across country Professor Butterfield took along a record made by Professor Coombs, Mr. Washburn, Professor Jennings and Professor Gladwin (now very old, but still operating an art studio in Worcester). This record, an embryonic public relations aid, was a subject of much comment. All they did, said

The three things indispensable to a good college, and wanting any one of which, it will certainly fail, possessing all of which, everything besides is but the dust upon the balance, are these: money, wisdom, and good teachers.
      --John S. Woodman, 1868

I think the transition from our present status to that of a strictly professional school could be made in the course of a few years without causing any special commotion. We are in as good a position to make this change as any institution in the country.
      --Edmund A. Engler, 1908

Edmund A. Engler