AMERICAN WAR WORKERS

In cases where college men are acting as our representatives in connection with American War Workers, it may be worth while to point out that the field is not limited to the undergraduate body. Indeed, that will afford a mere fraction of the available opportunity,

1st. There are the old graduates and friends of the School, — whether in military, naval or business life. If they have done good work for the country, the facts should go on record.

2nd. Some of those who nay feel that their own work does not entitle them to inclusion in a work of this highly selective character & yet have sons or other relatives whose war work should be written down.

3rd. And not merely are the individuals to be considered. One old "Grad" may, for example subscribe for the work and write up a history of the College as a whole, giving an account of the activities of both the graduates and the student body.

4th. In some instances, College men have written up the deeds of their classmates, — that is to say an account of all the War activities of the Class. Others have written up the deeds of their fraternity chapters. Still others, who had sons in service have written up the work of the organization to which their sons were attached.

GENERAL

To permanently record the work done by America and Americans in the Great War, we have arranged with Messrs* Putnam & Company of New York for the publication of a series of volumes describing the general course of political and military events, and pointing out the parts played by those who have done most or given most to the Nation's cause,

The fact that the matter is to be handled by the Putnams is the best possible guarantee of quality,, finish and satisfaction.

The Edition will be deluxe, the prints will be real works of art, the type will be hand set, and the binding will be hand -tooled crushed levant.

The United States entered this war in devotion to a principle. No country ever entered more nobly, more altruistically or more idealistically into a desperate cause. The great war-time accomplishments of our citizens, ashore and afloat, in preparation aid in training; in industry, production and finance; in diplomacy and government; in deeds of patriotism, sacrifice, mercy and philanthropy; and in military prowess on land and sea have brought us deep measures of praise from grateful allies and wrung unwilling tributes from astonished enemies.

These deeds should be recorded.

Those who know the value of such ancestral societies as the Colonial Dames, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Daughters of the Confederacy, the Order of the Cincinnati, the Loyal Legion, and similar societies, and who realize, as do the members of those organizations, how little contemporary record was made of the wonders done in our fathers' days, and how difficult it sometimes is to trace descent, will not need to be told that it is desirable that the records of individual war work of this generation be compiled for preservation before memories fade and witnesses disappear.

A nation delights to erect statues to perpetuate the memory of its great daughters and sons, and to hold forth their accomplishments and sacrifices as patterns by which the youth of the land may fashion itself for nobler thoughts and worthier deeds. Memorial figures of Washington and Lincoln, Grant and Lee have helped to weave into our sons the fiber that has been their strength and our glory in France. Such statues are works for preparedness and for war efficiency.

In that same sense these volumes are a war work. A man will not tell his children of his valorous deeds, but hopes some one else will tell them. Fame - the desire not merely to do noble things, but to have them made known for the happiness of our families and the emulation of others - is still a powerful factor in human affairs, and men will perhaps sacrifice more readily - and certainly they will live more contentedly and die happier - if sure that the world will know of their work and be better for the knowledge.

There is another strong reason for making and preserving this record. God forbid that ever another nation shall become so soulless as to assault civilization. But, if such time come again, who can doubt that a new generation of Americans will offer its blood in defense of liberty? Then, women and men, will ask, "How did our Mothers and Fathers organize for and accomplish their great works and deeds in 1917 and 1918?" Let us now record the facts to answer this question; let us spread upon the record statements of the methods our people have used, and enable coming generations to profit from the experience of this epoch time.

WHO WILL BE INCLUDED

It is not intended to devote the bocks to men of such prominence as the President of the United States, General Pershing or Admiral Sims. Histories, official and unofficial will record their deeds in full. This work will deal rather with those who have not been kept so prominently in the news columns- We shall include individual officers of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, and also enlisted men of those services who have done specially good work. Among the civilians who have served or sacrificed we desire to recount the work of the "dollar a year" men, the leaders in the manufacture of War materials, the heads (whether women or men) of Liberty Loan, Red Cross, and similar drives; the shipbuilders and factory men and the designers, inventors and transporters who have aided civilization's cause, and those who have headed works of relief and mercy.

Even in the case of military organizations, it has occasionally been found wise to treat of the collective deeds of a Regiment, a Company or of a ship, — and then to name the individuals making up such units.

It is intended to make the books so accurate that they will be authoritatively accepted as a future guide on questions of membership in societies founded on descent from those who have deserved well of their country in this greatest of all wars.

The publishers now desire to appoint, in each important city and town, a representative to carry on the work. It is clear that the people who are to be seen in this connection are the leading citizens in their respective localities, and, consequently, that they should be approached only by representatives of high class and good address. The work cannot be done by the usual "book agent". In order to secure the services of women and men of ability and standing the arrangements as to compensation will be specially attractive. The provisions for the local publicity campaigns are also of unusual merit.

Many of the articles are already in print, and samples may be had by those who are properly interested.