The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, July 26, 1920, Page 6

1 4 | ' i e g R S e i | ! Philadelphia Woman Rep_lies to Attacks Mrs. HA P. Comes Back Don’t Be So Foolish as to Try to Change the Rules, She Says DITOR Nonpartisan Leader: I thank you for sending me your issue con- taining the answers of some of your readers to my letter. I didn’t expect you would print my letter, but since you were fair enough to do so I am inclosing my subscription to the Leader. It is so diverting! But really I can not be expected to re- ply specifically to all those good but misled women who were incensed at what I said. = I didn’t mean to give my OPINION, or to argue any controversial matter. I only wanted to give the FACTS of nature and society. Your interest- ing women, who are so intense in their views (God bless them), are trying to hold ME responsible for the facts of life—for the truth about the LAW OF PROGRESS. But, my dears, I didn’t design this scheme of things. If I had had'gny say about it I assure you I would have consulted you all and per- haps made the laws of nature and progress differ- ent from what they are. t A well-known writer once said that if he had been the Creator he would have made it so the .TRUTH always TRIUMPHED, and so'“innocence would always be a perfect shield.” But truth, doesn’t always triumph—at least not here below— and neither is innocence always a perfect shield. Now, my dears, because I state these facts does not mean that I APPROVE of the truth not always triumphing, or of the innocent having to suffer for the guilty. Not at all. I merely state -the facts. And so I may not approve of the LAW OF PROG- ‘RESS as it exists. I merely state it as a fact, which all philosophers (except Bolshevik ones) grant, that there must be inequality (rich and poor) if there is to be progress. : . “WE” HAVE THE PRESS, THE PULPIT, SHE SAYS You and your interesting but misled friends want equality, stagnation and no progress. Now, one of the inequalities ‘which makes for progress is the existerice of rich and poor. Why? Because human nature demands INCENTIVE before it will work and fight—in other words, before it will progress. .Wealth, riches, power are incentives. There must be a class enjoying these privileges to provoke de- sire and release energy in the poor, who struggle for these rewards. And in that struggle genius is developed and the unfit weeded out. Hence prog- ress of the human race. Don’t blame me for making human nature what - it is, or for stating the facts. If you are poor, get out and work and learn and fight to get on top under the rules of the game as laid down by God and nature. Do not clamor about dividing up or try to overthrow the government. You can’t anyway, for we as a people have seen to it that the press,, the pulpit, the schools, and all educational avenues and places of power and influence are in the hands of safe and sane people—people who understand the scheme of things as decreed by God and nature. Some of you thought I felt superior to your peo- ple because my husband and I have made our stake and are able to live in ease and give our children all the advantages. When my husband was a strug- gling broker on the stock exchange, working night and day, and we were poor, I never gave up, and he didn’t. T don’t feel superior to anybody, but I do resent it when ignorant or designing agitators stir up people to be discontented with the rules of the game. If -you can not win under the rules laid down, don’t you think it might be YOUR fault, and not the fault of the rules? And are you so foolish to think that you can change the rules so that the weak, the uneducated, the unfit can pull down the strong, the intelligent and the fit? . ; I hope I have not offended any of you. Philadelphia, Pa. .- MRS. H. A. P. MILLS TO TEACH WOMEN To offset the influence of the anti-Leagtie and the reactionary women’s clubs of the larger cities of the United States, Doctor Walter Thomas Mills, League lecturer, writer and scholar, is organizing a class for women at his political science school in Berke- ley, Cal. : % The class will be held in January and February, beginning January 8, 1921. The school is located near the University of California, on San Fran- cisco bay. The students will receive training as organizers, lecturers, editors and committeemen and kindred subjects, including legislation. Mrs. Alpha Salmon Ventzke, superintendent of schools in the state of Washington, and Mrs. Wil- liam Bouck, wife of the master of the Washington State Grange, and other prominent women have en- rolled for the class. ,Mr. Bouck is in the men’s class. A REAL EDUCATOR Miss Ruth Johnson, who was nominated in the recent North Dakota primaries with League ~indorsement for state superintendent of schools, has a record in education unrivaled by any other candidates for that office in many years. MISS JOHNSON’S RECORD .In the nomination of Miss Ruth Johnson of Ti- oga, N. D., the people of North' Dakota have se- lected one of the best-fitted educators of the North- west to make the race for state superintendent of schools. Miss Johnson ‘believes in education, as evidenced by her own remarkable record, as follows: Attended high-school at East Aurora,IlL; offereda scholarship in the Ladies’ seminary at Rockford, Lil. Attended summer school at DeKalb normal school (11.) and taught three years in the rural schools of Illinois. = Attended two summer schools at the Valley City normal and taught the Colgate village school as principal. » - Entered the Valley City normal and graduated in 1908. She received the $100 teaching scholarship and at the special request of President McFarland and the faculty returned to the nmormal for the ad- vanced course. She graduated again‘in 1909 and was a member of -the first class to take this course. Her name occurs in the teachers’ list in the Valley City normal. s : "Entered the University of Wisconsin at Madison and graduated in 1911 with the degree of Ph. B, a degree given those who specialize in ‘education. She was offered a teaching fellowship in history by.. the University of Wisconsin. Bt 5 Attended summer ‘school at the University of Wisconsin in 1913 and did post-graduate work, Taught history, civics and economics for six years in the high schools of Wisconsin and in‘ 1917 ac- cepted the prineipalship of the consolidated school at Judd. “The two years following (1918-1919) she: ~was principal of the consolidated school at Tioga, Williams county, and while there was tendered the nomination as candidate fqr state superintendent. ' THE FARM WOMAN’S PAGE Mills to Open Class to Teach League Worglen - Codfish Aristocracy Nevis (Minn.) Woman Gives Retort to Mrs. ~ H. A P’s Remarks DITOR Nonpartisan Leader: I have been a silent admirer of the Nonpar- tisan movement for some time, and have taken a great interest in the Woman’s page, but today, after read- ing the letter written by Mrs. H. A. P. of Philadelphia, I felt impelled to make some reply, According to this lady, it is.a very simple matter to mislead “we poor womén folks” or “lower class.” (Some of the worst crimes on record have been committed by some of the so-called “higher class.”) This lady is the wife of a clever business man. That may mean a whole lot, but is it an honor? You know Rockefeller is a very clever business man, but is he an honest one in the eyes of God? Will he have to account for the misery he has caused in accumulating that wealth? In the sight of God, who says, “It is easier for @ camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven,” how about it? Among the “leisure class” you will find any num- ber of young people “sowing their wild oats,” fit subjects for presidents, governors, statesmen and, most ridiculous of all, “captains of industry.” In regard to art and literature and educating children, this lady is only talking for show. There ‘is as much talent covered up under poverty (caused by the greedy ones crushing those who are less _hoggish and give up to them far too willingly) than the rich ever acquired, and one can not ac- quire refinement without a refined, gentle nature to stayt with—refinement in one sense is a gift of God. You know there js such a thing as “codfish aristocracy.” 3 ¢ Pk Mrs. H. A. P. can not educate her children to be- come broadminded “rulers of men” because she is too narrow and self-centered. i “COMMON HORSE SENSE” BETTER THAN SCHOOLING [ She may have education enough, but education must have a foundation; and that foundation should be yhat might be termed as “common horse sense.” How are most of these riches accumulated? Sim- vly by oppresgion. In the Bible (Mrs. H. A. P. quotes the scripture) find Zachariah, chapter 7, verses 10 and to the end of the chapter. Verse 10 says: “Oppress not the widow nor the fatherless, the stranger nor the poor.” “Then how about the young man who went to Christ and said: “Good Master, what good thing ~ shall T do that I may have eternal life?”” And he R . leisure class” has done, was told to keep-the commandments. The young man said: “All these things have I kept from my youth up; what lack I yet?” And Christ said: “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt -have treasure in heaven; and come follow me.” This rich young man went away sorrowful becatise he had great possessions. - Then Christ said ito his disciples: “Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.” I have failed to put myself into the “lower class,” although T am far from being rich (my father is one of these “clever business men,” shining with his diamonds, but I shrink from such.) T have as good blood in my veins as any one in the United States. I am a descendant of an ex-president, also of the Lees who took part in the Boston tea party, and others that I will not take time to mention, and of course I come of an educated people; musie, litera- .ture and art run in the family ag far back as I know, but since we of the present generation are not “rich” we are of course of the “lower class” and need “uplifting.? HELEE & " The Nonpartisan movement has done far more good for the deserving people than the “rich and £ We can not “love thy neighbor as thyself” and meet them on the street with'a cold, gléesy stare and pull our skirts to one side for fear some of the “lower class” might brush against us. I have lived in the city myself and know how empty-headed “modern society” is. I know one’ society lady of Omaha who purchased a- - Jeweled packet for her “dear little dog,” paying only $10,000 for it—a fit mother to rear governors, - future presidents and captains of industry.(?) ~ Nevis, Minn. -~ MRS. GLADYS STEEL.