The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-11-07

States and Great Britain. there has
come to Washington Capt. O. p. Bee
man of London, who In his own coun-
ny Is engaged In an endeavor TO intro
duce into the English schools a course
of instruction on American affairs.
Captain Beeman Is In this country to
tell the people that there never can be
a proper understanding between W
great Enghsh-speaking countries I'm
less the rising generations IN each Ian
are taught something about the other
land and taught 1t without prejudice.
This Englishman is not so much inter
ested in the teaching of British history
In the United States schools as he Is
In the endeavor to try to get the Brit
ish school authorities to teach at least
something of American history in the
homeland schools.
The visiting Englishman has been
received by President Coolidge and hi
has secured expressions of sympathy
for his work from scores of Americans
in official and private life. He has
talked to hundreds of elubwomen in
Boston, New York and Philadelphia.
and is now engaged in talking to the
women of Washington.
1t did not need the words of Captain
Beeman to let Americans who have
spent some time in England know that
the English children are woefully ig-
norant of America, and that the adults
largely are in the same condition OF
'know nothing" 1t was only a few
years ago that the writer of this picked
up in London a history of England In
tended for advanced school use. He
turned TO the period of the American
Revolution and found that the whole
story of the struggle of the colonies for
relief from taxation without represen-
tation and the whole history of the
Revolutionary war were given only
such attention as could be encon-
passed within eight lines of text.
In fact, in this school book there
was nothing about the American Rev
olution except the mere statement that
the colonies had rebelled and finally
had succeeded in securing their inde
pendence of the crown.
Politics and racial prejudice enter
largely into the endeayor TO change
those parts of American school his
tories which deal with the Revolution
airy war, the War of 1872 and with the
general relations Of England 20 the
United States. Scholars who are con-
cerned only with facts say that 1t is
almost impossible under the existing
conditions of racial p%rejudiees in sol
Of the large cities to secure the intro
duction into the schools of histories
containing fair and unprecedented ac-
counts of the War of the American
Revolution and of the subsequent rela-
tions of the two countries.
Hard Jobs for Two Generals.
Maj. Gen. Enoch II. Crowder. Uni
ted States army (retired), is go
Ing back to Havana TO take up
once more his duties as American
minister to Cuba. There are problems
IN Cuba in which fractions factions
are involved. General Crowder's
friends in Washington say that he will
find a solution for the problems. If
he does the administration doubtless
Withhold that he deserves the same
T Kind of appreciation which came to
him for his successful conducting of
rnnu-
Dealings with Cuba come within the
! scope Of the foreign relations of the
United States. Some Americans who
| seemingly have faith in the integrity
of desire and purpose maintain that
the United States, so far as foreign
affairs are concerned, should stand
isolated. Uncle Sam, however, can
not isolate himself from anxieties con
corning the future of Cuba. General
Crowder has a job on his hands and
he knows it. He has had a way of
doing all jobs well. Is Cuba 10 be
the crown of his achievement?
Leonard Wood, governor general of
the Philippines and major general of
the United States army (retired), is
having his troubles with the Little
Brown Brother of William Howard
Taft. The army song used to be, He
may be a brother of William H.
1d1l DuL hC IA / hO DibAiNA VI
mine" Leonard Wood is an. army
man. but nevertheless he entered on
his Philippine duties with the broth
err feeling in his heart. Mayhap it
remains there today and mayha. 1t
doesn't.
Wood Will Do What He Thinks Best.
! The Philippine problem Is a domes-
tic-foreign problem. Americans who
have read the organic act under which
the Philippines are governed say that
from the plain letter of the law the
governor general has beer acting with
in his rights in all that he has at
tempted to do in the Philippines.
Within a day or two Manuel Quezon,
who controls the majority in the Phil
ippine legislature, has declared that
body will pay n@ heed to General
Woods recommendations and that
sit is doubtful if the governor gen
eral will follow the precedent of ad-
dressing that body personally at the
opening session."
Public officials in Washington who
know the Philippine situation and
knew Wood say that if the general
thinks it politically wise to address
the opening session of the legislature
ne will address it ever if every legis-
lator is on the offensive. Wood has Il
Congressional Medal Of Honor for CON
~sDfeuous personal gallantry.