Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1918-12-13
WE MUST MAKE VICTORY REAL
LY COUNT FOR SOMETHING.
BY Leroy F. Jackson,
Professor of American History,
Washington State College.

Concluding article of series of
five.)
In view, then, of the difficult po-
litical position into which our coun-
try has been so abruptly thrust, it
clearly devolves upon us to be think
ing while we are fighting. We must
let nothing interfere with our mill
tary effectiveness. Every iota of the
nations strength that can be made
of service must be directed against
our enemies. But we must be
''heady" fighter. We must see, in
the large at least, what we are doing
and why we are doing it. We will
trust the government to deal with
details of administration and diplo-
macy. In such matters we will stu
diously keep hands off" But the
very democracy for which we are
fighting demands that we be in a
position to think and act intelligent
ly on the larger issues of national
policy. The government of a demo-
cratic country must sooner or later
fall back on it's citizens for counsel
and support. We need clear think
ing now; we shall need it more
many times more--as the war draws
to a close or the next general cleo
ton approaches.
We have been asking ourselves
very seriously if we can build up our
military power in time to support
our allies. How many of us have
thought to ask ourselves il we can
handle the political situation that
will greet us when we have defeated
our enemies. Do we realize that be-
yond the issue of battle Is another
task more subtle and in some ways
more exacting than the military prob
lem. 1t Is unthinkable that we
should win the war and lose what we
are fighting for. We must not be
caught unprepared again. Without
weakening our military offensive We
can and must carry on movement
for political preparedness. In order
to take our new place we must, as a
nation, learn lot of things. We
must know more of the old Europe,
its traditions. its jealousies, its diplo-
matte ways. We must know more OF
the Balkans, of Russia, Of the Orient,
OF imperialism. of trade, OF the
forces Of social unrest We must, in
many fields, learn in day what Eu-
rope has lived for centuries.
j Many agencies are now at work in
this country supplying information
and helping the people to get broad
and correct point of view. The gov
eminent, through it's bureau of pub
lie information Is issuing two series
of pamphlets, the red, white and blue
series and the war information Sc
ries. They contain annotated docu-
ments and brief authoritative state
ments Of such topics as: How the
War Came to America, and the Gov
eminent of Germany" The Nation
al Security League and the Bureau
of International Cancellation issue
valuable pamphlets for free distribu-
ton. The Mckinley Publishing Co.
of Philadelphia have for sale at
nominal price an outline OF the war
by Professor Harding of Indiana
university and a fairly complete de-
scriptive photography of the war by
Professor butcher of Wesleyan uni
versity.
The Bureau of Historical Service,
Washington, D. c., war service
agency of the historians of the coun-
try is anxious to help individuals and
groups engaged in the study OF the
political problems of the war. The
State College of Washington through
its Department of Economic Science
and History is supplying study out
lines, reading lists and lectures, and
is glad to assist in the promotion ana
direction of study groups. Other ed
vocational institutions doubtless stand
ready to render similar service.