The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-10-20
(By Fred r. oitney.3

Wy EiSA u. -AlHcys7
Editors Note: This is an article
by Fred B: Pitney: a noted foreign col.
the French government on the food
supply Of France, but he has lived in
France during the war and speaks from
hand knowledge Of the conditions there.
Statesmen and politicians have had the
mistaken belief that they. are the only
enough to face the entire truth. Con-
sequently when the nation is hard
pressed and its man-power Is low and
food supplies nearing a low ebb, they
people and endeavor to reassure them
with false hopes. Politicians have also
officially denied reports of meager
tec in order to give FRANCE
This, the writer shows, is a dangerous
policy since it results in conflicting
reports and weakens confidence of the
people in their government
Telling the truth about the food
situation in France is an extremely
difficult thing to do, for one comes
Immediately into contact with so
many counter currents Of opinion.
There is no question in the mind of
any one cOnversant with the facts
that it is not only with Germany, but
with the allies. as we'll, that the food
situation is serious and needs prompt
and effective treatment. But in the
endeavor to deal with this question
one finds constantly in the official
mind an attempt to reconcile two ir-
reconcilable positions.
Cannot Win War Alone.
On the one hand, there is the open
and full recognition Of the seriousness
of the situation, of the demand for
prompt, full and efficacious co-opera-
ton and coordination of effort among
all the nations warning against Ger
many in order that each may be able
to sustain its striking power at the
point of highest efficiency. This
opinion recognizes that government
alone cannot win the war. 1t must
be war of the allied peoples against
Germany. And this opinion sees the
necessity of laying the situation fully
and fairly before the people so that
they will voluntarily adopt the con-
servaton methods necessary to vic
tory.
On the other hand, confused in the
same minds with this opinion there is
an idea that if the people are told
too much they will become fright
ened and will weaken. That is a
bald statement, very plainly put, but
that is what it boils down to. The
statesmen and politicians have a
peculiar idea that they are the only
men who are far-sighted enough and
strong enough to face the whole
truth and go on fighting. So they try
at the same tine to arouse the peo-
pie and to reassure them.
We find fine example of this in
the submarine. On the one side we
are told that our efforts to overcome
the submarine must be redoubled,
while on the other side we are told
the submarine is a failure and it is
to laugh at the German threats. In
regard to food we are told that the
allies must guard their every re-
source. and Immediately on top of
that we are told that they have re-
serve stocks for the next three years:
We are told that it is vitality neces-
sary for America to put great army
in the field at once and in the same
breath we hear that the Allied pre-
ponderence in man power over Ger
many is increasing every day.
Whole Truth Must Be known.
How can one expect to arouse a ma
ton to war with such stream of con-
Trajectory statements? My own opin-
ion is that the peoples of all the al
lied nations are strong enough to
know the whole truth and that,
knowing it, will only make them more
determined and fight harder, while at
the same time their collective action
will be much more intelligent. I do
not believe in any government trying
to win this war. I believe that only
an aroused nation will be victorious
And believe that the way to arouse
the nation is to lay every shred OF
fact fully and completely before the
people.
In France, however, one meets with
a third phase of official opinion that
further. complicates the situation
France has borne the brunt of the
fighting on the side of the allies for
three years. Her resources in men
and material have been strained to
the uttermost, and everyone realizes
that France cannot 60 on bearing the
brunt of the fighting for another
three years. Yet, French statesmen
are so afraid OF the possible effect
at time of peace conference Of al
admission that France needs assist.
ance now that Immediately the idea
is suggested there comes an official
denial in one form or another. French
statesmen. perhaps with reason. are
obsessed with the idea that France
will get an extremely short end of the
stick at the peace conference, il there
is a suspicion that she does not &C
into them stronger than she wen
into the war and able to fight on 70,
another million years. But how is
she going to get anything at the peace
conferences il the allies are not the
victors? And how are the allies tc
he the victors, unless the people Of
America know the full truth about
The task imposed on them?
This complicated situation make.
it extremely difficult. however. to tel
the truth about food conditions in the
CAGE of the imminent probabilities o.
thereby injuring susceptible officia
feelings.
Effect on Individual.
AS I have kept house in Paris dur