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
5oted Speakers Address Inaugural
Meeting of National Ameri-
can Council.

Cdu COuuCll.
President Harding today pleaded
for a rededication Of the American
people 10 the aims and purposes of
their government set forth in the
reamble 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,
"and ] believe it would be found IL
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 Constitutions
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 postcrity. do ordaln
a fah c
United States Of America.
The National American Council. an
organiZa ton formed to encourage
better citizenship. through its con-
6tituent membership. represents ap-
proximately 2O,000,000 OF Americans.
The morning session of the council
was devoted in large part to dis
cussion of what the federal govern
meEt, through its agencies IS DONG
70 rIomote -itizeaehip. The speak
ers, besides the President. were Gen.
John ]. Pershing. who discussed The
Citizen Army; ]. ]. Tigert, United
States commissioner of education.
The Federal Council Of Citizenship
Training" and DR.. c. r. Mann. chair
man. advisory board. general staff.
The Community Score Card
Mrs. Cook Speaks.
An address of welcome 70 the coun-
Gil was made by Mrs. Anthony Wayne
Cooke, president general of the
Daughters of the American Reyolu-
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 cit-
zenship and patriotic effort and
pledged the organization to aid in
the development desired.
The speakers were introduced by
Frank A Vanderbilt president of the
national council The beautiful han
of the Daughters of the American
Revolution was filled with the dele
gates representing hundreds of or
ganizations.
Deplores Sentiment.
The President deplored the ire
quency with which it 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
poftdiI part ca society Is seeking an
alternative to democracy. There is
much questioning of ways and means
and institutions. but as to the fuuds-N
mentais it 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 more
90 NlH.xv I
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 Y, 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
x
creased and It's institutions protected
and developed only as the citizens
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
determination to support our institu-
tions and to serve for the good of
the commonwealth.
'It 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
thai. were gathered during the war.
1t is our belief that this power of
studying the objectives of education.
of recording them accurately and
then of devisinG ways and means of
achieving them in practice is of major
usefulness to the country's educa-
tional system"
Power of Voters.
THE methods now provided for op-
Grating the government will work
perfectly if the people will use them
declared DIR. C. r. Mann. chairman OF
the civilian advisory board to the
general staff of the War Depart
ment. THE unsound agitation of
radicals, the grating political ring.
the accomplishment OF the advances
needed hr each co-G;.unitE can he