South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-22
Universal Military Service Will Make the American
Snob Obsolete, Says Americas Richest Young Man
be True Democrats Says John D. Rockefeller Important ce
on LUe Questions of the Day.

II am most emphatcally in favor of compulsory
military service. I a convert to the idea long
and recent events have strengthened my belief in
desira bity.'
John d. Rockefeller jr. possibly the richest young
n America, the world, is forceful per
sonality and knows how to put his convictions and
opinions and emphatic English. AS faced
him recently his desk in his private office in
lower Broadway, New York. was greatly impressed
by the youthful mutmillonaire's magnetic qualities.
apparently Of clean living, clear thinking
and high purpose. He could well afford TO be on the
golf links the afternoon but he evidently prefers
job.
The views on the live topics of the moment of this
possessor prospective heir enormous wealth
of interest not merely because of his unique POSI-
a nation present long multimilonaires.
but because they the conclusions reached by man
OF 4O-he looks 10 years younger than his age-who
is temperamentally incapable Of making snap judg-
and to his decisions only after careful
examination o upon which they based.
That young Rockefeller" he is still called. despite
the that he is father and
daughter is patriotic and democratic American will
evident whosoever reads what follows:
WIPE OUT CLASS DISTINCTIONS.
"Since my first perusal of the Chamberlain army
bill. have highly approved of that measure contin-
ued John d.. jr. 1T makes practicable the only meth
o which I have any knowledge whereby real de-
mocracy substituted in this country for exist
ing class distinctions"
Caste exists in our country Mr. Rockefeller"
AS nation increases in wealth" he answered, after
a moment of thought social crystaization is bound
10 take place. If there is influence introduced TO
this undesirable tendency. The different
refuse cOalesce unless there is
democracy
And compulsory universal service solves this prob
LEM" I queried
Yes" he answered with emphasis. 81 know Of
better way of putting upon parity of
see, fundamentally there great difference
between given groups of men. Class distinctions
largely of dress of costume. of outward
ing. Let a crowd OF average American worklngmen
appear in public CARRIED by Fifth tailors and
hatters and observer would find it difficult be-
that they their way their country
n as manhood. a
much of that quality among them S among
equal number of rich men I'm not sure, indeed that
the percentage of fundamental virtues would be
largely in favor of the workngmen."
THE BEST CURE THE BIG HEAD"
There's where our Plattsburgh camps are doing a
and splendid work" he presently They
democracy, obliterate artificial lines
put a searchlight upon those who flock them that
makes real manness superiority.
of University of Minnesota said me
summer that Pattsburg a tremendous i'm
preston upon him because of its unique qualities as
a plant in which real democracy was manufactured.
other educational authorities realize that the
ployment by undergraduates of the months from May
November camp and drill would bene-
70 them countless ways the least of which
should be the humiliation OF spirit
bshness that is to be found in of colleges and
universities"
you we're graduate of BROWNE"
YES" answered And Brown learned the
value Of military training. have I'VE sons. I'm en-
deavoring incucae in them the democratic spr
I'm impressing them that the important fac
in their lives is what their father is has,
has not what kind of boys they
If a boy develops tendency toward snobbishness
big head any false pride. place
for a military training the
ment he reaches he'll that all artificial and
Of his life valueless that will
rise fall lose wholly upon his individual
merits
The historic caste distinctions. rendered seemingly
indestructble through centuries OF hardening under
the OF have practically disappeared in Eng
land. said They buried in the trenches
firing line where the costermonger and the peer
OF the realm have taken each others measure as
In the hot Of heroic endeavor. British class
prejudices have gone up in smoke. the founda-
tions a real English democracy have been laid
through the crucial test that makes
manliness OF individual men"
THE SNOB-ONE OF OUR WORST DOMESTIC FOES.
What il. in the end. avoid real warfare?" I
asked.
What have said answered Rockefeller jr does
apply merely 10 the present crisis Whatever may
be the outcome OF declaration we must.
through compulsory universal military service carry
hostilities a hat had
crept into American social system We must de-
caste feeling and undemocratc
the part OF the few toward the many by main
tanning from a military organization that in its
activities shall this country fact
q real democracy.