MAY, 1923
THE WESTERN AMERICAN
13
the community the best service they are able to ren
der in constructive school administration, of that
there is no question. In this way those who are in
favor of the plans of Mr. Woodward’s and the major
ity of the board should be able to reconcile them
selves with the conservative elements and vote also
for Mr. Shull, likewise those who are conservative and
favor Mr. Shull, should be able to view it as consist
ent to vote for Mr. Woodward. Those who are in the
race seeking to displace Messrs. Woodward and Shull
may be very fine citizens, but we believe that the in
terests of the community will at the present time be
served best by voting these two citizens back on the
job to carry on the program of the school improve
ments already intrusted to them and the plans for the
immediate future whatever the outcome of the bond
ing issue may be.
front improvements, the commendable Laurgaard
plan, docks, harbor and river improvements are very
important matters of public consideration, there are
no questions of so far reaching importance to this
community, now or any time, as the question of ade
quate, properly constructed public schools. If the
schools are not what they ought to be it is because
public opinion is not at work on the schools; their con
struction, affording safety to life and health of the
children, the subjects taught and the teachers em
ployed.
The first concern of the man who purchases a run
about auto or what we term a flivver, is a garage so
constructed that his auto is safe and secure, which
calls for a considerable investment, or he rents a
garage or a storage space costing from five to ten
dollars a month. The safety of his machine, repre
senting a small investment, makes this justifiable.
Yet, many of these flivver owners take very little in THE URGE OF GOOD CITIZENSHIP EMPHASIZED
THROUGH THE ADVERTISERS
terest in what kind of a building their children attend
classes, what they study and what kind of teachers 'T'HAT THE advertisers in The Western American
they have.
have literally caught the spirit of the citizenship
Public sentiment must be aroused in the interest appeal in its columns may be seen by reading the
of properly constructed public schools, that compe advertisements in this issue.
tent teachers are employed and that the children of
These advertisers are contributing valuable sug
our community receive the best of training possible, gestions to the sum total of good citizenship in the
equipping them for the kind of citizenship upon which space they have bought to advertise their business
rests the superstructure of America’s future.
interests.
The Portland public school board has called for a
That is a most commendable spirit, suggesting
bond issue of seven and one-half million dollars more that the businessmen of our community, some of them
to provide the construction of proper school houses at least, think in terms other than that of dollars and
for Portland’s present and immediate future needs. cents. These Americans, native and foreign bom,
The only matter seemingly at issue is a delay of time who advertise their business in this magazine have
to have others than the school board check up on the by their patronage evinced that they are mindful
board and its recommendations. A minority of the of the cause this publication represents and have
board is in favor at this procedure, though they agree had that in mind as much as the commercial value
that measures must be taken without delay to pro they might derive from such advertising. These
vide more and better school building facilities for the citizens firmly believe that our progress as a nation
children of this city.
depends more upon the inculcation of ideals and
Two school directors are to be elected on June 16th, sound principles in our citizenship than upon the
at the same time the people will be called upon to vote accumulation of wealth. Likewise they firmly believe
for or against the bond issue proposed as the essential in the creed of tolerance enunciated in the columns of
thing to be done before plans can be definitely made this magazine. They believe in unabridged equality
to eliminate the portable schools that rise here and rights among the citizens of America, irrespective of
there and everywhere like drygoods boxes dotting the nationaltiy, race, religion and place of birth, and are
city school grounds.
unalterably opposed to all lines of differentiations that
The two members of the board whose terms have are obstructing the common fellowship between the
expired are Mr. F. W. Woodward, chairman, and Mr. citizens of this land.
Frank L. Shull. The former is for the bond issue with
These appeals to the foreign born to save and
the majority of the board, the latter is against the invest here at home in bonafide good securities
issue, until the outside opposition can have opportun and bonds at high guaranteed interest rates, and the
ity to survey the situation. This will mean delaying urge of the banks to let their savings accumulate,
the matter for another year, at least.
which eventually will represent a substantial founda
We believe that the position both these men occupy tion backing up earnest aspiration to citizenship, are
justifies the recommendation of their re-election certainly comparing favorably to the appeal in the ad
regardless of the outcome of the bond issue.
vertising carried on one hand in the foreign language
There is a happy combination represented in the publications urging the foreign bom to exchange
two men; those who are anxious that advanced steps their savings in American dollars into unstable
be taken for school improvements have a staunch rep foreign exchange, and on the other hand the subtle
resentative in Mr. Woodward, while those who are appeal to class prejudice conveyed through advertise
conservative and dubious as to the proposed improve ments in the publications that are declaring a boy
ments, could do no better than to have Mr. Shull con cott on businessmen and firms because of their re
tinue on the board another term.
ligion, race and nationality.
That both these men are sincere and aim to give
Anyone wanting to ascertain the “leanings” of our