Evening journal., 1918-03-29

ut utNldNh llAAt llio fNNh ~ NtAl
Senate for the truth about our progress
In military preparation was an echo
Of the thought that Ills the mind Of
every sane and loyal American II reg
istered the revolt that is in prog ess
against the policy OF secrecy that has
been deliberately followed by the EN-
ecutive Department lt annexed The
popular lon .ns for the truth concern
ing what has been done 10 arm us for
our struggle and II it is not needed
now Il will be repeated until 10 accom-
pllshe It's object That object is 20
prov ide for us a stable platform of un-
derstanding from which we shall be
able TO exercise our whole power and
develop AN our national resources for
Warinv war
TWO theories Of administration are In
cOnAct N this count 81 al The present
moment. one of them 90 which The
Executive department has adhered since
war began. assumes that the public can
be kept In good spirits, that popular en-
thu iasm can be maintained at a satis-
factory stage, only by the suppression
OF dlscOuraging Information and .the
concealmonl OF IA lures The support
ers Of this theory believe that the Amer
lean people are not prepa ed for bad
news, for the disclosure OF shOrtcom-
ings and miscalculations, and That con-
fession of Tie miscarriage Of elaborate
de igns under pressure Of actual per-
formance VIII produce depression seri-
Ously imparng nat Onal morale
The other theory Is based on a more
rational concorti0n of American cnar-
acter 10 treats the citizens of This cOun-
try as creatures possessed Of intelli-
l-ente suffice nily acute DO warn them
that paper plans are liable 30 derange-
me cXecut' 'On and 10 ann them
against despair when the circum tances
iustAy only moderate degree OF dis
appointment This conception OF the
American character regards IL as strong
enough not 90 abandon hope when an
evpedient In which confidence has been
based falls 10 produce the desired re-
suits In execution.
1he u 81 OF these theories would sur
round the public with a painted screen
OF falsehoOds, and ON the minds OF
the people with the false belief thai
a race Of supcradm 'nislrat9rs follow
ing a superprogram had attained the
hitherto unachieNed result Of periec-
iinn In all their undertakings. 10 would
deceive us about what has been don'
and what can be done by telling u:
what was planned; and 10 would leave
us to believe that every plan had beer
carried 10 fulnllment without hitch, de
lay or interruption.
The second theory would inform III
/ OF the ambitions entertained by the ad
/ ministrators Of our affairs, and woul,
/ the carter instruct us, as conditions
warranted their disclosure, not onl
on the successes but on the failure
encountered In the effort 90 ful0ll them
/ lt would neither eXalt nor depress "a
unduly. but would frankly reveal On
exact situation IN which we We're place
and leave to our own sober judgmeu
the facts and only the facts for on
guidance.
We have no hesitation In choosing IN
theory which In our opinion Is nor
likely 10 effect good results 10 Amerc
We reject the contention that Amer
can people are not competent inte
lectually and spiritually TO look o
truth squarely In the face without To-
OF self-reliance and impairment Of The
determination to do their whole dut
They do not want to live in a fool
paradise OF falsehood and they cam
long continue to live In a dream.
Give the American people the trut
They are strong enough 90 bear 10. r
s0urceful enough and vigorous enou
to sustain any trick that bad fortur
may impose on them
factor that appears 10 have bee
overlooked In WASHINGTON is the Or
mendous waste Of energy cOnsequol
on popular mlsconccptlon of our situ
ton. II the belief is widely held ih
all goes well. 10 is inevitable that ind
yiduals and as Oc.ations Of individual
will feel-and they will he entirely ia
titled in feeling-that the contribution
they are making 90 The national el
deavor are adequate. They viii mai
tain the same gait, without attomrtiI
To accelerate il ir their belief d. u
founded. the naii1n loses tho lone
IT, me reserve f-"c ih7t MIGHT al
would be put into the efforts OF The ind
viduals compOsing 10 Energy On
should be directed toward the CORE
ton OF abuses is dissinaied IN non-e
senlial activities: 10 is devoted TO tri'
aliiies and consumed usclessly, Wh
the imperative requirements OF The con
: munity are ignored becau they a
the closely guarded secrets OF a fe
and not the business Of the many T
unmeasured potential instrumonialit
of hetterment are unused, and advei
conditions that might be easily rer
rdied as they arise become more di
f, ,ult OF treatment as they remain Z
corrected.
= In an America there is not a ga
and thoughtful man or woman who
o lltVed on April G, 1871 or has