Show words slogans slogan S played I 1 D important role during hectic war years of 1914 1918 by JAMES B R MOCK and TI d CEDRIC LARSON released by western newspaper paper union 1 we had gone to war world war I 1 we had decided to send our boys over to france to save democracy but even as indignation against germany had surged higher and higher in those last tense days before a m april 6 1917 no one could say just what the american people would do after their eloquent leader had urged them into war the great majority of americans it seemed wanted to fight but people wondered anxiously how large an and d how in th the world war of 1914 18 words and slogans played an lin important role in the struggle of the nations for or victory just how important that role was has been the subject of a book words that won the war far written by james R mock and cedric larson the accompanying article is a condensation of that book and is presented because 0 of I 1 interest now centering around another european war when opinions are expressed they are the he opinion of the authors and not necessarily of this newspaper determined the minor mi y might be minorities are dangerous when the fate of civilization is hanging in the balance how could we count on the millions of germans aus arians hungarians Hung arians poles russians and other aliens in our midst there something very disquieting in in the widely quoted opinion of dr ales hrdlicka that the melting failed to melt how many people still believed there was such a thing as being too proud to light fight how many remembered the presidents statement that there was no essential difference in the expressed war alms aims of the belligerents what of enemy spies of whom there were said to be or more at large and their allies the pacifists paci fists socialists and labor agitators what about the success of wilsons Wil sons campaign slogan he kept us out of war what about warnings against entanglement in Eu ropes quarrels which still echoed in countless homes and what above all about the unknown thousands of americans who might not feel very strongly one way or the other but thought europe was a long way off and might find it too much bother to make the sacrifices which a modern war demands of the entire population W we e had pledged our lives our fortunes and our sacred honor but could we fulfill that pledge when a peaceful nation jealous of individual liberty and proud of its freedom fro from m militarism attempted to mobilize its men money resources and emotions tor for one mighty effort even a rather small minority could bring disaster widespread coop co op aeration era tion was was not good enough when the nations life was at stake nothing less than complete completa solidarity would do V U 8 not unified america was not unified when war was declared the necessary reversal of opinion was too great to be achieved overnight the agonizing question in official washington the question on which hung the fate of the count rys entire wartime effort was whether the inner lines at home would hold as effectively as the lines in france the committee on public information was ws assigned the staggering task of holding fast the he inner lines the story of how it fulfilled that mission is a dramatic record of vigor effectiveness and creative imagination the committee was americas propaganda ministry during the world war charged with encouraging and then consolidating the revolution of opinion which changed the united states from anti militaristic democracy to an organized war machine this work touched the private life of virtually every man woman and child it reflected the thoughts of the american people under the leadership of woodrow wilson and it popularized what was for us a new idea of the individuals vi relation to the state committees creation president wilson created the committee on public information by executive order dated april 13 1917 and appointed george creel as civilian chairman with the secretaries of state war and navy as the other members mr creel assembled as brilliant and talented a group of journalists scholars press agents editors artists and other manipulators of the symbols of public opinion as america had ever seen united for a single purpose it was a gargantuan advertising agency the like of which the country had never known and the breathtaking scope of its activities was not to be equalled equal led until the rise of totalitarian dictatorships after the war news wis was the lifeblood life blood of the committee on public information news from the front from training camps from the white house fram farms and factories from workers homes from every place that had a story to tell regarding the american people in the war press operation cooperation co As george creel and many other people have repeatedly emphasized press operation cooperation co with the CPI and its support of the war rested on a voluntary basis but with impressive legal authority behind it this authority was gradually extended by congressional and presidential action as the war progressed and by the time of the armistice the governments potential control of the press was was nearly com complete A self denying ordinance by mr wilson and mr creel was all that stood in the way of an attempt to impose a harsh rigorous and thoroughgoing censorship even before the CPI an agreement for voluntary censorship had been reached by representatives of the press and of the departments of state slate war and navy then on april 16 1917 10 days after declaration of war and three days after creation of the CPI mr wilson backed this up with a warning proclamation la regarding treason and misprision of treason stating among other things that the courts had found to be treasonable the performance of any act or publication of stat statements cements 0 or r information which win will give or supply in any way aid and comfort to the enemies of the united states president wilson had favored adequate censorship power all along but tor for the first 53 days of the war that is from april 6 to may 28 selection of news was very largely a matter of the editors individual discretion he was subject to laws against treason and his good sense normally told him what might and what might not be published then on may 28 came the preliminary statement in which the CPI codified rules but still depended upon existing laws for its authority news classifications dangerous news included stories of naval and military opera tiona in progress s movement of official missions threats and plots against the life of the president dent news regarding secret service and confidential agents movements of alien labor naval information in the forbidden category included the position number or of identification of allied or american warships certain data pertaining to lights and buoys mention of ports of arrival or departure ani any details of mines or mine traps signals orders or wireless messages to or from any warship all phases of submarine warfare facts regarding dry docks forbidden military information included any relating to fixed land defenses movements of american or canadian troops assignment of small detachments concentration at ports aircraft and equipment that iwo was S or might be in the process of experimentation lu in general editors were warned against feeling that because facts were ere generally known in a local district tit it was therefore sate safe to give them publication editors were also charged to examine with the same care that they devoted to news the contents of advertising copy and even paid reading notices and of course everyone was to guard against indiscriminate publication of maps charts and pictures so the fighting with printers ink was carried on vigorously on many fronts during the war with george creel as editor in chief |