Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01

acteristic Is that the lecturers have q
distinctly higher tone than the usual
political oratory, and they adopt far
more scientific view and more objective
manner. The British schools have all
ready attained q reasonable degree Of
impartiality."
British Activities Listed.
DR.. Starr listed the educational &C.
tivities of British parties as C) classes
for training in public speaking, ca
study circles and correspondence course,
(3) single lectures and courses Of lee
lures, "a Autumn and Winter week
end lecture schools, go locally organ
ized Spring and Summer holiday
schools and (6) permanent college.
The chief purpose of these schools,
he said, seems to be the training OF
persons for active party work, but they
undoubtedly have the further purposes
of training considerable section OF
the general public in current political,
social and economic problems and in
aiding the research work Of the party
by encouraging lectures and discussions
which may result in the formation Of
party policy ON a scientific basis.
None of these educational activities
Is undertaken in a true academic
spirit" he said. There is always-and
frankly-a bias in favor of the party
principles. Nevertheless, have found
that the political schools attain a stand
ard of academic objective infinitely
higher than that characteristic Of ordi-
nary political propaganda:
Old Devices Stim Used.
1.-THE British parties research activi-
ties take two main forms. First, there
Is the work Of the bureaus Of research
and information which are somewhat
similar to American legislative refer
ence bureaus and departments OF mu-
nicipal research. All parties now have
such establishments. Second, there are
committees of inquiry on the model Of
royal commissions, presumably made up
Of experts, which collect facts and
formulate policy. The research and
educational activities are closely re-
lated.
LAS far as making q successful in
tellectual appeal to the voters is con-
cerned, the results of the British schools
are negative. The schools reach a great
number Of people, but they are invari-
ably party adherents. When 1t comes to
question of converting the apathetic
mass of voters the old devices Of cam
paigning are resorted to. The last gen.
eral election was fought on q lower
plane than any other recent one be-
cause Of the infusion Of great sums Of
money and the increase Of the cleo
torate. It Is significant, however, that
numerous persons Of authority insist
that the character of election cam
paign should be elevated.
Number Of Schools Inadequate.
Gas far as 1t has gone the British
system has been to educate the public
indirectly through the party worker,
the party candidate, his agent and the
canvasser. There are not enough
schools to begin to educate the public
as q whole This may suggest that this
Is as far as they will ever get because
Of the magnitude of the problem.
But the schools compose only a
minor part of the news steps which
are being taken by the parties. The
research organizations are extensive
and vastly important, because they
bring together great many facts which
would otherwise be unknown. Paid ex-
perts are employed and each party has
its research bureau.
THE most expensive piece Of collec-
tive research which has been made by
one Of the parties is the industrial sur
vey conducted by group of advanced
Liberals. The results Of their research
were published in large volume called
'Britain's Industrial Future and this
volume has had some circulation in the
United States. It is probably the best