South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-11-24
IMPORTANCE Of
PUBLIC OPINION
Progress Club Hears 3estor
on Modifying the Mind
of An2TiC2."

Defining The ~ar rs gigantic
struggle Of moral. Arthuc T.. 2cs-
tor. until just recently a mempe- OF
the bureau Of information ~ tEe IA
tioral council nf Gefease. gave some
striking exau,ples Of the Importance
of public opinion in his lecture on
'Mobiliztng the Morale Of America.
delivered Before }nembers of the
Progress club and their guests Sat
urday afternoon in the club rooms.
Mr.. Bestor explained that it was
only by mobilizing public opinion
that the United States, forced 10
borrow all supplies at the outset for
her troops in France. was able, after
an incredibly short time, 10 outfit
completely 100000 men overseas.
It was voluntary effort, the result OF
the mobilization of public opinion,
he explained which made possible
the accomplishment of the phenom-
email task He cited the successful
food conservation campaign as an
example of voluntary effort.
The informed and powerful opin-
ion which caused America to enter
the war and kept it steadfast to the
end, the opinion Of those people of
village. town and city TO whom peo-
pie look for guidance and direction,
is more necessary for the problems
of reconstruction than it was for
the successful continuance Of the
war, Mr.. Bestor continued.
War Gives Compensation.
According 10 Mr.. Bestor, there are
to be four compensations arising
from the war: first, the unity of
thought achieved in pOlyglot Amer
lea; second, the proof that a democ-
racy, with it's many divisions, is more
efficient in bringing all its resources
to bear upon a specific trouble than
is an autocracy; third, the disap-
pearance Of racial differences in
America; and fourth, that America,
having no interest in the war other
than a humanitarian one was able
TO infuse a more uplifting element
into the cause for the struggle. In
regard to the last point. Mr.. Bestor
said that it was through the superb
craftsmanship Of the president and
his ability 10 put into words the
ideals of a people that we were able
to modify the ambitions Of the allies
after our entrance into the war.
Continuing. Mr.. Bestor said that
our responsibilities do not cease with
the cessation of hostilities We have
responsibility TO the boys to see that
they are surrounded with the proper
influences during the period previous
to their rehabilitation, and that
when they come home their ideal
ization of US while they were in the
may not be shattered; we
have a responsibility to the allies
who suffered and sacrificed infinitely
more than We did; we have a re-
sponsibility also to the central en-
pires, for the lack of food would re
suit in anarchy, and unless these
countries are economically prosper
GUS they can never pay their war
debt; and fourth. we have a respons-
Utility TO the world, for it may be
that the United States Is at the crest
of the wave and unless pubic opin-
ion and official action assume the
right course during the next few
months the influence Of the United
States will decline.
Memorial for Mrs. Hatch.
During the session which preceded
the lecture the club accepted 500
from Frank Hatch as a memorial to
his wife. who died recently. Six new
members We're voted into the club
and Mrs. Frank P. Nicely gave a re
port of the biennial convention OF
Federated Woman's clubs held at
Hot Springs.
Announcement was made by Miss
Ada Hitler of a food campaign to be
held during the first week Of Deem
per. The purpose OF the campaign
will be to inform people of what is
expected of them along the lines of
food conservation now that the war
is ended. Speeches are TO be given
ct all available places in the county.
A mass meeting Of workers viii be
held in the high school auditorium
next Saturday morning at 10 o'clock.
The next general meeting of the
Progress club Will be held Saturday
Nov 30, at which time
dorado Taft. well known sculpturer.
viii present lecture, when the
ID ,,,-s. Como FT1r,7a