The Sunday Oregonian., July 08, 1917, Section One, Page 16, Image 16

16
PRACTICAL THRIFT
IS SPEAKERS' PLEA
Production and Conservation
of Food Declared Present-Day
Need.
GARBAGE PAIL IS HIT
Katherine D ever e an Blake Advo
cates, Preparation of Thrift
Menu Reduction of Cost
of Foodstuffs Is TTrged.
True thrift, not a wild-eyed frenzy
of ill-advised economy, but a carefully
wrought and carried out plan of con
servation, variously was advised in the
several papers and addresses delivered
last night before the second session
of the National Council of Education,
of the National Education Association,
which convened in Portland yester
day. A truly diverting personality Is Kath
erine Devereaux Blake, of the Lillie
Devereaux Blake school, of New York
City. To the subject of "Thrift" she
brought some notions that analysis
proved logical, when her hearers had
done with laughter.
Kitchen Economy Discussed.
"You know what Adam did," said
the speaker, discussing the proposal of
kitchen economy. "He said it was the
woman's fault. And there are ever so
many Adams. They have been looking
around and have found that the place
to practice thrift is in the household."
Much laughter ensued, during which
the speaker attempted to explain the
mixed feeling with which she ap
proached the subject,
"Really, the true meaning of thrift
is that which produces vigorous and
healthy growth, she said seriously.
"Mental, moral, physical and spiritual,
every bit of the human being must be
developed, or we are not thrifty.
"Our garbage pail, in New York'City,
neld 25 per cent this year of. what it
held last year. That means If we are
going to carry thrift further it will
not come out of the garbage pail, but
out of the dinner pall.
"Herbert C. Hoover has said that 10,
000,000 American families waste an
nually $100,000,000," continued " the
speaker. "After all, that's only $10 a
year," she commented. "And how does
he know? A19 those half-cups of wast
ed milk; how would you put them to
gether? And if you did who would
drink the tea? It wouldn't be sanitary.
And for whom do women cook?"
Compliments Paid to Went.
Not a word about ceasing the use
of tobacco in the interests of thrift,
she pointed out, while the mention of
abstention from beer caused certain
New York papers to weep editorially.
These matters had inclined her to mili
tancy when she first contemplated the
subject. Then Katherine Devereux
Blake paid the West a pretty compli
ment. "But I got out here," said she, "where
the men have learned to love and re
spect and treat their women decently.
Then I said, 'I'm going to be good.' "
The speaker advocated an investiga
tion by domestic science experts for the
preparation of a thrift menu, based on
top prices and not upon purchase in
bulk.
"Because you know, and I know,"
she declared, "that when you're living
in two rooms with a family of five, you
don't buy in bulk!"
The paper delivered by S, W. Straus,
president of the American Society for
Thrift, was entitled "Thrift, a Patriotic
Necessity." It dealt with the necessity
for teaching thrift in American schools,
and charged that the responsibility of
such instruction rests with instructors
everywhere.
Students Produce Poods.
R. U. Wilson. State Superintendent
of Public Instruction of Oklahoma,
speaking on the "Possibilities of In
creased Food Production," fold of
methods in his state whereby students
of proper age are engaged in food pro
duction and conservation, and in ac
tual farm work. He advocated the giv
ing of school credits for farm work,
and declared that an inducement of
prof it must be held out to keep boys on
the farm.
"We must not forget that the jingle
of the coin . furnishes inspirational
music to make the boy step with alac
rity," said Superintendent Wilson, after
reading a vhimsical verse about the
hoy who raised a pig and a calf, only
to have his father sell them and keep
the money.
"The most far-reaching item of waste
is robbing the soil of fertility," de
clared J. A. Bexell, dean' of the school
of commerce. Oregon Agricultural Col
lege. "America is the most wasteful
of all civilized countries. The average
return per acre in the United States
is $11.38, which is the lowest of any
civilized country save Russia.
Smaller Firnu Needed.
"The remedies for waste in fertility
are very simple in principle. First,
smaller farms ; second, scientific rota
tion of crops, and third, proper cul
tivation and fertilization. The slogan
should be 'Produce more at less cost
and consume less.
"Enormous waste of food results from
improper connection between the pro
ducer and the consumer. Waste in
marketing results from the improper
tying up of capital and labor by
large number of useless middlemen and
their removal from industry. Every
person who is maintained by society
who is not rendering a full quota of
service is Just that much waste.
"Nothing would be more disastrous
than a cessation of buying, both neces
sities and those conveniences which are
of permanent value to the home and
farm. During these years of plenty
and high prices for, the- farmer -those
personal conveniences should be pro
vided which have so long been needed
in the farm home." '
Two addresses that were acclaimed
with applause were those on "Food
Storage and Preservation," by Harry R.
Ianiel, secretary American Society for
Thrift, and one upon the adaptation of
domestic economy and industrial arts
courses to meet present-day demands,
by C. H. Dempsey, Superintendent of
Schools. Haverhill, Mass.
People Declared Wasteful.
The concluding address, "Agricul
tural Preparedness and Food Conserva-
- tion. was delivered by Arthur H,
Chamberlain, chairman of the commit
tee on thrift, of the National Council
of Education.
"Of the four fundamental physical
necessities. food, clothing, shelter.
transportation, food Is the most impor
tant," said Mr. Chamberlain. "The
growth of cities complicates the prob
lem, the raw materials must be trans
ported. Block for the period of a week
the channels through which the raw
materials reach centers of population
and famine, disease and death result.
A false economic system has placed the
producer at the mercy of the middle
man. "Our people are wasteful and ex
travagant. Favored "with the richest
country on the globe, we have led our
selves to believe that nature would
PROMINENT
W J- '-'O SOCIAL PLANS MADE
-John R. Kirk, of Klrknvllle, Mo. I'mldrnt or Stale Normal School. S C. P. Cirj, Stat Superintendent, IVIaoon-
ln. :t E. ;. Govrann, Mate Superintendent. Vtah. 4 Anna I. aura Force, of Denver. State Director for N. K. A.
tl Mra. Mary C. C. Bradford. Colorado State Superintendent. M rn. Snaan M. Doraejr, of I.oa Anicelea, State
Director of N. K, A. 7 G. P. Hleka, Sapervlaor of Mualc. School of Vancouver. 11. C. H R. SparllnK. Superin
tendent Aberdeen School, Vancouver. B. C. 0 H. A. Schofleld. Hrealdent Kau Claire. Vlneonaln. Normal School.
1 Ana;u Clark, Principal Kairvlew School. Vancouver. B. C JI tieorse l- Towne. Editor Nehraaka Teacher.
Lincoln. Neb. 12 Katherine D. Blake, of New York, Principal I.lllle Devereaux Blake School. 13 C. K. Beach.
Superintendent Schoola of Olympla. 14 1laa A. E. Dohertr, of St. Paul. Truatee of N. E. A. 15 Superintendent
Charles II. Covell. of Redlanda. Former President California 1'eachera' Aaaoclatlon.
continue in her original abundant fash
ion to supply our every demand. The
waste from our tables would sustain
the starving of a city.
'The entrance of the united States
into the war means that we must feed
the allied countries as well as our
own. Realizing this, our grammar and 1
high schools are taking part in crop
production and food conservation.
A tremendous struggle will follow
the close of the war. This period of
reconstruction means not alone a dif
ferent Europe, but a different America.
The place of the school in this new
order of things cannot be overesti
mated. Our present isolated courses
must give place to those that will
hitch the school to the community.
"Agricultural courses must be intro
duced in all the schools. Domestic
science courses must emphasize econo
my in preparation, food values, meth
ods of preserving and canning. Boys
and girls everywhere should learn that
they are expected to take their part In
the great social economy. They should
'do their bit," but proper credit should
be given and adequate compensation
allowed.
"The school child should not be ex
ploited. Education is the one chief
business of a democracy. The best
training for preparedness is to be had
in the schools. Only a nation blessed
with a rising generation that is strong
physically and sound morally can hope
to achieve and maintain a true democ
racy."
TJ. OF O. FACULTY TAKES PART
President Campbell to Speak- oi
"University and Nation's Ideals."
EUGENE. Or., July 7. (Special.)
President P. L. Campbell, of the Unt
versity of Oregon, and four members
of the university faculty will take part
in the National Education Association s
programme in Portland next week.
President CampDeu will aeiiver an
address Friday evening at the general
session of the association on The Uni
versity and the Nation's Ideals."
Henry D. Sheldon, dean of education
will speak before the elementary sec
tion of the association Tuesday on
"American Efficiency Through Educa
tion." D. Walter Morton, dean of commerce
will address the business section Thurs
day morning at 10 o'clock. His subject
will be "How I Would Teach Salesman
ship in the High School."
"State Care of Crippled Children" will
be the subject of an address by Dr.
Fred I. Merritt before the social wel
fare section of the association Wednes
day morning at 10 o'clock. Dr. B. W.
DeBusk. of the university, is vice-presi
dent of this section.
Frederick S.-Dunn, professor of Latin,
will address the Classical Association
of the Pacific States Wednesday on "The
Continued Tale of the Historical Novel.
RED CROSS WILL RELIEVE
Dependents of Soldiers and Sailors
to Be Well Cared For.
Harry R. Bogart. supervising dl
rector of the family relief of the Amir
lean Red Cross, has completed organi
sation of a-Portland chapter to look out
for dependents of soldiers and sailors.
Victor A. .Johnson is chairman. About
50 families are already listed.
Mr. Bogart says the Red Cross pro
poses to keep the families the same as
the husband or father did.
Lebanon Names City Marshal.
LEBANON. Or, July 7. (Special.
J. R. Green has been appointed City
Marshal of Lebanon by Mayor Under
wood to fill the vacancy caused by the
resignation of Frank Richard, who re
signed to become night watchman at
the Lebanon Paper Mills. Mr. Green
has been & prominent resident here for
several years and formerly served as
Street Commissioner.
THE SUNDAY OEEGOXIAX, PORTLAND,
EDUCATORS FROM MANY STATES
THRIFT IS SUBJECT
S.
W. Straus, of New York,
Makes Telling Address.
READJUSTMENT IS ON WAY
Elimination Must Be Practiced and
Taught to Children in Order to
Meet Changed Conditions
Now in Distance.
One of the most rorcerul and. strik
lng addresses delivered at the open
ing of the National Education Asso
ciation yesterday, before the National
Council, at the Multnomah, was by S.
W. Straus, president of the American
Society of Thrift. The topic was
Thrift a. Patriotic Necessity."
"When in August. 1915, your honor
able body appointed a committee to in
vestlgate the advisability and feasibil
ity or teaching thrift in the public
schools of America," said Mr. Straus,
"we had little thought that within the
short space of two years we would find
ourselves confronted with the condi
tlons that exist today.
"And now that we have been thrown
into the great world war, a much
more serious economic condition con
fronts us.
"The first message delivered direct
to the Nation by President Wilson after
the declaration of war with Germany
was on the subject of thrift. So rap
idly are events of epochal importance
being enacted today that possibly the
full significance of this fact was lost
sight of by most of our citizens.
Waste la Declared Wrens.
"In the present instance the whole
world virtually is in a state of tip
heaval. We are fighting in the dark
ness that precedes the dawn of uni
versal democracy.
"We will have learned, first of all
that waste has no right to exist any
where under any circumstances. Today
the man who becomes intoxicated is
held in aversion by his fellow-citizens,
and tomorrow the man who is not
thrifty will be a social outcast, for we
shall understand then what we are
just beginning to learn'today, that the
spendthrift is a public menace. A man
cannot waste his own substance alone.
Destruction cannot be confined to the
individual who commits it.
"Let me call attention to the point
at this time that thrift means in a gen
eral way simply the elimination of
waste! We have had examples recently
in this country of the baneful influ
ence of misguided thrift. Because we,
as a nation, failed to understand the
full meaning of the word, we rushed
Into practices of .false economy when
war was declared in such manner that,
had they continued, they -would have
brought about Industrial disorganiza
tion and personal hardship. We failed
to differentiate between constructive
and destructive thrift.
Self-Denlal Is Advocated.
"We have taught also that thrift
gives us the power to practice self
denial that quality of heart and mind
which is so much needed in these dis
tressing war times. Had we as a Na
tion learned the true meaning of thrift
years ago, and had our children been
taught It in our schools, we would
be better prepared to face the con
ditions that are confronting us today.
"In times of peace we have taugh
also that a man. who can surround him
- a -v ? ' ""v- - --- -y v .y
GATHER AT OPENING OF NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION CONVENTION.
self with the finer things of life is not
thriftless, provided, of course, that he
can well afford these things and that
he Is otherwise doing his full duty to
society. But In time of war we must
all know the value and necessity of
self-denial.
'Thrift means the sane administra
tion of one's personal affairs to the end
that there shall be the least amount of
waste, the least amount of lost motion,
and the greatest possible good to one's
self and the Nation. Thrift is the
foundation of Individual preparedness,
and let me say that the present war
shows what a vital part individual pre
paredness plays in the destiny. of a na
tion when & great crisis is presented.
Thrift Is Declared Virtue.
'We must bear in mind always that
thrift is a virtue that must be studied
if its manifest qualities are to be of
value either to the individual or the
Nation. These are the reasons why, I
say, an application or thrift must be
included in our school curriculum. The
Nation of today is learning the eco
nomic necessity of thrift, but the Na
tion of tomorrow must know the edu
cational necessity of this virtue.
This is a responsibility that rests
upon us today. We are seeing our
theories of other days tested today.
Thrift has Indeed become a patriotic
necessity. The schoolroom is the ves
tibule of the great tomorrow. It is
only through this channel that we can
make our influence felt for posterity.
Therefore, our duty is clear to place
thrift teachings in the schools on the
grounds of pure patriotism.
"What I am saying to you tonight in
urging that this step be taken is but a
reiteration of statements I have pre
viously made before this committee.
The events of the present day em
phasize as never before that the most
urgent needs of our Nation today are
more thorough appreciation of indi
vidual preparedness and a deeper un
derstanding of the principles of the
greater thrift.
"Let us therefore not fall short of
the spirit of our republic We are
fighting today to make the world safe
for democracy. We are coming into a
new order of' things, and in this new
order the rights, the responsibilities
and the opportunities of the Individual
will be greater than ever before. Let
us arise to the situation let us be true
patriots, teaching our Nation that
while mankind can progress only
through the processes of democracy, a
democratic people can succeed only
when thrift is the mainspring of their
actions and the foundation of their ex
istence." S. W. Strans. Presld
ent of Aster- T
'hrlft. Wko Is I
. Convention. i
lean Society for T
Attending -V. K. A.
Ami ' "It
, It, A
ft
t
JULY 8, 1917.
Convention Visitors to Be Kept
Entertained Every Hour.
MUSIC IS PROVIDED TODAY
Among Those Who Will Be Special
Guests Are Mills College Alum
nae, Wellesley Alumnae and
Alumni of Clark and D. A. R.
Social and special features are of
fered In abundance for the thousands
of visiting National Education Asso
ciation convention delegates. There
promises to be no dull moments for the
school teachers and their friends while
they are in the city.
The general reception Tuesday night
at the Multnomah Hotel looms large
as an event of considerable importance,
considering the distinguished persons
who will be in the receiving line and
their civic, state, military and Nation
al status.
This reception will be a general wel
rome on the mezzanine floor of the
Multnomah from 8 to 10 o'clock. From
9 to 11 o'clock the state societies will
receive at their headquarters on the
seventh floor of the hotel.
The state societies with organiza
tions in Portland will hold a -general
reception at Washington Park, from 4
to 7 o'clock on Wednesday. All vis
itors are invited to come and meet
former residents of their state.
Musical Service Today.
The public is invited to the special
musical service to be held at 3 o'clock
this afternoon in the City Auditorium.
William M. Ladd will preside at the
meeting. Prayer will be "offered by
Rt. Rev. Walter T. Sumner, bishop of
Oregon. . Remarks will be made by
Robert J. Aley, president of the Uni
versity of Maine and president of the
National Education Association. Spe
cial music will be furnished by the
festival chorus under the direction of
W. H. Boyer, musical director of the
city schools andby the Auditorium or
chestra under the direction of Harold
Bayley. This is an informal opening
service in honor of the visiting dele
gates. Regularly scheduled- luncheons abound
throughout the detailed programme of
the various organization gatherings.
College President Coming.
In addition to these functions the
following entertainment features have
been arranged:
Monday afternoon, from 4 to 6
o'clock, the Collegiate Alumnae and
Mills College graduates are invited to
meet President Reinhardt. of Mills Col
lege, at the home of Mrs. Helen Ekin
Starrett, 720 Sherwood drive.
Monday evening, following the gen
eral session, there will be a "com
munity sing" in the park blocks, cor
ner Park and Main streets, under the
direction of W. H. Boyer.
The Oregon Wellesley Club extends
to all" former and present faculty and
students of Wellesley College a cordial
invitation to lunch - Tuesday at 12:30
in the garden of Mrs. Boudinot Seeley
740 Patton road.1 Portland Heights.
Persons planning to accept this invita
tion will please inform Mrs.. W.
Babson. 544 East Fifteenth street
North, as soon as possible.
The Portland Grade Teachers' Asso
ciation will hold a luncheon in the
crystal room. Benson Hotel. Tuesday
noon, to which grade teachers are cor
Hlnllv invited.
Tuesday afternoon the president and
officers of the Alnswortn rareni
Teacher Association will hold a recep
tion at the home of Mrs. Helen Ekin
Ktai-rett 720 Sherwood drive, rrom
to 6. to meet President Reinhardt, of
Mills College: Miss Moore, of Oakland,
and Mrs. Young, of Chicago.
Oeneral Reception Tuesday.
Tuesday evening, from 9 to 11, will
occur the general reception tendered the
National Education Association Dy me
teachers of Portland at the Hotel Mult
nnmah.
The Multnomah and Willamette
Chanters . of the Daughters of the
American Revolution have arranged a
complimentary auto ride -over the Co
lumbis Highway for the visiting mem
bers of the Daughters of the American
Revolution for Wednesday .afternoon.
July 11. Autos will leave the Multno
, man Hotel at 2 o'clock, returning at
6:30. Visiting D. A. R. are urged to
register in .the D. A. R. book at the
desk of the general secretary. Audi
torium.
Members are invited to visit Oregon
City Wednesday afternoon. Electric
cars will leave Alder and Klrst-street
waiting room at 2 o'clock and arrive
at Oregon City at 2:45. They will be
met by Oregon City citizens, who will
direct them through mills and to the
old home of Dr. John McLoughlin,
where they will be tendered a recep
tion. Arrangements will be made for
those who desire to visit the cement
plant. Clackamas County and Oregon
City teachers wearing badges will be
present at the Auditorium each day to
furnish information desired.
Clark Alumni to Dine.
Clark University Alumni will dine at
the Imperial Hotel Grill at 6:30
Wednesday evening.
Thursday afternoon, from 4 to 6. Rt.
Rev. Waiter T. Sumner, bishop of Ore
gon, will tender a reception in honor
of Mrs. Ella Flagg Young, at Bishop
croft, Portland Heights.
Thursday afternoon an Oriental tea
will be tendered the visiting teachers
by the Chinese merchants at the Port
land Hotel from 4 to 7 o clock.
Northwest headquarters will be
maintained during the entire week on
the mezzanine floor of the Hotel Mult
nomah. These will be in charge of
committees representing women's or
ganizations and teschers' organizations
in the city of Portland and states of
Oregon. ashington and Idaho.
MOOSE TO LAY STONE
KEW LODGE BUILDING CEREMOMAL
PLAN.VKU FOR JULY 14.
Home la to Be Three Stories at Corner
of Fourth, and Taylor Streets.
Well Equipped.
The Loyal Order of Moose will lay
the cornerstone1 of their new b-cuie at
the northwest corner of Fo'.-th and
Taylor streets on Saturday Afternoon,
July 14.
The building is to be three stories in
height, of Colonial, architecture with
brick exterior.
The ground floor will be rented fo
stores, the second floor will be elabo
rately finished for clubrooms and tan
third floor will have a -large lodge- and
assembly hall and a smaller hall for
banquets and other purposes.
The building will be ready for occu
pancy about November 1.
Following is the programme: Mem
bers assemble at the clubrooms at 3:16
P. M. and march In body to the build
ing, headed by the band; overture by
band: introduction of R. G. Morrow
past dictator, as chairman of the day,
by George M. Orton. past dictator; re
sponse by R. G. Morrow; address by B.
E. Youmans, dictator; overture by th
band: address by George R. Funk, past
dictator; presentation of silver trowel
to MayorBaker by George E. Thomas
laying of cornerstone by Mayor Baker
selection by the band. -
DR. LA VALLEY RE-ELECTED
Oregon Chiropractic Association
Convention Is Closed.
Dr. J. E. La Valley was re-elected
president of the Oregon Chiropractic
Association at tne close of its conven
tion at the Portland Hotel yesterday
afternoon.
Other new officers chosen were
Vice-president, Dr. C. H. Parish: secre
tary-treasurer. Dr. W. E. Slater, an
auditor. Dr. E. E. Daniels, of Newberg.
The trustees. A- S. Douglas and Paul H.
Mav. remain in office. -
Dr. La Valley presided over the ban
ouet last night at the Portland, an
the chief speakers were Dr. A- W
Richardson, of Los Angeles, Dr. Slate
and Dr. Parish.
Students Go to Farms to Work
MISSOULA. Mont-. July 2. Accord
Inir to the records of the faculty emer
gency war board of the University of
Montana. 28 students of the institu
tion are engaged in farm work In Mon
tana. Washington and Oregon". The
majority of them are performing agri
cultural work on the farms of parents
or relatives.
Two Slackers Sentenced.
1X33 ANGELES. July 7. Paul Ger
lach, ,a printer, and Jesus- Rincon. a
laborer, who pleaded guilty to evasion
of the draft law, were sentenced today
In the United States District Court to
one year in jalL
Mil MAY HEAD;
II. E. A. NEXT YEAF?
Wheels of Convention Begin to
Spin at Meeting of Inner
. Governing Body.
SESSION IS FIRST IN WEST
Nominating Committee to Be Named
Tomorrow and Report Is to Be
Made on Thursday Candi
dates Are Xot Boomed.
Wheels of the National Education
Association Convention started turning
yesterday with the opening session of
the National Council of Education, the
nner circle or governing body of the
N. E. A. This intricate educational
machine will gather momentum until
n Tuesday the peak of Its manv activ
ities will have been reached.
The Portland meeting Is ennch.l in
the history of the organization. With ,
auuu active and 17.000 associate mem
bers making it the biggest educational
rganizatton In the world, a convention
has never before been held west of St.
ui or north of Denver.
Meetings have been held in Oakland
and Los Angeles, Cal.; Denver and St.
Paul and Minneapolis. But in a dis
trict that covers a quarter of the whole
p of the United States, the N. K. A.
has never before pitched its annual
camp. Both Seattle and Spokane have
Invited the convention, but neither has
been successful in getting it. Now
Portland feels a deep sense of gratitude
because Washington and Idaho delega
tions. In fact, the whole Pacific Coast,
joined with Portland in bringing the
present convention here.
Woman May Be President.
Another thing Is more than likalv
to occur that will mark the Portland
meeting; as decidedly distinctive among
all the sessions of the association. That
is the anticipation, somewhat tenta
tive as yet ana unformed ii the minds
of any considerable group of officers
or delegates, that a woman will be
elected president of the N. E. A. for
the coming year.
The association has had only one
woman president in all Its history.
This was when Mrs. Ella Flagg Young,
noted Chicago educator, was chosen in
1912. The association this year is
meeting in a woman's country, where
women are equal In political and other
status with men, and It is felt a com
pliment will be paid, both to the large
woman membership of the association
and to the Pacific Coast section of
the country.
whether or not a woman shall be
elected to head the association for
the coming year or who she may be
will not be known until later this
week. The nominating committee will
be named tomorrow and its report will
be made on Thursday. The following
day the vote on officers will be taken.
Candidates Xot Boomed.
It is not ethical In National Educa
tion Association circles to discuss the
chances of candidates or to launch
booms for hish places in the associa
tion. There are no candidates and
there are no booms, so far as the out
ward and visible signs go, at anv rate.
The nominating committee will go into
earnest session and its decision will
probably be followed at the business
session on Friday.
Presidents in the N. E. A. serve only
one term, so Robert K. Aley will not
be re-elected. This ia quite possible
with the secretary, Durand W. Spring
er, however, since he has already served
live terms In that position.
There are no booms, either, so far
sprung by cities that want the next
convention, so far as the naked eye
can observe them. It Is thought likely
the 1918 convention will go to the
Middle West, although if the war con
tinues another year it is thought the
plum will not be ripe and juicy at
might otherwise be the case. National
conventions in war time being some- -
what attenuated in point of attendance
and rather apt to be weak and flabby
in results when sharing interest with
world war.
Meeting; to Be Important.
The chief business of the session.
aside from the consideration of some
what technical educational subjects
and their related topics to be taken
up by the 14 allied organizations now
meeting here, is, as Carroll G. Pearse.
of Milwaukee, Wis., chairman of the
board of trustees, puts it, to throw its
weight behind the Impulse toward an
efficient democracy. The school sys
tem of the country, he explains, has
always been known, and widely so. for
its entire democracy. Of this there
can be no question, nor any hint of
cavil.
Mr. Pearse Is perhaps the most pow
erful man In influence and educational
equipment in the inner circles of the
National Education Association. What
he has to say is considered good N. E.
A. gospel. He said:
"While this will not be the largest
meeting that the association has held.
I think if the promise of the meeting
is fulfilled it will be one of the most
important for 50 years. Not since the
Civil War has the Nation faced such
problems as it does today. The solu
tion of these problems lies in three
words educate, educate, educate.
"The Portland meeting will shape
the educational ideals and policy of
the country for many years to come.
It will line the educators of the
Nation up solidly back of the Govern
ment in the pursuit of the ideals for
which we are striving in this great
war."
Klnancea Are Problem.
The attitude of the United States to
ward education for Its children, in view
of the war situation, is another big
subject that is certain to be ventilated
at some length during the convention
sessions. Whether or not to pull the
pursestrings tighter as regards edu
cational expenditures in view of the
heavy demand for war expenses is a
problem at this time.
England has taken the vrew that
retrenchment In school expenses is im
perative, but France has taken Just the -opposite
viewpoint and has decided
that more, rather than less, shall be
spent for schools.
John H. Finley. State Commissioner
of Education for New York and presi
dent of the University of New York, is
on the programme for next Thursday
morning in the school administration
section, of which o. M. Plummer, of
this city, is president. Mr. Finley
sailed two weeks ago from France,
where he went Into this subject rather
fully. It is believed to be his belief
that the course of wisdom Is to in
crease the funds available for schools .
and to keep the boys and girls In
school: that reconstruction after the
war will demand the best brains, and
that they must be best equipped for
the gigantic task before them.
This message from Mr. Finley Is
likely to be a big note in the conven
tion. It is hoped he can attend, and. if
not. Thomas E. Finegan. of Albany,
X. Y., who comes as the representative
of the New York Board of Education,
will undoubtedly represent Mr. Finley
on the programme.