The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-05

revolutionary tendencies TO those
under his charge. II there is any main
source of Americanism except the
educators of America. what is it? The
other day when Gen. Pershing ad-
dressed 10000 school children in Cen
trail Park. New York. he faced an audi
ence made up OF the sons and daugh-
ters OF all nations. They were in fact
a children's league of nations, and we
all know that IL these foreign born
children become good American Citi-
zens and are filed with the spirit OF
Americanism they will find this citi-
zenship and this spirit in the public
schools.
II it seems a far cry from Harvard
University to the public schools, let
1t be explained that Harvard takes
the lead in American education. II
the salaries of the Harvard faculty
are increased other large universities
will be forced to make similar in
creases. The State universities will
be forced to follow and finally, through
eteaxation, salaries of teachers in the
public schools will be brought up at
least to a humane standard. Once and
for all it should be thoroughly under
stood that with seriously disconnected
teachers from Harvard TO the little
red schoolhouse on the hill we shall
favo Americanism poisoned at It's
source. II you take large river like
the Mississippi and pour poison into
1t the river will be big enough to take
care OF the poison. which will be di-
luted and purified. The real danger
TO the purity OF a stream lies in
poisoning 1t at its source.
American teachers stand DIT the great
divide. Their influence will extend In
one of two directions-toward Ameri-
canism or toward Bolshevism.
AS regards the influence of Har-
ward. Harvard graduates are called
upon for their opinion in answer TO
the following questions: II all the
men on the Boston police force were
graduates of Harvard University do
you think they would have struck?
Do you think they would have sought
to Join the American Federation of
Labor? Do you think they would have
failed to realize the tremendous diff
ference between a laboring man in
private life and an agent Of Govern
ment? When these policemen struck
II was essentially the same as II the
soldiers of the army or the bluejackets
of the navy had mutinied or deserted
their posts. AS American business
men face the problem of the /. w. w.
the radicals and the Bolshevists OF
this country they may indeed wonder
whether South Boston is in Massachu-
sets or In Russia. As they read in
the newspapers OF the machine guns
turned against the, mob they must
come to the conclusion that even the
great stability OF American institu-
tons has at least felt a slight vibra-
ton. What leads Harvard graduates
to believe that II the Boston police
force were Harvard graduates like
themselves they would have remained
on duty? Is the answer not simply
this; Harvard University is tine oldest
the biggest and in some ways the best
bulwark against Bolshevism In the
United States. To maintain, by en-
dowment, that spirit of Harvard which
will enable II to give service In the
future of the same quality that il has
given In the past will be like throwing
a stone into a placid lake and watch
ing the circles as they spread out
almost Infinitely. II will be like
strengthening the handspring. which
will give an impetus to all the rest
Of the machinery OF American educa!
ton.