Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-19
The Country Home
BY MRS. w. HI. FELTON,
Coaching the Youth in Good Citizen.
shin

Coaching the Youth in Good Citizen
ship
A most illuminating article on
this subject has just reached me,
and l am deeply impressed by its
teachings. 1t is extremely impor-
tant that boys and girls grow into
citizenship with a definite knowl-
counts but little that when they
reach the voting age, they shall
carelessly register. and vote as
Democrats, Republicans, or Prohibi-
tionists or Farmer-Laborites, or
Trade unionists. Our boys and girls
are allowed to grow into woman
hood and manhood without any def
civic righteousness.
Either prejudices or tradition has
ruled their minds. AS rule, they
settle down, into political indiffer-
ence on all public Observation-Disclosures
public clamor, for one side or the
they take sides, following either
prejudice or tradition or both.
AS the writer of this article ex-
planned, the hope of the nation, the
hope Of Democracy" is that par
ents and teachers will continue to
educate the youth in politics., at
home and in school. 1t should no
The responsibility Of citizenship
should be pressed upon them as soon
as they are capable of understanding
the first principles of organization
and government. This will come to
mean to them that youth is prepa--
the profoundest responsibilities of
which is the discharge Of their civic
duties.
The whole matter is fundamental.
1t begins with obedience in the home.
If this is exacted, with proper ex-
planation, it is thus easier for John
and Mary later to understand the
reason for the laws and requirements
of civil authorities. Judges and au-
thorities on prisons affirm that
criminals are mostly men and wom-
en-, who have gone wrong, because
of some lack in their training-some
phase of what might be termed the
Constitutional sense" These men
have never been made to realize that
the state, the school and the church,
all exist as institutions aiming as
the improvement of human society.
Yet, these things can be SO, easily
explained, so that most children can
readily understand their basis
phases.
In a certain western state, where
the initiative and referendum are
parts of the constitution of the
state, there was a great moral is
use at stake. After the election 1t
became known that nearly a mil
lion dollars were spent at the polls
to defeat the issue. A man who had
to do with some of the spending
said: "The price paid for votes was
usually five dollars each"-the poor
devils needed the money and took
it.
1t would seem that the first thing
No ,I,H Ian 10
the sacredness of the franchise. 1t
should not be different to teach this
so that they will never be In seri-
Gus danger of being corrupted.
1t is also a splendid thing for
girls and boys to take part In
school elections and politics. Let
them select their own leaders--cap-
tains Of their teams, of their classes,
Of their clubs. The Roman youth
was allowed to choose among other
things, the profession of politics.
Unfortunately the word has fallen
into ill-repute, or else the profession
has been debased. This training In
the youth of today as necessary
essential of their education-and
applies to both sexes.
1--WE had a big time electing our
class officers" said a ten-year-old
boy at the supper table one eve,
ming "Some wanted Floyd TAFT, ana
others wanted Albert Burns. told
them that Floyd ought to be elected
because he keeps UP with his class,
even if he has to do more work at
home, than any Of the other boys"
That youngster was learning the
fundamentals of citizenship, and
with continuous directions by par
ready for citizenship far beyond a
great mass of our ns,w registered
voters.
This article is SO plain and con-
vincing that desired that our coun-
try home readers should also enjoy
it. You waste your time to try TO
argue with a dyed-in-the-wool Dem
ocrat or Republican. They are "sot
in their ways" and only see the
party side Of any question.
If they could be properly named:
they should be denominated dead
beats" on this republic.
1t was. great and gracious e nerit-
theirs won for us-more than two
centuries ago. The children Of this
American country are more highly
favored than any children on
both of the great continents. With
proper effort and surroundings eV-
cry boy in the United States can
take a chance to be elected presi-
dent.
One of the thing which interest
ed me, in the late Inauguration on
March 4, was the presence of the
fathers Of both president and vice
president at the ceremonies. The
newspapers said that Father Coolidge
stood with his grandsons near
by when the vice president took the
oath of office. With full heart-he
exclaimed, IT am proud of you, my
boy" He had something to be proua
of, to be sure. Also, when President
Harding reached the White House;
it was his pleasure to go around
with his aged father and together
scan the scene, into which the
younger man would spend four years
Of distinguished service to his coun-
try. What either said to the other
was not printed where I could see
it, but words could not describe the
feelings of either father or son-if
they had tried to say it.
Both mothers, if seemed, had pass
ed along into the great hereafter, but
they are gratified also, if the re-
deemed are able to minister to the
comfort of the heirs of Salvation. y
This subject of citizenship is one of
is only righteousness which eXalteth
nation To choose ones masters.
and to govern ones own destines,
is the birthright Of free-born Ameri-
cans. To do it wisely and consIs-
tently is a great privilege.
The women Of America, will, I be-
lieve, give more attention to civic
duties in days to come, and the
mothers of America, I trust, will
teach their boys and girls to be good
and useful voters and citizens.