The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1913-11-21

tCopyrb2nt. 1919, cy trc Cntteo
Press)
WASHINGTON. Nov. 2i.--
"prlva,e interests are organ
ixed: therefore, they are pow
erful. Only when the public In
terexs 10 organized will the ST.
premacy Of the common Inter
est be universally recognized"
Thus Margaret Wilson the prcsi-
dents daughter. summed up today
the pivotal point In the movement
for use OF the nations school
houses as social centers. In an Ell
elusive interview accorded TO the
United Press.
Miss Wilson had an opportunity
10 study the operation OF the plan
during a visit to Madison. Wis.
and sees In II closer study by the
people of governmental economics
and political problems.
Schools az Social Centers
The machinery for this organ
ization OF public interest is the
common school system. with every
schOolhouse used as social cen
ter. she said. Every school build.
ing should be made the polling
place OF it's district And then the
voting body in each district should
be- organized into a deliberattve
body for free discussion Of public
questions. II seems 10 be aNiomat-
lc that there should be the same
provision for allsided discussion on
the part OF the citizens before they
vote that there IL for aldermen.
state legislator or any other agents
OF the citizens.
Where, as In Los Angeles, NIL
vaukee. Grand Rapids and other
cities, the school houses are used
as polling places. the plan IL eco
nomical, convenient and helpful TO
the educational service OF the
schools And where as In Wiscon-
ain the state law directs the school
boards TO provide free use OF the
school buildings as voters com
mon council chambers 49, 'parlla-
ments OF the people'-the feasibil-
lty Of the plan has been establish
ed BY two years successful demon
stration.
Should Provide Clerk
mot only should the school
houses be provided free OF
charge, but paid service OF
clerk or civic secretary should
also be furnished. just az this
service is furnished for meet.
inas OF aldermen, legislators
and other subcommittee OF
citizens.
This program OF citizenship or
ganization through the use OF the
schoolhouse social centers Is the
common sense answer to very
many OF our problems
1T f. the first logical step toward
the use OF these buildings az recre-
alton centers--that is q great part
Of the answer to the vice problems
OF cities and rural communities.
Save Campaign Expense
Where the citizens are so or
ganized II will be unnecessary Tor
candidates and parties to hire halls
for political meetings. four'hfths
OF the need for private campaign
contributions will be obyiated, and
four.flfths OF the occasion for pollt
zeal corruption will be removed.
THE school houses should be
used not only for intelligent con
alteration OF local questions, after
tive fashion Of the English town
meetings. but also for the discus
sion OF state and national affairs
and for the calm consideration OF
questions Of international dispute.
BY this means we shall. M PEG
Die. meet these great problems
WOrthily.
This social center problem
should appeal TO the suffragists
and anti.suffraglsts. for whether
they agree that men and women
should stand together At the ballot
box, they must agree that men ana