The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-04

guage) stand in less need Of such ex-
hortation than any other discoverable
sort Of people. The professor believes
that "a goodly proportion Of students
graduate with the idea that the economic
law of supply and demand has some
moral force Right intention Is preex-
istent; the only instruction needed IL
that which enables identification Of the
right objects of concern. Nor do these
considerations apply only to those favor
ties Of fortune who sit four years at the
feet Of q hundred Gamaliels: the COM
mon fruit OF long experience Is distrust
not Of the honesty Of mems motives
but Of their intelligence.
The new voter seldom needs preach
ing from texts Of civic purity; what he
does need is q straight statement Of the
facts Of the war into which he Is
drafted. Sensible folk are cold to sex
hygiene" in the schools because It is an
unwarranted usurpation Of parental au-
tfority, an invasion Of parental duty
not justified by parental abrogation Of
authority and neglect Of duty. The
crusaders should educate the parents,
not the children. The situation as to
induction into practical politics. the
rights and duties Of citizenship. begins
with similar premises but Ii shunted
of onto q track leading to other con.
illusions by new element In the dia-
gram Of forces: the proprietary interest
Of the state In the individual component
parts Of Its corporate substance. The
legitimate interest Of the state in the
personal morals OF its citizens does not
begin until deficiencies are made mani
fest with threat or fact Of danger to
the public welfare: but the electoral
material Is properly the object Of politi-
cal education through governmen entail
agencies because that Ia q state process
OF self-education. In the one case the
interest Is self defensive, in the other
1t Is Of sef-support. The public schools
ought to teach not merely the facts of
civil government" but the facts Of po-
litical operation back Of the civic ma
chinery. party constitution. party is
sues. the conduct Of elections, all the
rights and all the duties Of the voter
and all the arts OF corrupt manipula-
tors Of the machinery Of the polls; the
nature Of conventions. primaries and
election boards. every factor In the
| regulation Of the electoral franchise.
Boys should not be left to learn politi-
cal facts any more than physiological
moral facts from chance instructors
met at random on the streets.
Since this political instruction ap-
parently cannot be had in the public
schools. the next best thing is to have
II done privately in the colleges How
does Prof. Emery do It? Beginning
with the voter, he introduces him to
tho facts Of his business In broad
bearing. then states for him the prob
LENS OF party choice and allegiance OF
independence" He traces the line OF
influence and responsibility between
the voter and his representative, he.
tween the representative and the con.
stituency. and finally between the rep.
resentative and his party. Worthy Of
warmest esteem is the college pro.
lessor who can talk to his boys In thu
practical indicative instead Of the po
tential mood. Of what Is as we'll a.
Of what ought TO be:
I have frequently found that men VIII,
belong to the so-called iaborinw clnss hav,
given more study and thought to thes,
questions than many who consider them
selves much better ntted for their soiu
ton. And Il Ia the very men who hav,
least lived up to their obligations In thi
regard who denouHce most vigorously tn
attitude OF the uneducated masses an,
what they call the trucking " tho poll
,icians to this class of the community.
What every politician knows. II tn,
book should ever be rewritten or tn
lectures repeated much might be game,
by condensing into a paragraph or tw,
the warning against error and intentiona
Misrepresentation in the public print
and substituting for the eliminated mat
ter a hardpan description Of the politica
premises, taking the young voter boldl
into headquarters, giving him a clos
view Of the Boss In his delightfully."- hu
man aspect take him to the engin
room as well as up on the bridge. Lie
him study the election officers rule bool
An appalling amount Of ignorance as I
these practical" details il harmful
hidden. from false shame OF ignorance
Render thanks for an honest word Il
favor OF party allegiance. "Indepcn
denCe" blankets a multitude Of sins
Under pretence of lofty principle
too often demonstrates lack Of princi
pie. To remove the premium on hypoc
risy Prof. Emery would have municipa
and even State elections, where indie
pendence Is at Its best, held separat
from Presidential and Congressions
. elections. College men overemphasiz
, the value of freedom and underestimate
the usefulness Of organization. As
general distinction. independence is ei
sective where matters OF administrator
are at issue and individual executive eff
! cheney the prime deslderatum: part
Ines are most imperative where con
, tinuity Of policy is sought, even to tn
extent OF justifying a vote for Il some
what inferior representative In the part
that stands for the policy advocate,
But. exasperating reticulation. "regu
:. arity" Is the breath OF life to the INA
: chine! Assuredly. voting IL an ar
not science; but investigation OF 9Th
psychology Of leadership" enlighter
the polling booth arbiter OF fates.
Prof. Emery treats impartialy bl
with apparent appreciation OF the ne
fashions in politics. His book will |
serviceable to young men as an Intro
duction to practical politics. not quit
80 practical, perhaps. as It would d
them most good to meet up with In lie,
,ture form before coming to grips wit
:. the reality, giving form rather than ar
swer to the problems Of 81; and 1t vi
s. suggest to the old timer the possbili