CIVIC LEAGUE ARTICLE

The following article in the series published by the Intercollegiate Civic League is by Arthur Brisbane, editor of the New York Evening Journal. Mr. Brisbane has also held the position of London correspondent of the New York Sun, as well as having been managing editor of the New York World. the article follows:

"I am asked to answer this question: Should a young man on leaving college go into politics? If so, how?' The most important works of man are: Government, or politics; Original scientific research; Creative labor, in art, literature or music.

"He who does not give his thought to one of these three branches of human effort must necessarily do inferior work in life. The man who ignores politics because he lacks interest in humanity and in the problems of legislation, is no less contemptible than the man whose political activity is based upon desire for the profit it may yield him.

"The simplest, narrowest field of political activity is discussion with your neighbor. The widest field at present, with the possible exception of work in a few high offices difficult to reach, is offered by newspaper writing or management. If the college graduate realizes that he has thus far only 'learned to study'; if he combines a desire to learn with a capacity for receiving strong impressions and a real sympathy with the people; if he is willing to wait a long while, and perhaps indefinitely, for wealth, I should advise him to seek political and other useful activity in newspaper work.

"Journalism is in its babyhood. It needs new men, new energy, enthusiasm and earnest conviction above all. I saw in one young group of Columbia law students three or four men at least out of a dozen that would make useful newspaper workers. I believe that in devoting their lives to the fights of the people through journalism, these young students could find greater happiness than in selling their energies to corporation fights in the court-room.

"Already it is possible for one newspaper writer in this country to talk to ten millions of Americans in a day. If the young graduate were taken back to old Athens, he would not miss a chance to have his say in the public square. The editorial column of a great newspaper is the public square of today. The man who talks in that column has the opportunity of the orator that addressed the ancient Athenian crowd.

"Politics offers innumerable opportunities for American ability of all kinds. Our government has become an industrial organization largely--a system of industrial feudalism better organized already than old military feudalism. Concentration of industrial wealth and power means added government responsibility for the protection of citizens dealing with monopolies. The government will need hereafter especially capable business minds in politics, as well as mental leaders and political thinkers of the old kind.

"Newspaper work brings a man in contact with politics and politicians. It makes it easy for him to engage actually in politics if he wishes. It should convince him that the effort to influence politics for the benefit of people outside of office is more satisfactory than any work that can be done in office. Newspaper work of today is largely anonymous, and that fact is discouraging to those that would delight in the sound of their own names. But let a man select for his guiding thought the half cynical toast of old Teufelsdroch: Die Sacheder Armen in Gottes und Teufels Namen.'

"Let him work as hard as he can for the millions of human atoms unknown to him, as he is unknown to them. Let him find satisfaction in good work and be content to say with the old philosopher of Weissnich: Two writings of mine, not indeed known as mine (for what am I), have fallen, perhaps not altogether void, into the mighty seed-field of Opinion; fruits of my unseen sowing gratifyingly meet me here and there. I thank the Heavens that I have now found my calling; Wherein, with or without perceptible result, I am minded diligently to persevere.