The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-03-04

sAmekACau PGupke want DEtteE HoV~
eminent they must take more in
terest in public AFFAIRS, in the opin-
ion OF members Of both houses of
congress as expressed in letters res
ceived by The United States So
ciety in comment upon the plan
of that organization to distribute
data on current affairs In schools,
colleges, and adult groups, as a
stimulus to greater interest in gov
eminent.
Some OF the letters declare
frankly that "the greatest menace
to our nation exists In lack OF
knowledge on the part OF the pub
lie generally about public questions
and governmental affairs"
The society ID non-partisan ana
its board of advisers consists OF
Calvin Coolidge, owen ID. Young.
Eiihu Root, John Grier Hibben and
Newton ID. Baker. It proposes to
aid In developing informed leaders
among the youth Of the nation. zen
advisory councils selected from
educational, fraternal. professional
and civic groups are being formed
to insure the effective distrfpution
of the current materials, me
movement ID to be supported py
nHGmDeEHnID oTkHHlGdAAVh@ SFSkS
state OF the Union and IL to be
directed by thirty-two trustees Sc
lected every year from the men
and women at the head of the va
rious state organizations establish
, ed by the society.
Many of the scores Of letters re-
ceived show that the FEELING exists
in congress that the stimulation or
- t.xkn la THAR gov.
ernment and the Improvement or
teaching government In schools and
colleges are regarded as OF equal
Importance. -,
II have felt for a long time"
wrote Senator Wallace II. White,
Jr, Of Maine, that perhaps the
greatest dangers to democracy lay
in the lack of interest and OF
knowledge Of the people In their
government, and In the unhappy
methods of teaching government In
the schools. Hence ! gladly sup
port any method which would tend
to Improve both the attitude OF
the people towards the government
and improve the teaching of gov
eminent In our schools and col.
leges"
A similar view was expressed by
Representative Ruth Bryan Owen,
of Florida, she said:
II believe that the Fundamental
need In our country today In bet.
ter understanding on the part OF
our people OF the structure Of our
government and the responsibility
which each citizen should bear IN
connection with It. Ever since my
election to congress have been
sala t.stSa 0iVaU tho
youth OF my district closer 10 the
affairs of government
Senator James Couzens, chairman
of The senate committee on inter-
state commerce, expressed the con-
ylction that many adults needed
education in government. He
wrote:
"Undoubtedly there Is much
room for the education OF the
Ataerican people In government.
Perhaps no one knows 1t better
than I do because of the very large
correspondence l have and the
complete ignorance of some OF these
correspondents as to the constitu-
tion or the United states and the
limitations upon the federal gov
eminent"
Not only lack Of knowledge
about government but also relative
lack OF Interest In national questions
among the people were disclosed
by Representative Parker Corning
OF Albany. N. Y. Mr. Corning wrote:
IL find in my campaign. especial
~ among the rural districts. ab-
soiute lack of knowledge as TO how
tho government functions or even
It's form, and an informal talk on
the procedure Of how Legislation III
decided upon In committee seems
10 hold the attention OF an audi
ence 100 per cent. II has also been
my experience that each commun-
NV IA Infinitely more interested In
local campaigns and local ques-
lions than they are In regard to
national questions"
Senator M. M. Logan. Of Ken
lucky, expressed the view that this
lack OF knowledge and interest In
public questions and governmental
affairs was due to the absence OF
adequate training In the schools.
"For almost a quarter OF CEN
fury I have taken part In pubic
affairs and the consideration or
public questions" said Senator Lo-
gan, at IL my deliberate judgment
that the greatest menace to our
nation exists in lack OF knowledge
on the part of the public generally
about public questions and govern
mental affairs. There is little taught
in our schools and colleges that en-
ables the student body to obtain
n comprehensive knowledge OF
duties Of citizen ship. II IL the day |
OF the demagogues who could not
thrive II the people We're Informed
about public matters. Earnest ON.
Gals often lack courage TO DO thar
which they know Is right because
the general public does not UNDER
stand the motives and purposes
which prompt them"
Representative Hatton w.
Summers, OF Texas, chairman OF
the house committee on the judlc-
larry, wrote:
II believe we have entirely ex-
aggerated the efficacies of the man
dates Of legislative bodies. We are
utterly confused as to where the |
constitution is, as to where govern
ment is, and apparently are igno-
rant of the natural laws which gov
ern governments. Due to this fun
damental ignorance and confusion,
the capacity of the people for self
government is being lost through
its non-use. The United states are
becoming governmental vassals.
and the federal organization a great
Bureaucracy functioning through
an appointed personnel utterly I'M
possible of popular control"
Senator Cordell Hull. of Tennes-
see, also discerned danger in the
apathy Of the people.
UNLESS the American people can |
be induced to awaken and return
to the duties and responsibilities |
they owe their government" wrote |
senator Hull. "the stability, of our
Institutions may be jeopardized |
earlier than most people could pos
sibIy anticipate"
Senator Royal 8. Copeland. Of
New York. recognized the same |
trend among the people ana en-
phasized the necessity OF an In
formed public"