Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-13
WHAT TO DO
By DR.. Frank Crane
Copyright, 1920

A VERY great and wise man came to
n America His fame was such that all
the nation believed that to follow his
advice in anything would bring success.
SO all the legislatures Of all the states
elected representatives to meet at Washing
ton and ask him what to do.
When they had gathered together he asked
them, What do you want most?"
They answered. "To get rid os crime and
criminals, to stop the social evil, to abolish
our Sums, to clean our states and cities of
poverty"
VERY WE'LL" he replied. at will take
thirty-three years, or one generation, but il
you will faithfully do as L say you will
certainly succeed"
Whereupon there was loud applause and
eXulting; and they sGid "Tell us what to do,
and upon our lives and honor we will most
surely do it,"
Il will tell you week from today" he
responded.
This he said in order that the enthusiasts
who had ideas Of reforming the people might
make their suggestions.
And they came to him post haste all sorts.
Preachers and priests came, saying they
hoped he would so to give more money to
churches and have grand reyivals and get
everybody converted. All kinds Of political
and economical apostles besieged him; single
takers, socialists, anarchists, progressiyes,
and prohibitionists and all had their say.
But upon the set day he arose before the
delegates and said:
"All the plans you have proposed to me
have their good points, but all have fatal
weak spot, which is that they deal with
ADULTS
81 do not propose to bother with them.
They will all be dead anyhow in a few years.
Besides, what you do with one adult crop of
people must be done anew with the next 1t
is a fool way of trying to improve the race.
Hence, go on as you are now doing. It
is the best you know and will last your time.
Sixty years from now when your children
and grandchildren are at the helm Of things,
all your reform programs will fade away
useless.
This is what to do: First, enlarge your
public school system until it provides for the
free education and ECONOMIC SUPPORT
Of all the population under twenty.
Second, to raise money for this cause the
state to be an equal partner in every con-
Germ or with every individual who has a
hundred thousand dollars more; one-haf
the profits Of income to go to the state to
support its children.
Third, so reform your public schools that
the children therein sail be taught HOW
TO LIVE; that is, first Of all moral char
acter, including honesty, cleanliness, the
value Of truth, and Of courage to tell and
live the truth.
''Tran them in politics. Let the schools
be as democratic as the nation. Do not gov
ern the children. Teach them how to gov
ern themselves. Let it be ground into every
girl and boy that it is disgraceful not to take
an active part in the organization of the
ward city state and nation.
Just pay due attention to one generation
of children and it will save you hundred
years labor with adults"
This plan being so simple the delegates
felt their intelligence insulted and said:
"What. And did we come here to be told
about chiIdren?" Also the reformers an4
iDstftTtion- Nh nj dnrc cl,iad ont 11non him
The upshot Of it all was that they seized
the man and threw him into a mad-house.
Copyright, 1924.)