Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1934-11-16
HERE and
THERE
By W. NJ. Smith

/ have been very puzzled in the
past few weeks trying to figure
out the reactions of our group in
certain matters. Not that there is
anything strange in my being puz-
zled, for better men have been
equally at a loss trying to do the
self-same thing. But / have al
ways thought that intelligent peo-
pie would react in the same man.
ner to certain stimuli, and when
find they don't, / must either ques-
ton my own judgment or admit to
a most uneasy puzzlement. And
still have faith in my own judg-
ment.
Take the matter of the Minneap-
oils Sunday Forum which meets
twice monthly at Phyllis Wheatley
Settlement House. The govern
ment, in its efforts to support the
morale of the people during this
time of stress, has placed itself be-
hind the programs this settlement
house, in conjunction with others,
is offering the community. Miss
Rachel James, director of our For
UNI programs, has arranged a
series of entertainments that
money could not buy, and it has
not cost anyone penny. The very
best brains of our city have been
called upon to present some of the
most attractive features it has ever
been our good fortune to see or
hear. Topics of the most vital in
terest have been discussed by men
prominently qualified and yet the
attendance would seem to show
that Minneapolis people have no
interest in them.
Various reasons have been as
signed for this. It has been sug-
gested that the meetings have not
been sufficiently advertised. But
our paper has carried a notice of
each gathering, and that means
that just about everyone in this city
has been informed. Then too, on the
Sunday when the Forum cOnvenes,
notices have been read before all
the church congregations. 1t has
been alleged in this connection that
our ministers look without special
favor on the Forum meetings.
There was a time when this was
perhaps true, but today our pull
pits are filled for the most part
with intelligent, fOrward-lOOking
men who realize how important it
is that our people keep abreast with
the times and are correctly in
formed on questions of the day. /
am lOathe to believe that these
men would look askance at any at
tempt to teach their people to think
and to know the things that would
make them more progressive, lead
ing to a more secure and better
church.
At the last meeting of the For
UNI, a young man from the Min
nesota university discussed "Mur-
der for Profit" an analysis of the
causes and the methods of cure for
war. 1t was talk packed full of
most interesting facts and deduc-
tons. l have seldom spent half
hour so intensely yet so simply
filled with facts / had not before
known or realized. Every minute
of it was food for thought. In view
of the truth that all the world is
looking with dread, yet looking
nevertheless, to the next war, the
message of the speaker was so i'm
pressive / could but wish that all
of Minneapolis could have been
present to hear.
And the meeting before that was
also served by. a young university
graduate who spoke of "As Others
See U.s." have said before, and
| now repeat, that the women of
our city who delight in making
good appearance would have en-
jOyed that lecture, for it explained
in painful detail how many fail tn