If we can reduce our consumption of wheat flour by 1 pound, our meat by 7 ounces, our sugar by 7 ounces, our fat by 7 ounces per person per week, these quantities, multiplied by 100,000,000 (the population of the United States) will immeasurably aid and encourage our allies, help our own growing armies, and so effectively serve the great and noble cause of humanity in which our nation has embarked.

DEMOCRACY A PARTNERSHIP

This illustrates how the Food Administration sought cooperation.  It “made partners” of the people, explained to them the situation, and asked them to help as individuals.  It showed the nation what it must do if it were to be successful in its undertaking.  It is true that the President had large powers to enforce observance of the rules outlined by the Food Administration, but it was only in the exceptional case of the individual consumer and producer who refused to cooperate for the common good that it became necessary to use the power.  The method of democracy is to point out clearly how the desired result may be obtained and to depend upon the people to govern themselves accordingly.

After a year of the war a member of the Food Administration is quoted as saying, [Footnote:  In an article on “Your Wheatless Days,” by W. A. Wolff, in Collier’s Weekly, Aug. 17, 1918.] “There’s never been anything like it in history. ...  We asked the American people to do voluntarily more than any other people has ever been asked to do under compulsion.  And the American people made good!”

What was true in the unusual time of war is true to even a greater extent in the ordinary time of peace.  We have little to fear from our national government as long as we and those to whom we entrust its management, always keep in mind its real purpose, which is to show us how to work together effectively as a nation and to help us do it.

EVERY MAN COUNTS

All through this study we are going to observe how in the ordinary affairs of life our national government serves us in this respect.  One thing that we need especially to learn is that we have a great national purpose all the time, in peace as well as in war.  In fact, peace is A part of that purpose.  We went to war because without it there could be no assurance of a lasting peace.  While we fought to defend our national purpose and our national ideals against a powerful foe from without, this purpose and these ideals cannot be fully achieved by the war alone.  They can be finally achieved only by ourselves as we develop, day by day, our national community life.  To do this we must always keep in mind our great national purpose, we must realize our dependence upon one another in achieving this purpose, and we must make our national team work as perfect as it can be made.  Above all, we must realize that, in peace as in war, every man Counts in our national community life.  As President Wilson said: