Evening star., 1916-03-13
REGARDED as Embodiment of
Fundamental Ideals of Am
erican Government.
ADDRESSES MADE BEFORE
ASSEMBLY OF CITIZENS
Commissioner Newman. Representa-
tive Tinkham. DR.. P. P. Claxton
and Others Laud System.

| The community forum as the effec-
tive medium of practical community
service. as the embodiment of funda
| and as the means of vitalizing and eX-
tending education to meet the needs of
our times was the threefold theme of
| the citizens assembly in the Public Lii
| brary, under the auspices of the Grover
Cleveland Community Forum. yester-
day afternoon. The principal speakers
| were District Commissioner Oliver p.
Newman, Representative George Hol-
den Tnkham of Boston and DR.. Philan-
der p Claxton, United States commits
sioner of education.
The organization of community
forums throughout the District said
Commissioner Newman. would be a
tremendous help. on the one hand. to
the Commissioners. and. on the other
to the people. With the systematic or
ganiZation of the men and women OF
the District, which the community
forum makes possible. the dependable
and convenient means is established by
which the desires of the people may be
readily learned by the men in the Dis
trict building. The community forum
is the practical and economical ma
chinery for all sorts of referenda.
Specifies Practical Uses.
Mr.. Newman specified two practical
| uses of the community forum.
The matter of censorship of motion
] pictures" said he. lis constantly being
urged upon our attention. We Commits
| sioners do not feel that the decision
as to pictures suitable for the imma :
ture of the community of Washington
| is matter for the judgment of three
men. but is properly a moral RESPONSE
| bility which should rest with the Or
ganiZed parenthood of the District
With the adult citizenship organized
| and assembling in the schoolhouse
forums. it will be possible to handle
| the censorship of protested films demo-
, cratically and in such way as to EN-
| phasZe the inescapable responsible
| ties of parents.
another important service to all the
| people of the District, employers and
employees alike, which the community
forums can render is in the use of the
schoolhouses as local employment bu-
reaus. Each community forum is to
| have it's responsible executive secre-
tary. AS part of his service this ex-
ecutive may serve as community en-
ployment agent the official through
| whom the jobless man and the manless
job are brought together"
Mr.. Newman commended the method
| provided for in the Johnson bill, b!
| which the recreational, cultural and
| social needs of the communities. nclud-
| ing the youth, may be cared for
| through the action of the adult or
| ganization in each local forum.
Views of Representative Tinkham.
| Representative Tinkham, in his ad-
| dress. said the principle of the John
| son bill was sound and the bill should
be enacted.
THE BILL he said. proposes the
workable establishment Of two of the
| great fundamental ideas of American
| government. 1t secures the means OF
| public assembly and extends the diffu
| sion of education. look upon this
| forum bill a $ applying to modern con
ditions what our forefathers knew was
true and funda damental-the right and
| importance Of citizens assembling from
| time to time 10 discuss the questions
which must re answered by the peo-
| pie if we are 20 carry on this govern
! ment The schoolhouses, owned by the
| people and maintained by the people
| should be at the freest disposal OF
| adults when not actually in use fol
| instruction of the young.
Cites Mexico as Example.