The Glenwood post., 1923-06-14
uade Ted's Bed Time Stories
Current Events for the Children
and Grown-ups, Too
BETTER CITIZENSHIP


81 heard Uncle Ted say that if all
the people of this country would read
the beginning of the Constitution they
would be better citizens" said Jack.
"That isn't the beginning; it is
called the Preamble said Freddie.
"Well, whatever it is called, that IS
it anyway" saio Jack.
Suppose l read it to you and then
you will know what 1 mean,o sug.
gested Uncle Ted, joining in the dis
cussion.
"This is mighty good time to tell
you of recent speech of President
Harding on this subject. With Flag
day SO near we might as well freshen
our memories on our duties as citizens
and future citizens. The preamble to
the Constitution reads as follows:
"'We, the people of the Unit
ed States, in order to form a more
perfect Union, establish justice,
insure domestic tranquility, pro-
vide for the common defense, pro-
mote the general welfare, and se-
cure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity, do or
dain and establish this Constitu-
tion for the United States Of
America
"Such is the wording of the pre-.
amble quoted by President Harding
the other day when he addressed the
meeting in Washington of the National
American Council, an organization
formed to encourage better citizen
ship through its membership of about
20,000,000 Americans. In this talk
President Harding said that we need
to be re-dedicated to the aims and
purposes set forth in that preamble.
One of the important statements he
made was that he deplored the too
frequent saying of many Americans
that democracy is on trial. For that
matter, we are all on trial in this
world to a certain extent and so are
those principles by which we live.
But think of the years that have
passed while our Constitution, which
is our government, hns successfully
stood the testl
"The trouble with the average citi.
zen today is that he is too easily mis-.
led-led away from that document
that made for him safe country in
which to 1--we. We are all too quick
to criticise those who are running our
government and too slow to help.
Every man and women over 81 in this
country is entitled to a voice in our
government and yet thousands never
take the trouble to vote. How can
we expect our country to progress if
we as citizens do not shoulder our
part of the burden?
"Let me read you some of President
Harding's words and then I will tell
you few interesting things about the
American flag.
Speaking of the preamble to the
Constitution, he said:
There is the complete state.
ment of our nations aspiration,
and a noble aspiration it is There
is the chart of our course. There
Is the inspiration to every effort
to make one and all of us better
citizens
In another place he said:
We will make no mistake if
we confess that the attitudes and
conduct of many people who pro
TESS devotion to democratic insti-
tutions are on trial.
I'm other words, kiddies, it, is not
our democratic government that is on
trial. Those who would change that
government are on trial. Just look at
1t this way. We have a tried govern.
ment that has stood the acid test of
peace, of war, Of good times, and of
bad times. Radical critics of our gov
'rnment offer nothing definite rs a
substitute. The only government near
heir ideas is the government of Rus.
ila, a militaristic and despotic gov.
that is proved failure.
Now, let me tell you something about
he flag.
Nearly year after the Declare.
ION Of Independence, the crosses of