The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-09-14

BOake Carter
Some Questions
Propaganda and Gain
The Human Mind
MIND over matter? Which Of

MIND over matter? Which Of
Ava these most always come
uppermost in mankind?
The Christian Science Moni.
tor notes the formation of the
New Society for Psychological
Study of Social Issues and that
it put forward questions in an
objective study Of problems
not yet yielded to prejudice or
partisanShip." The Monitor
quotes three questions, adds q
few more and then asks for
answers. They are fascinating
questions and this column will
try an answer or two:
First. Is it better to rest a program,
as American labor seems to be doing,
upon an appeal to immediate eco
did with those same men in 1871.
upon the challenge to die for great
ideals?
Answer. Better to appeal to
immediate economic interests,
for ideals nowadays are con-
ceived in propaganda. True
ideal is sacrifice of life for some
one else. A war Of selfdefense,
against invasion, Is defense Of
the ideal of the home. But a
war abroad, such as was the
basis of the appeal of 1917, has
no basis in idealisn, because
modern war is a matter of con-
scription and the ideals Of those
who do the fighting are not
sought.
Second. Will the best brains Of the
pTOpdBd0QlSIS
the privileged class or are there con-
dtions under which the better tech
nique Of social appeal can be placed at
the disposal of the underprivileged?
Answer. PropagandistS will al
ways go for the highest price,
because propaganda only feeds
on a false premise, You cannot
get enough highly specialized
propagandistS or people inter-
eSted in social needs, because
there is not enough immediate
money in it for them.
Third. Do men respond more to
program which offers security or to
one which suggests adventure?
Answer. This is a poorly asked
question because it leaves out
age and social position. BY and
large, though, I think most men
go for a program of security be-
fore one of adventure. Certain
ly married men do, and so do
middle-aged men on up.
Fourth. Is the attitude Of organ
lied labor changing so much more
rapidly than the attitude of organ
lied wealth, that we can anticipate
and understanding?
Answer. I think the question is
backward, for organized wealth,
in my belief, is changing its at.
tltude quicker than labor. It has
had to, for self-preservation, to
meet the articulate demand. Or.
ganized labor has always
thought it ought to have a
greater share Of economic
wealth. Capitalists always have
thought what they gave labor
was adequate. Now they found
they've had to change their
tune.
First. Will a new and proper under
standing of economic interests only
make for cynicism about appeals to
idealism, or will a new understand
ing Of mans spiritual nature open the
way to sounder and more honest ap-
peals to idealism?
Answer. An impossible ques-
ton, because it assumes an i'm.
possible and unnatural hypothe-
sis. For, first to properly under
stand economic interests, truth
must be told by all men and too
few care to, are afraid to, or can
not tell the truth. Too few have
the courage to face spiritual
values in the world today. Peo-
pie are interested only in the
material side of economic in
terests, not the spiritual.
Second. Along with the increase of
propaganda, is the human mind de-
veloping an equal capacity to sift and
weigh. think Independently and to ex.
ercise self-control and tolerance neces-
sary for democratic control of govern
ments which are setting up larger
economic and social controls?
Answer. No, for the flood Of
propaganda we meet today gives
a false sense of values to every
question. No one can think
clearly. tolerantly. independent
ly in a flood of propaganda from
the many interests.
Third. Can we understand social
changes adequately even by studying
the human mind, or will true discern
ment and mastery of these problems
require understanding Of and reliance
on government of the Divine Mind?