Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-04-17
An Open Letter to YOU
From Woodrow Wilson

ranted manipulation of the nations food
supply by those who handle it on its
way to the consumer This is our OPP
portunity to demonstrate the efficiency
of a great democracy and we shall not
fall short of it.
MIDDLEMEN ARE WARNED.
This, let me say to the m1ddlemen of
every sort, whether they are handling
manufacture or our raw materials of
manufacture or the products of our mills
and factories: The eyes of the country
will be especially upon you. This IS
your opportunity for signal service, eff
ficient and disinterested. The country
expects you. as it expects all others. to
forego unusual profits, to organize and
expedite shipments of supplies of every
kind, but especially of food with an
eye to the service you are rendering and
in the spirit of those who enlist in the
ranks, for their people, not for them
selves. / shall confidently expect you
to deserve and the confidence of people
of every sort and station"
ITO the men who run railways of the
country, whether they be managers or
operative employees, let me say that
the railways are the arteries of the ma
tons life and that upon them rests the
immense responsibility of seeing that
those arteries suffer no obstruction of
any kind, no inefficiency or slackened
power. To the merchant let me suggest
the motto: Small Profits and Quick
Service and to the shipbuilder the
thought that the life of the war depends
upon him. The food and the war sup
plies must be carried across the seas,
no matter how many ships are sent to
the bottom. The places of those that
go down must be supplied and supplied
he stands where the farmer does; the
work of the world waits on him. If
he slackens or fails, armies and states
men are helpless. He also is enlisted
in the great service army. The manu-
facturer does not need to be told, l
hope, that the nation looks to him to
speed and perfect every process, and L
want only to remind his employees that
their service is absolutely indispensI-
BILE and is counted on by every man who
loves the country and it's liberties.
Let me suggest. also. that every one
who creates or cultivates a garden helps,
and helps greatly, to solve the problem
of the feeding of the nation, and that
every housewife who practices strict
economy puts herself in the ranks of
those who serve the nation. This is
the time for America to correct her un-
pardonable fault of wastefulness and
extravaganza. Let every man and ev-
cry woman assume the duty of careful,
provident use and expenditure as pub
lie duty, asa dictate of patriotism which
no one can expect ever to be excused
or forgiven for ignoring.
''In the hope that this statement of
the needs of the nation and of the world
in this hour of supreme crisis may
stimulate those to whom it comes and
remind all who need reminder of the
solemn duties of a time such as the
world has never seen before, L beg that
all editors and publishers everywhere
will give as prominent publication ana
as wide circulation as possible to this
appeal. 1 venture to suggest, also, 10
all advertising agencies that they would
give it Widespread repetition. And l
hope that clergymen will not think the
theme of it an unworthy or inappro-
pirate subject of comment and homily
from their pulpits.
1.-THE supreme test of the nation has
come. We must all speak, act and
serve together!
srVOOnPnW WILSON"