The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-05
READ The PAPERS
Emporia Professor Propounds
Questions ON Days Problems.
United States Foreign Policy
Greek to Average Citizen.

The average American lacks the
mental preparation to answer the
great questions of foreign policy con-
fronting the nation says Professor
partment of the Kansas Normal at
Emporia- Ten questions have been
made out by Professor Myer which he
says are not too difficult for an intel
hgent American to answer after a
weeks reading of the Topeka State
Journal or some other sound news
paper. Mind you says Professor
Myer they will not all be answered
alike, but they should be answered in
teillgentiy. 1 believe, however, that
they will not be answered intelli-
gently
Questions on War.
The questions are: l. Would inter-
Vention in Mexico arouse the animos-
ity of the South American countries?
Z. IL so, now much must we endure
from Mexico before throwing over the
friendship of South America? 8.
Would the arousing of their displeas-
ure destroy our policy of Pan-Ameri
canism; of the Monroe doctrine? 4.
Are these policies of isolation worth
preserving? 5. Might we better ally
with certain European nations such as
England and France? 6. Regardless
OF what we should have done with
Belgium in August, 1914, what should
we do when the war closes? T. Should
we demand guarantee of its neutral
lty2 8. How do the parties stand on
the question of strong foreign policy
as indicated by their speeches and
platforms; by their votes in congress?
g. In dealing with the submarine cues
ton should our first aim be: to keep
the peace, to maintain international
law, to maintain our neutrality or TO
maintain friendly relations with GER
tain powers? 10. With which group
of belligerents has America more in
common?
Professor Myer has recently begun
series of lessons on civic education to
De published in the Normal journal
Teaching" for teachers and superin-
tendents of Kansas.
Educate the Teachers.
''Of the magazines for civic study"
says Professor Myer, perhaps the Lit
erary Digest is best fitted for class use
and it gives all sides of disputed ques-
| lions. The most Notwithstanding
| of the weeklies is unquestionably the
New Republic. No teacher should be
without it. The Independent and Out
| look represent the liberal or progress
| sive viewpoint. The Nation, the con-
sentative, and the Public, moderate
socialism, should also be in the school
library. The teacher should read the
! North American and the Atlantic, not
for news accounts, but for interpreta-
tons.
| Inc indispensable books to which
| the students should have access in
addition to the histories always at
hand are: Bryce's American Common
wealth, still the standard treatise on
American government and institutions;
Beard, American Government and Pol
! itics; Beard, Readings in American
Government and Politics; Reinsch
Readings in American Federal
Government and Readings in
American State Government; Hart,
American Ideals Historically Traced;
Haworth, America in Ferment. This
book contains probably the best re-
view of the vital American problems
which can be found in single volume.
In addition to these, the teacher who
desires to get beneath the surface of
American life and tendencies should
read Herbert Croly, the Promise of
American Life; w. E. Weyl, the New
Democracy; and, for the conservative
view, ]. L. Laughlin, Latter Day Prob
lems.''