The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-08-15
CRACKER=BA.RREl
FORUM DEC[AREb|
World I'D PANACEt
Aims Of Institute Of Polite
Discussed by Or. Harry
) A. Garfield.
By EDWARD Nj. THlEREys

BY EDWARD Nj. THlERRys1
wILIAMSToWN. Mass. Ara|
11.-A revival of the village SO
forur.~is the remedy Dr. Harm
Garfield suggests for political all
econcmic ills of cities. states AMI
: pations-and the world
Real public opinion that had
| wisdom and influence. Garfield
says, grew out of old-time gathsE
! ings around the stove in the corn:
ser store. where men sat about on
tracker-barrels. smoking aud talk.
| ing.
This. he said in an interview with
\NEA5 Service describing the Sain1
/: OF the Institute of Politics noa
session here has become a lo5
81 Garfield. president Of wiasA
| College, wartime federal fuasH
ministrator aud son of foSfnss
PRESIDENT of the United States, is
, originator and chairman Of the in.
stitute, now in its second annua,
meeting.
Attending this month are public
lecturers from five foreign coun.
tries: Is distinguished Americans
as leaders ofgroundtables conference
es, ard 800 diplomats, puB1icistj
| college presidents and prbfeVcpr!
| financiers. and army and navy OF
ficers.
Modern Version ~
I'VE need such gatherings
this he says. ito teach z usfS u
think-round-tab1e discussions has
ed on serious study That's wflsl
! thes-oId-time craclSer-barrel talH
were. though the problems We
simpler and called for couterf
ton rather than study. al,
NOWADAYS we do not get togeth1
to talk things over and exchange
/ ideas. When we hold meetings.
town meetings. conventions. lynrltl
onferences-there is alwa sfh Z
shadow of official responsibility
hanging over our heads.
| "Peonle think nothing is BEND
ccornplished unless Resolutions ard
adopted Action they say-we mus
have action. Wei. there Is MOI
/; ing like that in the 1nstituteA
Politics. 81
We're not acting on. Or deetd|
| ing anything as a group We SeaH
| only to get at the facts and teysexI
l CHnUS6A. > OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
And the intimate association
possible during months stay III
small community like WilliansI
town helps atty in the developl
! ment and understanding of indi'
vidua1 vfewpoin ts-
"rt is too bad statesmen canuq
get together in this way--aroii
the stove, figurative1y. in tn eE
1age store. The story of ParisSaD
| Cannes and Genoa and The TX
might have been different ifisSNtnE1t
state smen could have talked things
over without the fear ofEaction.$oI
I resolutions. OF definite thin4 theJ
must put through or face the wrath
of governme nts and constituents
at home.
such resolutions bespeall com
promise. Too often public pfnforj
is based on arguments that sound
well but are supported by weak
facts-weak because the public IS
not well informed "
what we need in ourscity.s5s
tional and world affairs is toHt
more about our problems, fist 3
them with open minds and not Sac3
until we know enough. The OLD
primary ward meetings used to act
comp1ish that, when ward poItlcd
was controlled without corruptionl
Opinion weishtiest
But now the direct method IN
used without previous discusstonI
and too often misrepresentat
and ignorance are behind the#conI
troll. Dropping ballot in the boz
is the least important act of cttt
zenship; more important is VIVA
lies behind it, leading up to IN
opinion the ballot expresses.
Garffe1d@says he hopes the3lH}
tute of Politics-funds for Il
maintenance Of which have V5eeT
supplied by Bernard M. Baruch,
! former chairman OF the War 1ndud
tries Board--wou1d point the EaA
! to similar informal discussions Eo az
ali problems in political and econ
omic life. The Williamstiwn Plan Eal
is to be copied soon in yiennassan
Holland and probably in chicago
TN gatherings like our1 WneLa
action and resolution are fosll1tsysj
" prohibited, somebody is Isuregtsat
say wise words that VIII set OF Ll eIs1I
thinking Garfield says.
That is what weis need-ssIo vi
everybody to think outs the ~ rsooI ron
lien before acting on imporIaln1I\,
matters. Tangible results$mayno1
i besyfsible to the ma ked eye55VzzbI1
lthey are certainly there
i-.1'oos TffhssHj