Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-11-30
A GATHERING OF THE GREATLY Frederic j. Haskin

looked entirely, one of the committee finally ap-
preached him on The matter.
what can you really afford, Bill?" was his
conciliating question
Bill took out bank book and did little fig
uring.
81 guess that can take three hundred thou
sand worth now-maybe a little more later on,
Bill explained.
OF course the traditional seedy government
clerk is still with us, although his seed1ness mas
been somewhat mitigated by raises of salary; but
in many of the wartime organizations there Is
plenty of material evidence that expense is
object" Such indispensable enterprises the
Red Cross, and others which have been organized
without aid from the regular government ma
chinery, have an especially prosperous look. Nor
are they undermined. Even the corridors of their
establishments are crowded with well-groomed and
industrious volunteer workers. 1t might be added
that neither are they under-womaned. The
seeker after information often finds that the in
cumbent of some desk with an imposing title is
member of the intuitive who keeps
surprising number of facts and ideas under hat
of the very latest style.
The part that big business Is playing in the
organization of America for war is we'll
known The public after a momentary shock has
become accustomed to the idea that one Of Wall
streets most spectacular pungers is engaged in
periodically cornering what the government needs
in the way of metals; that a railroad president,
trained in long warfare with the interstate COM
merce commission is now one of its most trusted
allies in solving the problems of traffic to which
the war has given rise; that of the greatest
retail merchants in America has placed his expert
Judgment in the matter of unshrinkable woollens
at the disposal of the president.
Less familiar is the extent to which the artistic
and intellectual classes have rallied round the war
standard. One single organization which has
for its purpose to give the public correct informa-
ton about what the government is doing and in
tends TO do has taken unto itself the cream of the
journalistic world. A man who has delighted
public of more than million with his humorous
verse and short stories accepted job bulletining
the progress of administrative activity. Posters
depicting the lessons of food conservation and the
necessity for buying bonds are drawn by an artist
who has covered acres of magazine covers with
chromatic visions of girlish loneliness. Another
patriotic poster artist formerly great scene
painter and from force of habit does all of his
work at night, greeting his chief in the morning
with tousled hair and red eyes and wonderful de-
signs worked out in the still small hours.
Everywhere in the government world 1t Is the
same talent not to say genius is there in force 1t
is always we'll to ponder over the name of Off
cial with whom you have business, and perhaps
look it up in who's " no." for it may be a house
hold word, and to betray ignorance of the fact
would be most unfortunate.
Brains indisputably having their innings in
the business of government. Above the grade of
stenographer, mediocrity has become almost rare
enough to constitute distinction; and whatever
mistakes may be made certainly cannot be blamed
upon it.