The New York herald., 1921-02-06
Third Prize Goes to Flatbush Lad

suffer always from strikes, lockouts and boy
colts? VIII the combatants themselves,
capital and labor ever be prey to the disad-
vantagess of these industrial weapons? Will
they never come to an agreement, an un-
derstanding?
My answer is: "Yes. these industrial and
social problems may gradually be solved
provided that every American citizen under
takes to educate himself along the lines of
truth n these matters" We must get ,he
facts; we must hear and weigh both sides of
the question; we must effect a real and en-
during understanding between capital and
labor.
The three great factors in present day
education the public schools, the news
papers and experience
From personal acquaintance, not to say
intimacy, with our schools may state that
these institutions are doing invaluable work
in turning out. well trained future American
voters. That the youth of America should
attend the public schools to as high grade
as possible in the shortest time, support
them heartily and gain everything they can
from them in the way of knowledge is a
great obligation incumbent upon them.
Thus will they be able, when grown to face
the world without prejudice, without mis- :
understandings or ignorance of facts. And
thus will they be in a position to help IN
may confront the nation of their day.
How the Press Becomes
A Power for Good
Every one will allow that the press Is
power in shaping public opinion. 1t is only
natural that 1t does, and one can be in
telligent who does not keep abreast of the
times by reading the newspapers. 1t is the
duty of the American citizen, for without
the press we could never maintain the
stability of our Union. 1t is, further, the
duty of the American citizen to read the
right paper in the right way-or. better to
read more than one paper. We must culti-
vate the habit of collecting news reports and
editorial and other comments, of Illuminating
upon them and then forming our own in
dependent opinions.
Finally experience is the greatest teacher,
the greatest factor in education, and hence
the most necessary help of all. No citizen
is fulfilling his duty to his flag who re-
mains on the sidelines and watches the
world busily apply itself to its daily tasks.
We should all participate in the steady
march of progress for experience will teach
us many things about our fellow men that
will lead to the solution of many a social
and industrial problem. When people have
active dealings and intercourse with one an
other they gradually discover their COM
mon interests, and common interests form
the backbone of social harmony.
In addition to all of these obligations which
I have considered it the duty of every Amer
ican citizen to fulfil, in view of present in
dustrial conditions and social unrest there
remains that of public spirit. True public
spirit, while a virtue, Is an absolute neces-
sity for Industrial and social concord It Is
found only among free people, where po-
litical power inheres in the governed. 1t is
A-1 al -
service. II promotes unity of feeling In the
society and fosters universal responsibility.
It is interest in the general welfare Of ones
community.
Americans must be public spirited indi-
vidually IL they are to arrive at a solution
to their industrial problems. The capitalistic
group, the laboring class and the public must
each have the interests of all three at heart,
or an economic equilibrium and social con-
cord will never be established. They must
work together and for each other. They
must aim at friendship and agreement, not
hostility and dissension. And that friend
ship and agreement will be attained only by
a public spirited regard for the general well
fare.
NV idea, then to improve existing indus
trial conditions and to quiet the turbulent
social unrest that manifests itself so often
among our people would place the following
obligations upon every American citizen:
First, the Fastening Of an economic equilib-
rum and social concord by reversion to
normal conditions; second, the speeding up
of the process of the Americanization Of the
immigrant: third. the judicious use Of the
vote to secure able leaders; fourth. the blot
ting out of class prejudice, Ignorance and
misunderstanding by education, and, NTH
and last service to fellow men by being pub
lie spirited.
Above all. let II be incumbent on the Amer
lean citizen never to forget these words OF
the great economist, Adam Smith
"In free countries. where the safety OF
government depends very much upon the
favorable Judgment which the people may
form of its conduct, it must surely be of the
highest Importance that they should not be
disposed to Judge rashly or capriciously con-
cerning It."