Woodrow Wilson And The World War (BCL1- U.S. History)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1921. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII THE HOME FRONT On May 18,1917, President Wilson issued a proclamation in which are to be found the following significant sentences: In the sense in which we have been wont to think of armies there arenajtrmies in this striiggler there are entire nations armedT ThusTtEe menwho remain to till the soil and man the factories are no less a part of the army that is in France than the men beneath the battle flags. It must be so with us. It is not an army that we must shape and train for war --it is a Nation. To this end our people must draw close in one compact front against a common foe. But this cannot be if each man pursues a private purpose. All must pursue one purpose. The Nation needs all men, but it needs each man, not in the field that will most pleasure him, but in the endeavor that will best serve the common good. Thus, though a sharpshooter pleases to operate a triphammer for the forging of great guns, and an expert machinist desires to march with the flag, the Nation is being served only when the sharpshooter marches and the machinist remains at his levers. The whole Nation must be a team, in which each man shall play the part for which he is best fitted. If President Wilson deserves severe criticism for his fa^lure4o^endorse adequate plans of preparation for war while Jrm^Hintry was, at peace, he should be given due-ereditiar-his appreciation that the home front must be-Ojganized if the fighting front was to be victorious. He perceived clearly that it was necessary to carry into the industriaTlife of the nation that centralizing process which characterized his military policy. That the nation at home was made to feel itself part of the fighting forces and cooperated enthusiastically and effectively in the organization of the national resources was not the least of ...