The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-04-22


rior, in a circular sent to every schoo
community in the United States.
A number of communities have al
ready concluded that a building, II
constant use as reminder of thu
sacrifice made by the soldiers anG
sailors Of the great war, Is more an
propriate and enduring than the con
ventional graveyard monument
There is growing conviction" says
DIR. Henry e. Jackson, author of the
bureaus circular, shat the conven.
tional stone shaft, placed in a grave.
yard among the dead, is not a fitting
memorial to those who died for free.
dom. The suggestion, made both In
France and America, that these me-
MORALS take the form of community
buildings, dedicated to civic and social
uses, is obviously wise and ought to
meet universal approval. On the walls
OF such a building should hang a
bronze tablet containing the names of
each community's martyrs to liberty.
The Roll Of Honor.
| "This type of memorial will guar
antee that no boy who gave his life
for justice and freedom will be forgot
ten. The number of American lives
lost in this war is very small in COM
parison to those lost in the Civil war.
If a community lost only three or four,
1t might not think it worth while to
build monument. But community
building is needed entirely apart from
its memorial purpose. The chief ad.
vantage of this type of memorial, how
ever, is not that it is economical, but
that it keeps green an inspiring men,
ory, and it seeks to put into operation,
through its civic and social activities,
the ideals for which our boys fought
in France.
Funds for this purpose could be
raised more easily if they were raised
In the form of Liberty bonds during
the fifth loan, which is to come in the
spring. The bonds can be used as
money when the time comes to build.
Thus a community can serve itself,
while, at the same time, it is rendering
national service. BY this method
more money for the government could
be raised than by any other. Not only
would many individuals gladly contrib
ute an extra bond or two for the bene-
mt OF their local community, but many
who are unable to do this could pool
their small gifts and contribute to a
bond. Likewise, entertainments and
social activities can be utilized to raise
money for the same purpose. Oppor-
tunity should be given for as many as
possible to have part in the enter
prise. For men to contribute outright
few Liberty bonds to a local COM
munity cause will help to dispel the
deiusion that man is doing anything
especially generous when he puts his
money into an investment which offers
the best security in the world and a
fair rate of interest. To couple the
fifth loan with free gifts and soldiers,
memorials will make 1t in a real sense
Victory loan. It will be much more
than this. 1t will be reconstruction
loan.
Should Be the School.
wherever possible this community
"morial building ought to be the pub
lie schoolhouse, in order to prevent
needless waste through duplication.
It Is the logical community center. It |
Is nonpartisan, nonsectarian and nom
exclusive. It is owned and operated
~ all the people and therefore fur
nishes a platform on which all can
meet on terms Of self-respect. The
could be remodeled or en-
areed or replaced by new one. It is
he natural capitol and clubhouse of
very community. In rural districts
mail schools should of course be con.
'olidated in order to eliminate q waste
md secure community large enough
o support the kind Of building here
proposed.
The clubhouse ought to be used
or this purpose wherever possible.
In any place the school officials are
progressive and unawake to their
opportunity, then an Independent
uilding ought to be erected. Institu.
Ions are made for the people, not the
eople for institutions. Let us use
7hatever means are available for our
urpose. But there is no need for any !
to submit to backward
'oking board Of school directors The
chools belong to the people and 1t is I
heir privilege to compel school off, {
lals to be their public servants and
Kecute their will" Z
In his foreword to the bureaus cir r
liar, Commissioner Claxton states r
lat the bureau of education will glad
join with other agencies in stimu- n
ting the erection of memorials of this
md to American soldiers and sailors.