Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1918-08-16

innumerable hardships to irrltate
nerves already frcighted with tragedy
and sorrow.
But despite the burdens the Will
to win remains mistaken. The deep
meaning of the war is craven into
the hearts of the people in all walks
of life and there is an unmistakaDle
and profound conviction that. to
quote an American. the only way
out of this war is through it,
Beneath the care and WEAKNESS
that is all but hidden, there is a
serenity that betokens confidence. 1t
is calm confidence. 1t is a splendid
confidence. 1t is & unshakable con-
fidence. 1t is found in home and fac
tory. 1t survives air raids and long
range lateral bombardments. Even
those who live and toll within sound
and range of the guns in France go
about their work with the manner
of those who either believe them
selves immune from danger or with
utter Indifference.
THE mission arrived in England
while the force of the German spring
offensive was at it's height. During
that time we also visited Scotland,
and even during the visit to France
there was uncertainty as to what the
ultimate limits of the Teutonic thrust
might be. There have been few such
anxious moments in the histories of
nations. yet there was an almost in
applicable freedom from anything
that would indicate a quickened pub
lie anxiety There were no such
showers of newspapers in the streets
as would be seen in an American
city, no such surging crowds around
bulletin boards. There was an in
terest in the titanic struggle, but 1t
was a quiet interest in which peo-
pie sought the news quietly and went
their way quietly after having got it.
THE mission is convinced of the
IsOundness of the public will and the
public understanding, both in Britain
and France, and this conviction is
based upon innumerable personal
conversations, upon observation in
great public gatherings and upon the
expressions of wide variety of PEG.
pie in every station and region of
the territory covered.
Throughout this period of great
est stress the people remain calm
their only manifestations being those
of a grim and unyielding determine
ton.
THE mission was given exception
al opportunities to observe the atti-
tude of both organized and unorgan-
ICED labor. All of the chief indus
tria lcenters of England and Scotland
were visited. In nearly all of these
meetings were held. Some of these
meetings were public, while others
were open only to trade unionists.
"Our careful and extended obser-
walton leads us to report that the
working people in the mass have not
been infected with pacifist virus and
that there is among them no wish
to falter in the course that must be
run to win the war. 1t seems fair
to say that organic contact with the
productive forces of national life
makes for clear and steady brain
and a vision unclouded by hallucina-
ton or sophisty. This is the thought
brought out by observation of the
working people with whom we came
in contact.
THE cost of living has risen amal
ingly in both France and Britain.
causing a most acute burden to rest
upon the working people. However,
while there is a generel understand
ing of the necessity for maintaining
proper standards and while much eff
fort is given to that activity, there
is thorough appreciation that Ameri-
can labor is right in declaring that
the war must be won or ell free eff
fort will be denied the opportunity
to function"