Page:The Fraternity and the Undergraduate (1923).pdf/50

 are not numerous. On the other hand there are independents who look upon fraternity men with complete disfavor. They consider them snobs, loafers, and men of generally loose principles. One of our honorary societies prided itself for years that when it came to the election of members no fraternity man ever got by. It was not until a fraternity man came along who was intellectually so undeniably superior to the other available men that the old custom was abandoned. Since that time candidates are considered upon their merits, whether they are fraternity men or not.

When such an attitude of mind exists as I have just mentioned, all sorts of difficulties are likely to arise. Social differences and political factions develop, and independent fraternities whose sole purpose is to fight fraternities not unlike themselves are organized and begin a campaign of opposition which results in the grossest and most exaggerated statements. The few college clubs which I have known, as well as those which I have heard of, that were organized with the determination to fight fraternities, or not to become fraternities, were the most radical of fraternities as soon as they were organized. The fact that they were known by English names rather than by Greek-letters made not the slightest difference. The procedure resembles very much the ordinary poli-