The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-26
YOUNG PHILOSOPHER
POINTS OUT PITFALLS
BY Ben Mellon.

4
He has no idle hours. He lives in
Moore street, IN the Williamsburg dis
| trict, of New York, attends the boys
high school in the daytime and works
Tat ,9iEhts His views on ,goyernment--
Amsf its<s,stS .ars $50 u ,.,s. 49, 80 '
He believes that the men who
founded America were patriots whose
first thought was independence, appre-
ciates the advantages of education
advantages his father. who was born
in kieff, Russia, could not enjoy
and having battied and won over
ashcan forts, believes in the success
and failure Of individuals by their own
efforts.
Grover Mckinley Isidor was born
in little house in Moore street
He has never been outside of New
York city. He knows nothing about
green fields and out of the way wild
| places that make boy-world worth
while. He has two brothers and a
| sister. all younger. Their perspec-
| tive on life has been held to the Moore
street neighborhood by force Of cir
cumstances. Isidor senior is a tailor.
The family fortunes have been con-
trolled largely by strikes. These
strikes have generally been for fewer
working hours--in twenty-five years
they have been reduced from four
teen hours to eight Shorter work
ing hours and better living condi-
tions are not an issue with the Isdor
family-they are paramount facts.
For ten years the boys high school
has taught history. Latin. mathema-
tics. literature and all kindred subjects
that come within the sphere of
school of that class. There are many
other schools. from the Atlantic to
~ ~
as well but none better.
They must be all missing something
for Isidor. Jr. says, he and many of
the other fellows have been looking
for something but cannot find it.
The boys high school of Williams
! burg, is mentioned, because this Is
primarily an interview with Grover
Mckinley Isidor. an American boy in
doubt who Is a student there.
Say, Lenine is some writer, isn't
he?' was a question shot at me by
this youthful school boy OF ordinary
attain ments
was compelled to confess tina.
did not know much about the writings
Of the famous Bolshevik leader. espec-
tally his latest effort, "A Letter to the
American workingmen."
Are there manv followers of Lenine
in your SCHOOL," | asked.
We'll, great many of the older
boys like him But they have not yet
been able to get control of school
| affairs because with the 'freshies
there are enough against them TO out
vote them in A school election.
guess they arc sgnrins nor. on doing
more work among the younger boys.
They have not bothered much about
| them until the second year and in this
last election. some OF the fellows
though they could swing them because
f! they are better takers than the fell
lows in other parties. You know. the
| bunch that go up to the peoples meet
| ings after school arc pretty smart.
The Red and Black party had a
great platform in the last election and
| they were getting away with it fine
ment that ne had endorsed til guess
( lsidor. Jr,. who then produced a copy
/ Of the great platform which included
! The following outline:
! 81 Each official class to elect one
| representative.
/ - Glass 10 have privilege IF mi
/ tiative. referendum and recall
3 Meetings Of the administrative 10
/ he decided at first gathering OF body
/ - Officers OF A A. Callied actiyi-
-
| The administrative body.
! -. Teachers to elect COMMITTEES to
| represent their interests at meetings
rs Principal TO have power of
I arbitrarily Introducing or changing
I phases of the body"
The printed platform closed with
/ this:
Our candidates are thinkers
speakers. writers and workers, who
can be- trusted TO carry out our plat
| form In letter and in spirit"
DO you belong TO the Red and
! Bfact. party, asked. !.
: NO said fsidof, ~ hho,riSr' \ ~
! long TO any yet. Most OF the fellows
| in the upper classes do though. but
/ ! don't have time 10 go around 10
| their peoples meetings. They are
sure making great progress around
| tho school. You know, no person
! did anything TO stop it when II start
| ed. DR.. Jane has been making lot
| Of speeches lately about America but
| he is not getting any place because he
! started too late. They all listen
quiet and all--hut never sound when
he is through. the mention of George
! Washington or Valley Forge don't
even get single cheer. When it's
| over, they all beat it down around
| the corner and some OF our best
| takers make Soma good strong
speeches Most OF our fellows are well
supplied with pamphlets on Bolshe-
vsm and Socialism. Some of the lead
ers say they will be in all the schools
| before long.
I don't know who to Join vet. but
| they are after me every day. | would
| like to hear some good arguments the
other way before I decide. I can't
| altogether see these birds and /
! don't have any time to read the stun
Who did you vote for in the last
| election ?" I asked,
that is passed around
| ooh, voted for the Red and Black
| ticket-they are all pretty smart and
put up fine arguments" replied Grover
Mckinley Isidor. aged seventeen. and
ambitious. who Is slipping because he
| has no arguments the "other way."
~ ~ a 1...-.- :, n n E ~ . j