New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-17

have been travelling for nearly three weeks
through six Middle Western States, talking
about the war with all classes of people
farmers. labor leaders, newspaper editors,
college professors, business men and state
officials have been trying to get at the ped
rock sentiment of the people regarding 1t
and to set it down exactly as | find it.
Lack of Popular Enthusiasm
Almost without exception, even among
those who favor the war most vigorously
the people | have talked with nave COM
mented upon the lack of popular enthusiasm
for the war. The more closely these people
were connected with the farmers or the
workingrcn the more sweeping and positive
were their statements The attitude OF the
people is wholly different from what it was at
the time of the opening of the Spanish War IN
1898. There arc no heroic slogans, no boast
fulness. no excitement, no glamour OF war
There is still a great deal OF hazlhess
about the real issues and great deal oil
doubt about how far America should go
beyond mere defensive measures. One oil
the foremost political leaders of the west
himself an ardent supporter of the war,
told me that if secret ballot were 70
be taken as TO whether American armies
should be sent to France the vote would DC
overwhelmingly against IT. 1t IS noteworthy
also. that the newspapers are full OF abe eH
rlar1tions Of the reasons why We are at war
and why We should 60 forward with IT.
ven. TO a great Red Cross meeting at tne
Auditorium in Chicago on the night of Regis
ration Day. 1t was addressed by Mr.. Taft.
who devoted his entire speech not to the
Red Cross. but TO a comprehensive eXplaha-
alton of the events leading up to the war;
and the reasons why we are in II. And hnai-
l., there are nowhere as yet any evidences
Of the passions and the hatred which war
enccrders. People do not hate the Germans
or Austrians or Turks; nor do they love the
British.
Not Shouting but Going Forward Anyway
/ On the other hand. if there is little enthu-
siasm. the people arc everywhere taxing 'he
war as grim necessity, feeling that they
have been forced into it by events beyond
tbeir control. and they are going forward
NOR, or less reluctantly, with the prepara-
tons: but they are really gong forward
The draft was not popular; people wished u
might have been done in some other way
and in some groups Of population 1T was
hated and feared. and yet through all TINS
country there has been wonderful ana
complete compliance with the law. In the
same way the Liberty Loan is not popular.
There is no popular rush to subscribe, and
il has required an enormous amount OF or
ccnizaton. advertising and pressure to sell
the bonds. and yet they are being sold, ana
, will be sold. do not know that the
! West is any different from the East IN
this respect. but this is the situation as
! il actually exists. 1t is fact that the west
thus far has done far better in the matter
of voluntary enlstments than the East Ind
| ana was the first state of large populetlon
I to ill its quota. and Michigan and Illinois
have not been far behind. with enlistments
two or three times as great in proportion
/ to population rs New York or New England.
And yet, here as elsewhere, there have been
no signs of any popular rush to enlist, and
men have been obtained only By dint OF the
most vigorous advertising and organization.
/ II is significant also that more than half of
! those registered in Chicago are demanding
exemption.
Red Cross Popular
The only real enthusiasm that could find
was in such campaigns as that of the Red
Cross. the Y. VI. c. A.. and here and there
| in work for the American Ambulance in
France. The work Of women everywhere for
/ the Red Cross is remarkably organized and
we'll supported. In Chicago a three weeks
campaign for the Red Cross, led by Charles
/ Wacker. citizen of German origin. netted
over 100000 members, the largest membership
at present in any American city. OF the
I value of these activities, no matter what hap
pens. the people arc convinced.
This is as nearly true statement OF the
general situation as can make. have met
a GOOD many men who think that this state
of the popular mind, this deliberate and pas
sionless method OF doing what is regarded as
disagreeble duty, is the best possible
method of going into the great war, and 1t
must be admitted that there Is something
tremendous and deadly about it. What more
can YOU ask? We don't like it, but we're GO
| ing through with il to the end. What more
| could We do il we got excited?