The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-10-01
NOT GUNS But KNOWLEDGE.
Evening Telegram.

sumed the European war teaches.
The burden of that advice, is build
big navy, create big standing
army, and be ready to meet the sit
uation which possible German tri-
umph may bring about. There is
the alarming prediction that if Ger
many should become dominant in
Europe, that nation would declare a
trade boycott against England, in
which the United States would be
obliged to join or take the conse-
quences. Here would be the imper-
ative occasion for our big navy and
big standing army.
The warning is not justified either
in fact or reason. Militarism has not
been built up in Europe either as a
defender or conservator of trade; nor
has it been by reason of, nor through
militarism that Germany has attain
ed her enviable position in the prac-
tical arts and in industry and COM
merce. Militarism has been a bur-
den upon these and now is engaged
in their reckless waste and destruc-
ton. 1t would be ridiculous to say
that the present war is for the eX-
tension of trade or the protection of
that industry. For any reason in
which their business was concerned
there was no demand for it among
German merchants and manufactur-
erS.
1t is not so much the purpose here
to discuss the merits or the evils of
big armaments as world policy in
which the United States must or
should participate; but respecting
the bugaboo of a German trade boy
colt there is great deal to be said.
Considering the methods by which
German superiority in commerce and
industry has been attained, to pre-
dict anything of this sort, even as a
possibility, is, to our mind, rather
silly. 1t leaves altogether out of ac-
count the German method of devel-
oping industry and trade, which have
nothing to do with navies and armies
except to sustain the burden of sup
porting them.
The foundation of German achieve
ment in all the practical arts of life
is laid in the German system of edu-
cation. 1t is that system which has
made Germany the greatest CONNER
cial and manufacturing nation in the
world. The German school takes
systematic account Of that sort of
education which will fit the individ-
ual for the work he Is to do. 1t be-
gins with that, continues with it.,
and ends with it. Its chief charac-
teristic is thoroughness, rather than
rapid advancement. 1t does not ne
glect any branch of human know
ledge. Its academic proficiency pro-
duces the most eminent physicians
and the most noted scientists in the
world. The net result of it in this
regard is brilliant and se11iceable
professional achievement that is the
envy of the rest of the world.
But in effect that is only one side
of the German educational system.
That is only the minority. For by
far the greater number of German
children this system provides sys-
tematic teaching and training that
fill the shops, factories and count
ing houses with thoroughly equipped
skillful craftsmen, mechanics and
business men. The result of all this
is the supremacy of German indus
try and trade because these are built
on the solid foundation of national
education. We may depend upon it
that Germany will lely upon this for
the maintenance of that supremacy.
1t has been only few years since
commission of very eminent Ger
mans-professional men, educators,
business men-visited the United
States for the express purpose of in
specting the American school sys-
tenn. Every one remembers that Wis
it, but in may be that every one does
not appreciate the motive of it or is
not familiar with the conclusion to
which it led. 1t was prompted by
German jealousy of German great
ness in industry and trade, and know
ing where that greatness rested, that
German commission was here to find
out if there was such solid rearing
of industry from the schools in
this country as in the ultimate de-
velopment would threaten German
supremacy. Such, in effect, was the
declared purpose. The commission
came, it saw, it reported. In that
report it pointed out the entire alb
sence of Systematic instruction in
craftsmanship" and that in itself
this was sufficient to nullify the nat
ural advantage enjoyed by the Amer
ican people in resources and geog-
raphical position.
1t is not upon guns that we must
rely in future trade competition or
adjustments with Germany or any
other nation.