The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-09-17
EXPRESS HOPE
in THE FUTURE
President Frank of Wis
consin University Opt
miStic for Future.
GULLBILITY

president OF the university OF Wis
consin, on the outlook for western
civilization.
Speaking before the national con-
vention of the Professional Mems
Clubs of America, Dr.. Frank assert
ed that business and civilization are
bound together that "you can not
have good business in a bad civiliza-
ton"
An aversion to war has developed,
said President Frank. Time alone can
tell, he sid whether this aversion
to war, BON in the bitterness of ex-
perience, will stay the coming of an
other world war until the race breeds
a few world statesmen big enough to
lure us into the common sense policy
of some common administration of the
common interests of the world"
"a Admits War Possibility.
Making no effort to whitewash the
biological, economic, industrial, po-
litical and moral "backslidings" that
he referred to as Obvious and unde
niable," and without attempting "to
play soothsayer to western civiliza-
tion," DR.. Frank reviewed four major
prophesies regarding civilization.
These, he said, are;
"First, that western civilization may
commit suicide by plunging into an
other world war within generation.
Second, that western civilization,
in the continued absence CT creative
craftsmanship, may enter a new Dark
Age, period in which civilized values
will go into decline and the race be
thrust back into the precarious eX
minus their primitive strength with
which to meet the challenge of diff
ficult time.
Third, that western civilization
may enter period of unbridled friv-
olity, period of spiritual let down,
relaxation, and establishment.
Fourth, that western civilization
may enter a new renaissance, period
in which the race may gather up the
creative results of the natural and
social sciences, touch them with the
spiritual meaning, and harness them
for the tasks of social control and
creation"
One Hopeful Aspect.
In discussing the prophecy that
western civilization may commit sui
eide by plunging into another world
war within a generation, Mr.. Frank
said:
There is one hopeful aspe ct in re-
gard to war that is often overlooked.
The ease with which governments can
swing peoples into war depends to no
small degree upon the nation the peo-
pie entertain regarding the nature and
purpose of war.
1.-TWO things obviously made it cas-
Ter than it might otherwise have been
to bring the American people into
the world war.
"First, we were still thinking of
war in terms of the Battle of Con-
cord, or the Boston Massacre the
first mere throwing and scuffle
of a handful of farmers; the second
mere street orawl, when we consider
them in terms of modern warfare OF
course, we had been reading about the
grand scale tragedy and terror of
modern warfare for years, hut the
pattern that was fired in our minds
was the pattern of small wars.
Second, under the inspiring lead
ership of a president equipped with
the rare wizardy Of words, we thought
of the war in terms of spiritual cru
SADIE that. would strike the chains
from the shackled millions and lift the
world politics to an infinitely higher
plane.
Children See Differently.
Neither of these elements enter
into the pattern of war that lies in
our minds or that is likely to lie
in the minds of our children We
now know both the material scales
and the spiritual sterility of modern
war. am not unmindful of the fact
that the ape and tiger in US dies with
sturdy reluctance. 1t is quite con-
or an idealistic president could lash
us into war enthusiasm before even
the middle age of today pass off the
stage. But l want to point out that
in any such ventures, there will be
two new hurdles to overleap.
First, we have in mind a vivid
sense of the almost annihilating ter
ror and tragedy of modern warfare;
and second, the aftermath of the last
war has left US with a wholesome
cynicism even Of wars wagei in a
righteous cause.
Less GulIibIe Now.
"I am not suggesting that the mind
of the world will be won by pacifist
propaganda. Year by year I find my
self having less and less confidence
in the quick power of specific propa-
gandas Looked at in one way, it
seems that we are the victims of
propagandas. But in the long view
of history, doubt that any propa-
ganda has registered more than
fleeing and tentative triumphs save
as it has come in to interpret and
mark articulate; lesson the race has
already learned by experience. am
suggesting that the men who fought
through the last war to end war and
watched the sinuous and sinister con-
tortions of diplomacy that made a
peace to end peace, will not be as
ready recruits for war as they were
in 1917. There is just as much 10y
atty in the world as there ever was
but it may be there is less gullibility
And this generation Of ex-soldiers is
leaving for its children to read such
books as Henri Barbusse and Ro