Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-10


and facility at its command will be
needed in the struggle which must of
necessity eusue. The time has passed
when raw materials alone will suffice TO
successfully overcome a vigilant, we'll
educated and eXpertly led enemy. The
success OF those with whom we are con-
tending at the present moment in the. in
terest OF democracy depends on the fact
that they have capitalized their raw re-
sources OF men. materials and money.
While all OF these are important, men
after all constitute the chief and de-
termining factor. because they are capa-
BILE OF taking high training and even
Quadruplng their efficiency for service
in comparatively short period OF time.
Our leaders have wisely taken steps for
the mobilization of our money resources,
and the people have responded in a
splendid burst OF enthusiastic patriot
ism. with the result that the Liberty
Loan was oversubScribed more than so
per cent. The national defense board
has assembled and mobilized the eng1-
neering and industrial talent of the
country, and already the efficiency of the
railroads has been wonderfully increased,
and the government assured OF an ade-
Quate supply OF copper. Nateel and other
necessary raw materials at reasonable
prices A great program OF ship build
ing has been iuaugurated. Excellent
progress is being made in the equip
ment OF the army and the navy. The
registration under the selective draft
was accomplished with wonderful skill
and stands out as a fitting tribute TO
the patriotism OF the men Of the United
States who are affected by it's terms and
provisions
We are busiIy at work organizing our
agriculture in order that we may not
rna Ia
but provide abundant supplies of food
for our army. our navy and our allies.
II is meet and proper that We should be
preaching and practicing the conserva-
tion Of all our forms of energy and or
ganizing and taking stock of all our re-
sources This review of conditions
makes me feel that substantial progress
is being made along most lines and that
We are laying such a secure foundation
on which TO build the superstructure of
our war affairs that we will gradually
accumulate strength ard be a more pow
erful adversary with which TO deal with
the passage of each succeeding day.
In the excitement of the moment,
however, il seems TO me that there is
grave danger of our neglecting and
overlooking one matter equally as fun
damental as any Of the others men,
toned This relates to the education
for leadership. both now and in the pc
Rod which will Immediately follow the
close of the war. 1t is evident that
the preparations now on foot will call
away from ali phases of public service
work many Of our most capable. we'll
trained and experienced workers and
leaders IL has taken US from ten to
twenty-vice years to train many of
them Who are TO take their places?
There are still millions of men left who
8 have enjoyed the training of our public,
or high schools. our more important
specialized secondary schools, or indus
trial and technical schools. But they are
not men who are capable with the train
ing they now enjoy OF taking the
places Of the experts who have directed
the closely fntertwined agricultural.
manufacturing and commercial indus
tries OF our country. Do we realize the
gravity. therefore, OF the existing situa-
ton. and are we Fastening TO make the
necessary preparation for training a
new set of leaders TO take the places Of
. those who have gone or who will pre-
sently 20 to the front2 / fear this Ques-
ton has not received the attention and
consideration its importance merits. and
that we are not taking as active steps
along the line indicated as we should
The government in the hurly-burly of
war and with a thousand most exacting
problems demanding immediate atten-
ton pressing upon il has not found time
or opportunity yet to consider the mat
ter in its details and point out to the
respective states and communities the
gravity of the situation and the neces-
sity for taking action which will in
sure our institutions of higher learn
ing being filled TO overlooking next fall
with the best and brightest OF the
young men who have graduated from
our high schools OF who for some phys
fcal defect have been rejected under the
terms and provisions OF the selective
& draft. There are thousands upon thou
sands of young men capable of being
DEVELOPED into the most efficient and
satisfactory leaders In a comparatively
short time TO take the places of those
who have gone TO the front or who will
presently BE- called TO the colors. The
question is whether the fathers and
mothers OF these young men. or whether
the state and the nation as whole
realize the necessity Of seeing that they
enjoy the facilities and opportunities
for training which the exigencies of the
situation demands. II is sincerely to be
hoped that every young man exempted
from military training will endeayor TO
prepare himself for specialized service
= in one OF our numerous state or private
institutions Of learning. While con-
servation and economy should now be
practiced. the highest type of patriotism
demands that We do not curtail the eff
cheney Of our institutions of higher
learning through a failure 10 support
them properly in this hour of trial and
stress Parents should not hesitate to
encourage their sons and daughters to
prepare themselves for leadership Even
though the financial strain may be
great. there is nothing they can do
which will serve the needs OF the
country more effectively.
II our people are properly aroused
along the line indicated. the legislatures
of the various states will find the means
with which 10 support and enlarge the
facilities and equipment Of the various
institutions concerned. and the parents
will find the means with which TO send
their boys and girls to college If i'm
mediate action is taken. we can out OF
our raw supplies OF young men and
women develop the leaders to take the
places of those who have already gone.
and we will have a constant stream ris-
ing up to take the places Of such other
leaders as NAV he called to the front
as occasion requires. Even should the
war terminate shortly and with much
less loss of life and suffering than now
una-,s almost certain. there viii be