Current Events

CURRENT EVENTS A Study for the Advanced Senior Class M. I. A., 1927-28 1— ART AND LITERATURE Commercial Value of Art. — It is interesting to note the progress that has been made in the past few years in the development of art and beauty along with the mechanical and practical devices, utensils and machines which are being used, Henry Ford is credited with the remark that he wouldn't give five cents for all the art the world has produced; yet we are forced to acknowledge that the new Ford car is much more attractive in design than the first models which were placed upon the market. Mr. Ford's blunt statement expressed the opinion of most manufacturers a few years back. Art was just for museums and those of an impractical turn of mind. Mr. Ford persisted in the belief that art and beauty were unnecessary for some years, and broke all records of production and distribution sales of automobiles with his homely car. But, according to Mr. E. E. Calkins, writing in the Atlantic Monthly for August, 1927, he felt too secure in the belief that he had solved the problem of car manufacture when he put out a homely car at low cost, and that if it did its work, namely, got there, that was all that was necessary. Meanwhile, other manufacturers of cars, having solved the problems of utility, turned their attention to beauty in line and color, and another company added design and color to mechanical efficiency with the result that for the first time in the history of motor cars, the Ford Company was exceeded by a rival manufacturer in the output of cars. At the present time beauty in line and color is a big factor in the buying and selling of automobiles; and isn't it true of most of the devices and machines which are used at the present time? In the past the wonder of machinery kept us from thinking about the ugliness, but the demand for beauty has grown so much in the past few years that any article into which art has been introduced has a much greater selling value, even though it may be no more useful. In many lines of industry art has become an important factor, as we can all observe, one notable example being the evolution of the phonograph from an unsightly box to the beautiful piece of furniture it is today. Everything about us points to an awakening of industry to the benefits of beauty in our surroundings. The introduction of beauty to manufactured articles may be credited to the advertising profession, and we need but to look through the current magazines to see to what extent art has entered the advertising field. As a result of this invasion of art into the mechanical and commercial world, a new type of artists has been developed, and these men have broken away from the old academic traditions with the result that a new field has been opened up to them, one with greater and larger opportunities and greater financial reward, until the day seems to be past when artists need to eke out a mere existence by the occasional selling of a picture, for art has corns into business; and beauty as well as utility can be bought. QUESTIONS 1 . Discuss the reasons why the attitude toward art and beauty are changed. 2. Is the love of beauty instinctive in man? 3. Discuss the part art and beauty play in the palatability of food. Read Atlantic Monthly for August, 1927, also American Review of Reviews for September, 1927, page 327.

1120 IMPROVEMENT ERA 2 — POLITICS AND INDUSTRY I. "The Next Age in Transportation." "The Automobile has exerted a more profound influence upon our national life in the last two decades than any other factor." QUESTIONS 1. Is this statement true? 2. What particular industries have been greatly accelerated by this industry? 3. Do you think that we have reached the zenith yet? 4. What other branch of the motor era is rapidly coming to the front? Is it likely to exert as profound an influence on our national life? 5. How does the United States compare with Germany in commercial air travel? What has been the effect of aviation on Germany? 6. May not the aeroplane turn out to be the dove of peace to the world and help mankind to forget the sordidness of earth and expand under its influence yet to reach the age of good will and tolerance and fully to realize the handiwork of God? (Reference — WorW's Work, Sept., 1927, p. 460.) II. Farm Relief Again. From all appearances it looks as if the Farm-Relief bill will come up again in the next Congress. But whether it will be the McNary-Haugen bill vetoed by the President last February or an Administrative measure no one knows. Some think that it will be the former; others that it will be the latter. The reason for the first view is that no other bill will satisfy the farmers. Too, it was opposed by President Coolidge chiefly because it proposed to take the Government into the business of price-fixing. Now that the President's influence has likely been diminished by the announcement that he "does not choose to run for President next year," he may no: be able to restrain Congress from passing it over his veto. Those of the latter view think that if there is any farm legislation it will be in the nature of a substitute in the form of an administrative measure. This plan assumes that the central factor is one of marketing and that the farmer will be given the machinery through a government credit to cooperative marketing associations. The plan proposed is as follows: "1. A Federal farm board of three members, to be appointed by the President and Secretary of Agriculture. With the credit resources provided, the board would assist in stabilizing markets against excessive fluctuations. "2. Advisory councils consisting of seven members for each commodity * * selected by the board from names submitted by cooperative associations * * who with the board could place before the farmers a more complete picture of the supply and demand, etc. "3. Commodity stabilizing corporations would be established by the board, in order to centralize control and responsibility, * * * Capital stock would be kept at a minimum to make government participation unnecessary, and would be subscribed by cooperatives. ' 4. "A revolving fund of $300,000,000 is suggested. Of this amount $25,000,000 would be loaned by cooperative associations for plant, etc.; $25,000,000 for expenses, and $25,000,000 would be loaned to the stabilization corporations for the purchase of farm products on the topen market during periods of price depression." The Secretaries of Agriculture, Treasury and Commerce are said to favor this compromise farm-relief bill. Which of these two measures will

CURRENT EVENTS 1121 be passed no one can predict now, but doubtless some kind of a farm-relief measure will be offered. QUESTIONS 1. Why the need of a farm-relief bill? 2. What was the McNary- Haugen bill? 3. Why was it defeated and when? 4. In what ways does thi new administrative measure particularly differ from the McNary-Haugen bill? 5. What Secretaries favor the new bill and why? 6. Discuss the merits of the subject in the class. (References: Literary Digest, Aug. 27, 1927, p. 8.) 3— RELIGION AND SOCIAL SERVICE QUESTIONS 1. Does "the salvation of the modern world depend upon the mutual understanding and reaction upon each other of business and the church? 2. What about the inactive membership of a church? 3. Would it be profitable for the church to know just what each member things of the church and just why lax members do not become active? 4. Why is Sunday needed more than ever as a day of home rest and spiritual communion rather than as a time of social activities? 5. What has turned leading college students away from electing the ministry? These are some of the questions and problems handled by Bruce Barton in an article "The Church Nobody Knows" — Colliers, June, 1927, con- densed in the Readers Digest, July, 1927. If Mr. Barton is hunting a church that is business-like and yet functions effectively in the field of spirituality, which one should he investigate, about which he apparently knows nothing? QUESTIONS 1. What does it mean to keep faith with one's self and with society? 2. Who was the man and what his vocation who refused to accept a million dollars for a discovery of a cure for the rickets? 3. What did he do with his discovery and what was the only thing he wanted out of it? 4. What daes being a scientist and a teacher mean to this scientist and teacher? 5. How was the wonderful discovery made of a food cure for the terrible disease? These questions may be answered by a study of an article — "He Passed By a Million Dollars," by Frazier Hunt in Cosmopolitan, June. 1927. and Readers Digest, July, 1927. QUESTIONS 1 . What organization, the first and only one of its kind chartered in the United States, is known as the 4 A's? 2. What are the two great objectives of the organization? 3. What is its nine-point program? 4. What of the insert picture of the article. See: "The Spread of Atheism in the Schools." — Literary Digest. July 2, 1927, pages 28-29. After reading this article one can appreciate the words of the late Dr. Karl G. Maeser who from atheism turned to "Morrhonism," and repeatedly said: "I would sooner turn my child over to a rattlesnake than to an atheist."

1122 IMPROVEMENT ERA Discuss the breaking down of atheism under the weight of its own foolishness. Should atheism be legislated against? If so, why? If not, why not? QUESTIONS 1. Who are scoff-laws? 2. What is behind the attitude of a scoff-law? 3. What are the effects of the efforts of the scoff -laws (a) on themselves? (b) on the government? (c) on society? 4. Wherein is a scoff-law more of an anarchist than a patriot? See Literary Digest, August 6, 1927, p. 34. SOME OTHER SPLENDID ARTICLES FOR READING, CONTEMPLATION, CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION 1. "Spiritual Value in Science," by Professor Victor E. Levine, Creightoh University, Omaha, Nebraska,- Scientific Monthly, August, 1927. 2. "Science and Religion," by Professor I. W. Howerth, State Teachers College, Greeley. Colorado. Especially valuable is his conclusions, p. 161, Scientific Monthly, August, 1927. 3. "Refuting Wells on Christianity," Literary Digest, August 27, 1927, p. 32. Teachers should feel at liberty to select from, supplement, and even to substitute, these outlines. A Virile Organization Tb.2 No-Tobacco League of America recently held its annual convention at Winona Lake, Indiana. Over three thousand were present at various sessions with people enrolled from twenty-two states, four provinces of Canada, Australia, China and Japan. Reports showed an unusually prosperous year. Professor F. M. Gregg, head of the Department of Psychology of Nebraska Wesleyan University, was re-elected President, Charles M. Fillmore, Indianapolis, was elected Ganeral Secretary for his eighth year. The wide influence which this organization is beginning to exert is suggested in the following letter received recently at head- quarters from the manager of the Publicity Department of one of the oldest and strongest denominations: "I am very much interested in learning definitely concerning the No- Tobacco League which I am told is the best and the most effective organization in this country to combat the tobacco evil. I wish you would send me such literature as gives details concerning your work." Of course, the desired information was gladly sent to him as it will be sent to anyone who is interested enough to write for it to Chas. M. Fillmore, Genaral Secretary, No-Tobacco League, 821 Occidental Building, Indianapolis, Indiana.