The Washington herald., 1917-04-13
How the Editors Are Viewing
America and the World War
Consre.. Cannot Fool Germany.

Congress Cannot Fool Germany.
New York World
Every mistake that the United States
makes in this war must be paid for in
blood and treasure. To blunder is to
prolong the war. Prolonging the war
means killing men that need not have
been hlled, destroying property that need
not have been destroyed and adding new
burdens to the load of suffering and mis-
Iery under which humanity is staggering.
II Is vital that in all our military un-
dertakings we should start on right lines
and continue on right lines.
Members OF Congress may be confident
that this country can raise an effective
army by the volunteer system. but the
German general staff knows better. II
We adopt the volunteer system the Ger
man government will rightly assume that
We are not going into the war seriously
and that our military activities will re-
suit in more harm than good to the
cause for which We are fighting. To
start with the volunteer system is to
adopt a military establishment that will
strengthen. not weaken, the German mo-
rale.
II the German general stan could die
tate the military policy Of the United
States II would adopt the plans OF the
members Of Congress who are determin-
ed that we must handicap our military,
industrial and economic effectiveness with
an antiquated volunteer system which.
whatever its original merits. has no more
place in this present war than a smooth
bore cannon.
As an illustration OF the folly of which
the volunteer advocates are capable. Gov.
Capper declares that $50 no volunteers
will come forward" In Kansas if the Pres
ident asks for them. The present state
of recruiting in Kansas proves the con-
trary, but even II Gov. Capper were
right It would be a national calamity
to take 5000 men from the farms of Kan
sas and put them in the army-a calam-
ity equivalent to the loss of a great bat
tie
War Book for schools.
kansas City starl
Why should not the Federal govern
ment issue pamphlet for use In all the
public schools Of the country, giving an
account of 10 causes of the war, OF
the issues involved and the reasons for
the participation of the United States?
1t Is important that the boys and girls
who are to constitute the next genera
tfon have a correct understanding of this
tremendous episode in history. that they
do not develop rancor. prejudice and one
sided views. and that they see the con-
flict not as a fight to show we "can
lick somebody. but as part of the world
wide democratic movement which will
free the German people as well as the
rest of the world from the domination
OF a wrong set of ideas-ideas that arc
hostile to the real interests Of civiliza-
tion.
A primer like book prepared with
these ends in view would be of immense
service to teachers In presenting the sub
ject % the war judicially and correctly.
The usefulness of such a publication
would depend entirely. Of course on the
manner in which 1t was prepared. 1t
ought to be written by a man of the
highest standing, of known sincerity of
purpose. and with the ability to write
clearly and Interestingly.
This newspaper knows no one SO We'll
fitted for this task as former President
Eliot. of Harvard University. 1t believes
there could be no finer national invest
ment than put a pamphlet on America
in the War" by President Eliot, in the
hands of every school teacher in the
United States, and in the hands Of as