Evening star., 1924-06-07

Americas responsibility in the work
of Characterization throughout the
world was stressed by President
Coolidge last night in his address
opening the national oratorical con-
test at Memorial Continental Hall.
The substitution of democratic for
autocratic forms has made, in the
brief first quarter of our century, a
measure of progress which is not
yet as fully appreciated perhaps as
it ought to be, but which the future
will recognize as epoch making" de-
clared the President.
Americans in particular cannot but
be impressed with the thought of a
great responsibility which is upon
them, because of their leadership in
this work of characterization" he
continued. His address in full fol-
lows:
SeriOus-Minded Americans.
TT would not be easy to arrange
an occasion more calculated to appeal
strongly to thoughtful and serious
minded Americans than this which
has brought us here this evening. We
have come to hear the last of a series
of many thousands of addresses deal
ing with the Constitution of the
United States, prepared and delivered
by high school students from all
parts of the country. The seven who
will speak tonight are the survivors
of process Of winnowing and elimi-
nation through contests, first in the
individual high schools, then a series
of regional contests among the win
ners in the individual schools: the
whole leading finally to this national
meSting in which the winners of the
primary and secondary competitions
are to present their addresses and
the final prizes are to be awarded by
distin guished judges.
First and last, some thousands Of
competitions preliminary to this for
which we are assembled have been
held. The number of individual stu
dents who have participated. and
through their participation have been
moved to a study of the Constitution
and the beginnings Of constitutional
government, is many times greater.
1t requires little Imagination to be
moved to contemplate the far-reach-
ing significances of such series OF
competitions. 1t represents the most
effective method of enlisting the in
terests of the young men and women
in The study of our governmental in
stitutions. A group of great newSpa-
pefs have devoted enormous publicity
and inspirational effort to make these
contests "a complete success, and back
of these have been many thousands
of educators who have given ehthu-
sf4stic support to the movement, by
training, encouraging and taking un-
selfish pride in the efforts of their
pupils. To all of these is due the
largest measure of recognition for
tdefr contribution TO this splendid
work. Their reward will have to be
chiefly in the satisfaction of having
done something thoroughly useful for
the nation, for the body of their stu
dents and for the perpetration OF
sound government.
Subjected to Scrutiny.
There never was time when our
institutions were so universally be-
ing subjected to intimate scrutiny
and close consideration as they are
today This is true not only of our
own country, but of others In all
pArts of the world Even the young
est Of these young men and women
who are to speak here tonight have
lived through one Of the great epochs
in the evolution of governmental
ideals and methods in this world.
Their studies preparatory to their ap-
pearance here will have impressed
them, as it has all of us, with the
fact that men and women every
where are giving an impressive meas
ur& of attention to the relations of
J'6ople to their governments. The
Substitution or democratic for auto
cratic forms has made, in the brief
drst quarter of our century. d meas
nreA OF progress which is not yet as