Mr. Frothingham's Address.

At a meeting of the Political Club last evening Mr. L. A. Frothingham, '93, of the Massachusetts Legislature, made an address on "Reasons Why an Educated Man Should go into Politics."

In the course of his address Mr. Frothingham gave a sketch of the Charles River Dam question from the time of its first public discussion up to the present. The matter was originally taken up in 1814, but nothing was done in regard to it until 1869, when the Speaker of the House of Representatives appointed a commission to inquire into the advisability of constructing a dam across the Charles River. In spite of strong opposition the commission reported favorably on the subject, but the plan was quickly abandoned. In 1891 Mayor Matthews of Boston was instrumental in the appointment by the Legislature of the Charles River Legislation Commission, which, in conjunction with a committee appointed by the Metropolitan Park Commission and the Board of Health of Boston, recommended that a dam be built for the purpose of keeping the water of the river at a fixed level. The opposition was even stronger than in 1869 and this project also failed. In 1898 the Legislature passed an act authorizing the erection of a dam at a point near St. Mary's street, above Harvard Bridge, but as this was not considered a suitable place the authorities decided not to act, but to await more favorable concessions. The present committee, which was appointed by Governor Crane's Legislature, has reported that the conditions have changed since the Harbor and Land Commissioners made their report, and Mr. Frothingham considers that its recommendations will now be passed by the Legislature, although the actual work cannot be begun until the War Department gives its permission.

Mr. Frothingham finished his address by saying that statecraft offers many attractions to educated men who have the public, rather than their own, welfare in mind.