Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-04-13

Those who have no pull often en-
counter difficulty in doing it. The
rich man can easily place his son.
But what Of the poor man and the
poor mans sons? They are the ones
who need consideration. They are
the ones to whom a helping hand may
IL can much.
Shall this helping hand be extend
ed? Or shall it be refused?
The whole system-or, rather, lack
of system-in connecting employees
and employers in this country is
reflection at once upon our ingenuity
end our humanity. European nations
have set us an example in this dlrec-
ton. Governmental employment bu-
reaus accomplish valuable work
abroad. Certain municipalities also
render invaluable service in the same
field.
The United States Government can
rot afford long to lag behind.
State administrations can also aid
and, doubtless, will aid more ana
more in future. Already the worker
is receiving some attention. he is
destined to receive more.
The Hearst newspapers have been
advocating cooperation between busl-
ness and educational authorities to
secure desirable positions for the
brightest pupils in each school WHO
AR f FORCED BY CIRCUM-
STANCES TO GO OUT AND EARN
MONEY ON FINISHING THE PRI-
MARY COURSE. Through the efforts
of the Hearst newspapers, the New
York Chamber of Commerce, the Mer-
chants Association and the New
York Board of Education have taken
up the advisability and feasibility OF
placing the most worthy poor boys
unable, for family financial reasons,
to go farther than the public school.
Is that not a good thing to do?
wouldn't you like to know that II
volr son did well at school he would
be offered, on leaving, situation
worth having?
Yet a committee of the New
York Board of Education reports that
to do so lis essentially undemooratic.
Happilv this opinion-of two persons
is not final The larger body is
likely to take a larger view of the
problem.
"Undemocratic" to help a poor lad
to find suitable employment when
thrown into the world!
1t may be "undemocratic" to pay
able bodied men such pittance that
they are compelled to send their boys
and even their girls-into work
shops at a cruelty early age.
1t may be "undemocratic' to have
children of 16, IS and even IA toiling
with their hands instead of having
their young heads attended to by che
educational authorities.
1t may be "undemoCratlc" to have
at this time of day thousands upon
thousands of fathers and mothers in
need of the few dollars that their i'm
mature offspring can earn on enter
ing their teens.
Yes all that may be "undemo-
cratic"
But who that has known poverty,
who that has gone through the ordeal,
of sending their sons and daughters
ont into an inhospitable world, Will
call it "undemocratiC" to make The
patb smoother for the tender feet to
treado Who that knows these bitter
experiences will throw cold water on
plans to find congenial positions for
the brave young bread winners?
"Undemocratic," Faugh!
If democracy means not mutual CO.
operation, If it means not each eX-
tending a friendly hand to all, If 1t
means not brotherliness. II 1t means
not the greatest good to the greatest
number. then what on earth does It
mean?
Call the social conditions that force
boys and girls to assist in the family
support undemocratiC' II you VIII,
but If YOU have these conditions, don't
blink them. don't 90 nothing to rem
edv them. don't sit idly by and see
the Young advetnurers chlVled from
pillar to post as they trudge the
streets in a disheartening search Tor
work.
"Undemocratic" is fl to help them
10 IHu al LBtliAAlb Nh'''N
he rewarded where the environment
will not be poisonous. where the EN-
ployers will regard them as human
beings Of like flesh and blood as
themselves rather than as bits or ma
chinerv TO be worked to the limit?
Had a committee Of the people, had
poor people made the report they
would not have called such efforts
fundamentals.
Ii will be essentially undemocra'-
he" If the educational authorities ana
representative business assoclatloh
refuse to turn their hands to AID tAe
moor. impecunious voyagers when nrst
cast adrift on the rough choppy chill
ly sea OF life
II is unthinkable that the final DC
cision Will call such humane action
"undemocratiC.
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