The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-07
T oday Then We'll Sing a New Song. Poison Around the
 World. Round and Flat. We Don't Own
 Ourselves.
 By ARTHUR BRISBANE

I a-----------------------
 The Rev. Robert Watson, Presbr- ferian, says the nation needs a new song, ''The Star spangled Banner and My Country Iris of Thee" do not suit the times. The song must ''rroclaim real democracy and express spirituality"
 Who will offer prize for the song. who will write 1t? Dr. Watson says 1t must have a historical basis, pro- claim our ideals. express our desire for fellowship of all nations. praise peace and its glories and be sat urated with spirituality" That calls for an able song writer.
 Hitherto national songs have been growing over the enemy. bragging about beating him.
 All creatures on this earth share each others misery. This applies 10 human beings and number creatures. Storks make their nests on the roofs of houses in Holland. In far off South Africa grasshoppers are pois- oned by Transvaal farmers.
 No connection there apparently. yet storks in Holland are dying off, van ishing with old traditions. because in winter they go to Africa, eat pois- oned grasshoppers. die of poison and never see Holland again.
 Similarly, dearly beloved. poison 's mental doctrines applied to human beings on the other side of the earth may poison Us.
 President Harding says the right to work must be upheld, which means that union workers must not exclude non-union men.
 The President also says the right to collective bargaining must te maintained. This means that men in unions must be allowed to get to- gether and as unions, discuss work ing conditions with employers.
 When old fashioned school trustees asked the young teacher. DO you teach that the earth is round or flat7" she was uncertain as to their belief, and replied, T teach both round and flat"
 The President. however. may say that when employers hire union men they must deal with them as unions. And at the same time no union must interfere with any man who doesn't want to join the union.
 That sounds reasonable. but If union men did not fight against 1t there would soon be no unions.
 Miss Cora Meredith, actress, 25 years old. tried to drown herself. Don't tell me the usual stuff about how noble it is to live. I have right to kill myself If want to" said she.
 The lady Is mistaken.
 If she had spent 25 years making something useful. machine or pie trre, and if that thing could talk and say. T have 6 right to destroy my- self" the young woman would say, '.No, I made you and fussed over you; it's your duty to go on ex- isting."
 No man or woman owns himself or herself. Each owes all possible ef fort, including patience with life and honest effort as long as life lasts. It's none too cheerful at best Even President Harding was blue in his talk on the Fourth.
 "A thousand years in Thy sight Is but as yesterday"
 That has always been true. and now, thanks to the radio, 10000 square miles for the farmer are no bigger than the palm of your hand. Farmers all over the United States get crop reports. weather reports and other news instantaneously through radio by aid of the govern ment. The man 10 days ride from the post office or railroad knows weather, crops and general news as soon as the operator in the telegraph room. That is real progress.
 The Elks' convention in Atlantic City next week will hear from Mur- ray Hubert, president of the New York city's board of aldermen, the suggestion that each Elks' lodge should buy. equip and maintain u tz T. Ia -rt t--;1 l , for use of all young people. en- couraging them t. engage in athletic and patriotic exercises.
 That work ought to be done and some day will be done adequately by the pubic schools.
 Meanwhile MT. Hulbert's suggestion is excellent and no doubt it would provide a constantly increasing list of candidates for Elk membership. .complete disarmament. Everybody destroy all weapons. all unite to punish any nation that attacks an- other. Nothing will come of that. France couldn't do It. and won't. To the east, looking at her, and wait ing for chance, are Russia and Germany. France will put off the chance as long as she can and keep armed.
 As for this country. we don't know what other nations will do, and our business Is to keep ready for what ever any one of them may do.
 
 m a'
 Huntsville, July 6.-( Specially Mrs,