Evening star., 1947-08-31
By Edword A. Harris

A little-publicized but remarkably
effective movement is under way
today to ,"stir up talk" on local
State and national issues. Leaders
of this unique grass-roots discus
sion plan, who have established the
National Institute of Social Rela-
tions to administer it, adhere to the
deep conviction that an informed
public is the surest guarantee OF a
strong republic.
The originator, guiding spirit and
official national director OF the in
stitute is DR.. Julius Schrieber, a
burly, bald, effervescent and highly
articulate California psychiatrist,
who served during the recent war
as chief Of the programs section
of the Army Orientation Branch.
With the assistance Of some of his
former aides in the War Department
and of nationally known social and
welfare experts, DR.. Schrieber Is
seeking to carry on in civilian life
the Armys orientation techniques.
A War.Born Idea
The Army branch was set up when
officials of the armed services dis
covered that a surprisingly large
number of the Nations inductees
didn't know why they had been
called into uniform. What are we
fighting for?" was a refrain too
often heard in the ranks. The Army
hao to teach millions of its young
men the dangers of fascism and
the necessity for preserving the
democratic way of living.
The men who administered the
orientation program found it more
effective to use the open discussion
method instead of giving lectures.
Trained discussion leaders first
made short talks, then assigned
reading in specially prepared pam
phlets and books, and followed this
with invitations to the servicemen
to hash things over themselves at
group discussions.
| ~ When the war was over DR.
Schrieber could have returned to
his lucrative medical practice on the
West Coast, where he had been
director of the research and shock
therapy division of Stockton State
Hospital. But he was too excited
about the new kind of work he had
been doing during the war. He
succeeded in interesting many
others in his civilian venture, and
the National Institute officially was
launched in February, 1916, with
main offices in the capital. It's sue
cess has been nothing short OF
phenomenal.
Consultants Well Known
Proof of this is seen alone, in the
roster of the Institutes board o1
consultants. 1t includes such we'll
known names as Miss Katharine
Lenroot, director of the Children's
Bureau of the Social Security
Agency; Bishop G. B. Oxlnan, Sec
retary of the Methodist Board OF
Bishops; CIO President Philip Muir
ray, Manchester Boldly, publisher
of the Los Angeles News; DR.. Frank
P. Graham, president of the Uni
versity of North Carolina; DR.
Mordecai w. johnson, head of How
ard University; Mrs. Frederick A
Kuser of the Association of Junior
Leagues of America, Mrs. LIE Fell
Dickinson, president of the General
Federation of Women's Clubs, and
Mrs. j. Birdsall Calkins, head of the
national Y. w. c. A.
Incorporated In the District OF
Columbia as nonprofit educa-
tional organization, the institute is
supported solely by voluntary con-
tributions from individuals and as
sociations. Its president is Frank
L. Well of New York. a co-founder
of the USO and a member of the
national executive board of the Boy
Scouts of America.
"The National Institute Of Social