The Washington herald., 1918-06-12

The work Of the National Food
Administration has varied consid-
erably from the work of the State
Defense Councils in many OF the
States. and that branch has achieved
some results which those bodies
could not achieve and In a way not
generally known to the public at
large.
Several members Of Congress
have been making investigations in
this and their informal reports are
that the Food Administration, in
fact. has done q most effective pa
triotic work.
The heads, for instance, went on
the assumption that hundreds of
thousands of Germans. who might
very easily have been looked upon
with suspicion by their neighbors
were loyal and that they were
anxious TO do something to help
their new and favored land win
the war. These Germans were
given something tangible to do for
Uncle Sam. They were given to
understand that they were just as
patriotic as anybody. And with q
surprising good will and with COM
mendable aIacrty these Germans
jumped into the work. They con-
tributed time and money and initis-
tive to the cause of Uncle Sam.
And their enthusiasm made a pro-
found impression in many localities.
so that native born Americans got
into the breach in a much more Wig
orous fashion than they otherwise
would. for fear the spirit of the
Germans would outweigh theirs.
The effect OF this was a vast aid
to Uncle Sam. naturally. While the
purpose promarily was to enlist the
aliens in the food conservation
work. in effect IL enlisted their aid
in all war undertakings. The effect
was observable in all directions.
Mr.. Hoover and his aides have
made no claims as to success in this
feature of their work. They are
much too modest in this respect,
think many Congressmen, for they
really have achieved something
worth while. Congress has taken
cognizance OF. however. and the
marked difference over the manner
of doing things as compared TO the
defense councils, has been'a cause
for congratulation. The defense
bodies, il seems, have been rather
rough in many instances and have
done much to hurt the cause OF
Uncle Sam, while charging men
right and left with being in sym
pathy with Germany. In many in
stances the councils seem TO have
been intolerant OF some men. and
while they have unquestionably
been anxious to do the utmost for
the country, they have unfortunately
acted in such a way as to retard
the complete union OF the people
in the vigorous prosecution Of the
war.
Japan appears to be the leading
thought in the discussions OF some
of our sharp eyed statesmen. There
are many OF them who feel that Ger
many is impressing the Orientals
rather too much. considering the
fact that Japan is one Of the allies
There are others who say this at
tachment is but temporary.
One gentleman who knows more
about the Japs than some OF his fel-
lows. because he has travelled over
their Kingdom and because he has
been associated with some Of their
oficials in certain undertakings,
spoke in this fashion when an ap-
prehensive lawmaker mentioned
them to him:
Japan may be leaning toward the
Huns and making us feel that she
would not be loathe to make a pact
/ with Germany. But wait until Ger
many is defeated. The Japs will be
! as unwilling to associate themselves
with the Germans as they would be
. to associate themselves with the
Chinese on an equal footing. A de-
| feated Germany will not be worth
| much to the Japs. And the Japs are