Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-08
OUTORGANIZE THE HUN

GTvHE vocabulary of sacrifice does not use
= financial alphabet. We have never
heard of nation going bankrupt in de-
fense Of neighbor's rights. We know OF
Is milestones along the highways of
: human progress that measure in terms Of
( dollars the services Of great men to their
4 pAople 1t is when nation puts its flesh
and blood on the altar that its association
With a cause is forever established. Almost
the FIRST act Of the American people after
formal declaration OF war against Ger.
many was acceptance OF the policy Of con.
scription, which was solemn dedication
or the life of every man in the nation to
the prosecution of the conflict. The Gov
ernment was authorized by public opinion
to reach into any home and take from it its
breadgiver.
There has never been another war waged
comparable in the manner OF its waring
to this one. The reserve armies wear no
y uniforms but the rank and file Of item
are found in every loom. at every lathe. at
every plow in the country. 1t is a strus.
4 gle of Industries lacking the chivalric
romance of former days and substituting
for It the rumble of monster machines,
the whir of wheels and the hum Of shaft
ing. Systems of industry are in conflict.
Autocracy has sought by harnessing mod.
kr,, Inv Ia hrpak Ipyyp 1pmpcT1tip
Institutions. Democracy, harnessing the
same inventions, struggles by shrewdcr
Use of them to protect itself and achieve
safety. Mere bravery under fire is an in.
! etdent. 1t is not leadership at the front
nor the intrepid behavior of particular
divisions that will determine victory. The
transport quality and quantity Of air.
ships, shellmaking. railroading. The front
4 u but the mouth of the gun through which
u belched forth the industrial production
of the millions who never see the front.
The machinery of war is the machinery Of
material civilization, and the contest itself
shall be used for the subjugaton OF man.
n kind or for its liberation.
It is obvious, therefore. that stupidnoss
reached high tide in pursuing policy
which organizes and disciplines the forces
at the front, but contemplates neither or
ganization nor discipline OF the forces in
the rear the supporting forces. II is ridic-
plous that Government which has con.
scripted men to die for il, if need be, should
ships when ships are the key to victory
z and our building ways are manned but one.
third of the time. We take it that ii is
6uudering of high order to leave our
4, terrninals to the whims OF unorganized
units when the speed OF loading and un.
!, loading ships may in the aggregate be
take It that the way TO beat the German
- to outorganize him. to play his own
( cards better than he can play them him
seR, to meet his magnificent organization
4 q the front with an equally good one at
fke same place and with a far better one,
3 Ieck Of the line.
Shame on men who are so distrustful
~ American patriotism that they fear to
nut it to the supreme test of strict organi.
z sation at home They need not fear the
& man who works with his hands, for he
above all others is anxious that the nation
q ahould function perfectly and bring its
I; Mn might to bear Organized labor. We
s. 1ed It everywhere subject to the call OF
<& electric button. We need it to man our
6a4 mines. 10 operate our railroads, to
m our farms, to coordinate all national
& rooources. We need to utilize the services
u thousands and tens of thousands Of men
NJ 1lho cannot serve in the army. but have
{ 1w hours of every day they are willing
Giye to the nation. Not million men
- mDrfng to arms overnight. but three
3ee million men to spring to the lathes
4ahipyards at the sound of the tocsin,
&14 body OF skilled workmen whom the
1enment can mobilize and utilize at
1Iyic points.
ume to quit splitting hairs and to
- she whole nation for warfare