The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-12-27
TO EDUCATE THE VOTERS TO THINK
IMPORTANT TO RECONSTRUCTION
Insight the Methods Adopted BY the British Governments
Afer-War Pocy-Teaching the People to Think and Act
Themselves.

The following story is taken from
the Seamen's journal:
America has shared her wealth
and has given the lives of her sons,
along with the infinitely greater
sacrifices Of brother-peoples abroad,
in order that the lives Of these
people might be made better and
freer and more secure for self-de-
velopment
1t is unthinkabIe that those who
return from abroad glorified by the
accomplishments of triumphant de-
mocracy shall find their home land
less benefited, for example, than that
of their English comrades by whose
side they fought and sacrificed.
In our home land of America con-
ditions must be made better, "free
institutions" might be made to serve
as they never served before those
who by brain or by brawn toll and
produce.
Work of British Reconstruction
Ministry
The British Government is doing
one thing so significant that it can
not fail to convince our returning
soldiers that the Government itself
is setting the example of how to get
the people to think about conditions
so that they themselves can come
to intelligent definite conclusions as
to what kind of reconstruction they
want
We are indebted to Winston
Churchill for a graphic picture of
the English method. 1t ought to
be widely known among the rank
and file of the American public. In
his latest book, "a Traveller in War
Time Churchill gives glimpse Of
the British Reconstruction Ministry
at work among the people.
From "A Traveller in War Time"
a lecturer is coming down from
London to talk to the wounded in
the amusement hall of the hospital
our hostess informed US. And you
both must come and speak, too The
lecturer has not arrived. But the
lady of the manor seated herself at
the speakers table, singing out
Scotch wits in the audience, for
which she was more than a match,
while the sculptor and l looked on
and grinned.
when at last the lecturer came,
he sat down informally on the table
with one foot hanging in the air and
grinned too, at the bantering but
complimentary introduction. 1t was
then that I discovered for the first
time that he was one Of the best
educational experts in that inter
esting branch of the British Govern
ment, the Department Of Reconstruc-
ton, whose business it is to teach
the conyalescents the elements of
social and political science
This was not to be a lecture, he
told them, but a debate in which
every man must take part. And
his first startling question was this
Why should Mr.. Lloyd George, in
stead of getting five thousand pounds
year for his services as Prime
Minister, receive any more than
common laborcr?'
THE question was a poser The
spreaker folded his hands and beam
ed down at them Now we mustn't
be afraid of him just because he
seems to be intelligent declared the
hostess. This sally was greeted
with spasmodic laughter The pro-
longed silence did not seem in the
least painful to the lecturer, who
thrust his hands into his pocket and
continued to beam. He had learned
how to wait, and at last his patience
was rewarded A middle-aged sol
der with very serious manner
arose hesitatingly, with encouraging
noises from his comrades.
Its not Mr.. Lloyd George I'm
worrying about, sir, he said, all
wants is enough for the missus and
me had trouble to get that
before the war Cries of Hear
Hearn
Why did you have trouble?' in
quired the lecturer, mildly.
"'The wages was too low
"'And why were the wages too
low?'
"'YouVe got me there. I hadn't
thought.
But isn't it your business as
voter to think?' asked the lecturer.
That's why the Government is send
ing me here, to start you thinking,
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