Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-12
ROTARY
BY "The Spectator
In
The New York American.

During the Summer the Rotary
Clubs OF the United States paid d visit
to Europe.
II was a good thing.
Every time an intelligent American
goes to Europe Il does him good: II
does the United States good, and helps
the world along.
Because one Of the principal troubles
Of the world la provincialiam, and
rothing removes that like travel
II was narrowness that allied the
past: II Is iargeness that is the heal
Ing ~ the future.
IT would be a good thing If every
big business In America would send
some Of It's workmen on n trip abroad
every year. To see working con-
ditions In other countries. to know
what is going on not only In Europe,
\ but Ia Australia. South Africa. Japan.
China and India, could but be OF even
greater benefit 70 the people In the
workshop than It is 70 the boss Of the
office.
These Rotarians enjoyed themselves;
| they were feted and dined and enter
/ tanned and interviewed and compli-
mented. Kings greeted them and
Prime Ministers received them.
TO mind fun of old school tra-
ditions this may seem q little curious.
For what Is Rotary7 Only a sort Of
club. different Of course, but after all
with no more political connection than
the Masons or Odd Fellows Why
should they receive such attentions2
Was IL only lark, or did Il have
any world significance?
II had significance.
1t is one of the most illuminating
episodes In recent years.
1t throws q strong side-light on
eenocraey, and gives an interesting
proof Of the trend Of the times.
For the following reason:
More and more the people are COM
ing to consider a government is not
thing that exists for its own sake.
not sort Of siiper-individual intn
which all our separate individual lives
are to be swallowed up, but as an
organization exists only for the pur-
rose Of maintaining order and pro-
noting the voluntary associations Of
the people.
The real progress is made by
churches. trusts, labor unions, so
cieties. lodges. clubs and all sorts OF
voluntary groups. Governments DO
not make progress. Their business is
C keep the peace.
international Rotary Clubs. in
France, in Italy. IN Russia. all over the
world, would do much more to unity
mankind and promote cordial rela-
tons and good understanding be-
tween alien folk. than political and Of
fetal efforts.
And that I'D what the earth needs
The peace Of mankind rests not upon
any sort OF political contrivance, de-
tised by clever politicians IL rests
upon the intelligence and friendly
sentiment Of the people themselves
And it. is also significant that this
great Rotary movement. which has
grown with such rapidity, is no
national affair. 1t does not appeal to
any Chauvinistic passion.
Doubtless patriotic associations have
their use The cry of America First,
or Deutschland Uber Allies. or the ae-
tivities OF the Fascisti in Italy, or the
Sim Fein in Ireland. all express a
certain unity of group which is better
than barbarian individualism.
But no permanent ethic can be built
upon so narrow a base. The great
causes of the future win rest upon
the broad foundation Of Humanity.
And Il is noteworthy that the Ro-
tartan idea goes down TO this bedrock,
In Rotary "a. mans a man for a.
that" whether he be white or black,
brown or yellow, whether he talk
through his nose like a Frenchman.
in his throat like an Englishman or
with his mouth half open Ike a
Middle Western American.
Without any special religious ap-
peal Rotary still makes its drive at
that idea which underlies all great re-
ligions. 1t appeals TO the brotherhood
-of man. the unity Of the race, the
mutual interdependence OF all workers.
And il is pre-eminently workers
union. It does not follow the falacy
of Socialistic movements, and con-
ceive of workers as those who toll with
their hands alone, but it recognizes
that all who work, whether with the
brain or hand. in a managerial or
nenial capacity, whether in produc-
ton, distribution or adjustment, are
equally entitled TO the royal order of
service.
E Long live Rotary And long live
any movement that promotes peace
on earth and good will among men,"
Rotary, thesSalyation Army, Science
and Commerce.. are doing the sub
selling necessary for the coming World
state.