Evening star., 1923-05-24
president PLEADS
NATION REVERT TO
| AIMS OF FOUNDERS
Says Rededication to Con-
stitution Would Give DOM
mating Interest.
BETTER CITIZENSHIP
BODY OPENS SESSIONS
Noted Speakers Address Inaugural
Meeting of National Ameri-
can Council.

President Harding today pleaded
for a rededication Of the American
people to the aims and purposes OF
their government set forth in the
preamble of the Constitution, in an
address today at the opening session
Of the third annual meeting of the
National American Council in Memo
rial Continental Hall.
Such rededication, the President
said. would furnish to the nation "a
commanding and dominating national
interest" which. he added, had been
lacking since the end Of the world
war.
Need such Interest.
I'VE need to find such a command
ing and dominating interest" he said.
land I believe 1t would be found II
we could contrive means to set be-
fore all the people the full meaning
and implication of that simple state
ment about the aims and purposes of
our government, which is contained
in the preamble of the Constitution.
In that preamble the fathers of the
United States set forth the objective
of this great democracy: We, the
people of the United States. in order
to form a more perfect union, estab-
lish justice, insure domestic tranquil
ity. provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare and Sc
cure the blessings Of liberty to our
selves and our posterity, do ordain
, and establish this Constitution for the
United States Of America
yt,- hyoNt Il 49, IT. 4rg1
organization formed to encourage
better citizenship. through its con-
stituent membership. represents ap-
proximately 20,000,000 OF Americans.
The morning session of the council
was devoted in large part to dis
cussion of what the federal govern
ment, through ite agencies 10 doing
TO promote citizenship. The Speak
ers. besides the President, were Gen.
John ]. Pershing. who discussed THE
Citizen Army; J. ]. Tigert. United
States commissioner of education,
The Federal Council of Citizenship
Training" and DR.. c. r Mann. chair
| man. advisory beard, general staff
THE Community Score Card
Mrs. Cook speaks.
An address of welcome to the coun-
Gil was made by Mrs. Anthony Wayne
Cooke, president general of the
D6OSulcTS Ol tile american TSSNOIU-
tion, in whose hall the meeting was
held. Mrs. Cooke expressed the in
terest which the society she repre-
| sents has in the cause of better citi-
zenship and patriotic effort and
pledged the organization to aid in
the development desired.
The speakers were introduced by
Frank A. vanderlip. president of the
national council. The beautiful hall
of the Daughters of the American
Revolution was filed with the dele
gates representing hundreds OF or
ganiEations
Deplerea Sentiment.
The President deplored the fire.
quency with which 1t is observed
| nowadays that democracy is On
trial" He admitted that many in
stitutions set up to realize the aims
of democracy are on trial. however.
| and that the conduct of many people
who profess devotion to democratic
| institutions Is also on trial.
But all this" he said, may be ad-
| mitted without implying that any i'm
portant part of society is seeking an
alternative to democracy. There is
much questioning of ways and means
mentals II certainly can be said that
never was our country more firmly
committed to the broad ideals and
purposes of democracy, and never
before were so many other countries
| and peoples seeking to establish like
commitments.
Humanity has never faced a more
| complex or difficult situation. and II
is, therefore, of first Importance that,
all Americans be brought to under
stand the underlying puroses Of this
commonwealth.
Duty of Citizens.
'The success of our present plan
of national Defense" said Gen. Per
shing, addressing the council. de-
pends upon the attitudes and char
acteristics of our citizens. The War
Department Is. therefore. of necessity
interested In the quality of our cit
izenship, But because of the manner
in which our government is con-
structed, the War Department can
and should have no active control
or direction of the general education
of citizens. In harmony with our in
! stitutions all training for national
service and all service are voluntary
| and should remain so. Therefore, the
strength OF the nation can be in
creased and its institutions protected
, themselves undertake to accomplish
these ends of their own free will. The
fundamental requirements for such
national strength are sound and
/ healthy minds and bodies, intelligent
| participation in public affairs and a
| determination to support our institu-
tions and to serve for the good OF
| the commonwealth.
lit thus appears that the War De-
partment's activities in education
| consist in showing civilian agencies.
| what the major problems in develop
| ing outstanding citizenship are. and
| in defining those problems specifically
| by means of, the information and data
| that were gathered during the war.
| 1t is our belief that this power OF
| studying the objectiyes of education.
Of recording them accurately and
! then Of devising ways and means of
| 0,Ontinued on Page O. Column n