The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-21

What will the young people Of to-
day think about war whom their
time comes 70 hold the reins Of
government! This ID . question to
which some Of the peace societies
are giving special attention.
1t 10 discouraging TO attempt to
alter the traditions Of . ruling gem
eration-the graybeards, and the
firm-jawed. safety-nrst middle
aged men. But the younger gener-
ation-what ideas Of warfare will
it form from its school books and
what will b its Impressions OF the
European war, and the confusing
talk Of peace and preparedness?
Peace advocates hope for great
things from the students Of today.
School books are being discussed
~ . particularly strong influence
for or against war. There Is some
debate as to whether school history
books have not been largely re-
sponsible for mal.ng war seem ro-
mantle. General John F. Organ.
commander Of the Twenty-seventh
division. A. E. F., believes that our
school histories should b. rewrit-
ten
II think" he says. that can
trace my own military career to
Barnes history, with one particu-
larry inspiring picture Of Phil Sher-
idan waving his hat and yelling
Turn, boys, turn! We are going
back!'"
General Organ suggests that
our conception OF patriotism should
be revised. America has peace
heroes aplenty." he says. and their
careers can be made just ~ inspir.
ing IS those OF our warriors
There Is NO question that patri.
otism and fighting have been almos,
synonymous in the minds Of school
children. And the school history
with its anecdotes Of thrilling hand
to-hand encounters, and its pic.
lures of white horses cavortins
about battleflelds, has portrayed
war Is an exciting sport The eco.
nomic results Of conquest and the
pestilence and death side of war.
fare were hurried over BY thu
school historians as being beyont
the childrens grasp. or too de.
pressing.
Modern War Not So Attractive,
Until lately the possible conse.
quences Of presenting the colorfu
side Of war have not seemed so ser.
ious. War had not been made ef
ficient, Wholesale slaughter. Blu
with the last war the galloping hert
was dismounted BY efficiency *
perts and made a cog in an enor
nous machine. Science produced
more ways Of killing and maimin,
men than Caesar or Napoleon eve
dreamed of. And for future war,
we have the prospect Of Lewisit,
gas, invisible, odorless, but 90 dead
ly that a single air raid would con
sumo a city. General Tasker H
Bliss is responsible for the state
ment that an air raid with this gal
would have wiped out the Who'll,
hrst American army Of 1850, 00|
men.
Decidedly, war isn't what It uset
to be. It is small wonder that peac,
advocates are suggesting that tn,
grammar school historians play vi
Ben Franklin, Columbus, Henri,
Ford and other famous folk who's
claims to fame do not rest on thei
fighting abilities.
Farther along in the school sys
tenn the student gets economics an
he may learn something Of how an
why the people Of nation pay 70
great social disturbances. He ma
learn that wars Of conquest are al
ranged by men in power and tough
and paid for by the everyday cit
zens. But the little grammar schoe
history book, with its dashin
heroes in uniform may have colore
, the whole life Of the boy by tina
, time.
1t is in the colleges that yout
begins to form conscious opinion
about the ethics and necessity fo
. warfare. In this country there ha
, been no striking outburst Of yout
, since the war comparable to that