Observations on the Effects of the War and Current Events

Observations on the Effects of the War and Current Events

Strong, Benjamin, 1872-1928

WWP18568

1917 August 13

Document states that there is little observed enthusiasm for the war, that newspaper reports about U.S. accomplishments would aid the war effort, particularly in the selling of bonds to the average buyer.

Benjamin Strong Jr. Papers, New York Federal Reserve Bank

English

“There is very little enthusiasm for the war. I see in some towns in this state every man drawn claims exemption. On the street, in the offices, in the smoking-room of the sleeper, the war is not the prime subject of conversation. There are many thoughtful men who have it constantly in mind and say nothing about it, but even their mental attitude towards it is all expressed by the phrase of Anthony Trollope, - “It's dogged that does it.” I attribute this condition very largely, first, - to the childish censorship in Washington and secondly, - to the distrust of Baker and Daniels. The latter evil seems beyond removal, but the other ought to be remedied. It is well enough to say nothing about what troops are embarking on a certain day for France, but when they are once landed no amount of information regarding the number or names of the regiments can by any possibility hurt the cause or help the enemy. All of our papers should be full of things accomplished. The knowledge that we had three hundred thousand men in training over there would wake up our people and discourage Germany. As things are, you will find that you will not get the same effort from the banks that you did before. That effort entailed an immense amount of work which is far from complete. It entailed in the aggregate a large cost which the banks will hesitate to again meet. Instead of being dragged forward by the banks, the ordinary people have got to be brought forward voluntarily and, to do this, they have got to be interested far more deeply than they are to-day in the great effort.
“If Mr. McAdoo would use his influence with the the President to dispose of Creel and all the petty nonsense of his department, take the people into his confidence and make them realize that it is their fight, your work would go very differently from the way it seems likely to go to an outsider.
“I take it that the men of great wealth have secured about all the bonds they want, and when you come to distribute such an issue in units of less than ten thousand dollars, you have got to reach a tremendous number of buyers. A victory would do it. A defeat might do it. In the absence of either victory or defeat, the only thing which I can see, which is likely to produce the result is full and free and constant information. When a regiment or division is ordered to go there should be great public demonstrations which need not reveal the day or line of departure, but would wake people up, and so with all the other things. Give us news! Let the newspapers print anything they want and amplify all they will and let Germany make the best of it.”

Miscellaneous