New Britain herald., 1917-06-07
[. 0f [. AWAKE ID
 THE MENACE OF WAR
Willing to Help Government
 With Internal Problems

MllQ lnlerlal PT0DlelllS
 Washington. D e.. Juno e.-Be- cause it believes spead In war activi- tie1 is imperative and that the prin- cipal obstruction to speed is the failure of the American people to realize that they arc at war. the Chamber of Commerce of the United States has a1oked its momberu to ex- press by wire their opinions on . plan for nation-w1dA campaign of in- formation to be conducted by the gov- ernment.
 The plan which is to be presented provides for the creation of . definite branch of the government whose job 1t will be to show the country, by means of advertising space in maga- zines and newspapers. posters. on bill- boards and the like. the magnitude of tho task confronting it.
 should Follow England's Example. ''The same fallacies that beset England" runs the appeal of the Nh- tional Chamber. ''are to be overcome in the United States. England, too, thought it would be . short war. six months at most. England, too. thought 1t would beN small Job. England. too. thought there wasn't anything special for the individual to do. that the government would do the work"
 It is felt that an urgent need exists for precisely the same kind of cam- paign of national education and in- formation as that conducted by tho English government when 1t came to the realization of what the war really meant. That campaign was immense ly successful in arousing the entire people of England to an understand ing of the war and to the obligation of personal service which 1t placed upon each individual citizen.
 Present conditions indicate clearly that Q great crisis is approaching in the war situation" the appeal to the National Chamber membership goes on. "and that 1t is probable the united efforts of America on . prodigous scale will be called for in the very near future. This means that the people must be stirred to . sense of their individual responsibilities in order that their whole-hearted CO., operation may be secured. This spirit and this cooperation can be ob- tained simultaneously throughout the country by means of properly di- rected national campaign of informa- ton under strong and intelligent headship.''
 Reasons Advanced for Action.
 Seven urgent matters, 1t is said, must be made clear to the people if we are to get that unified action which is necessary to hasten our war ac- tiv1ty: |. That tho banks cannot take care of the bonds. Tho bonds must be bought by individuals.
 2. That conscrtption does not carry with it anything of disgrace. It is as patriotic and much more effective than the medieval system of volunteering.
 3. That labor must be readjusted on . large scale. It must be made more productive. and its varied prob 1ems carefully considered.
 4. That food administration will necessarily be oppressive. but Is in the interest of all.
 5. That there is false and . proper national economy. Business in war time is not ':as usual.''
 6. That the intelligent co-opera- ton of women in both direct and in- direct branches of war effort Is ab- solutely essential.
 z. That there should be a central ized control for the systematic sup port of the families of those who go to war. This should be through the intelligent cooperation Of the govern ment, local organisations and em- ployers.
 War Possibilities Considered.
 Aside from the question of short ening the war;" the statement goes on. there are life-and-death reasons why the United States should speed preparations for the great conflict. There are possible and even probable contingencies which might cause the United States to boar the brunt of the fighting on her own shores:
 If Russia should collapse.
 "If the British fleet should be cver- come.
 If the foot situation should bring our allies to their knees.
 "If great reversals should be met on the western front.
 If the submarine menace be not checked.
 ''The impossible has happened 50 often in this war that any one of these is not impossible. The Germans should have gotten through at the Marne and captured Paris and Calais, and established control over the Channel. The English fleet should have annihilated tho German fest at The Central Powers should have been starved before the last harvest
 What the Plan Proposes.
 As explained by Elliott H. Go odwin. general secretary, the proposed am paign of education. should be consid- l