From ‘A War Census’, The Spectator, 5 June 1915:
It is quite possible that a war census may prove a substitute for compulsion, or, rather, render compulsion unnecessary. When we come to ask the question: “What are you doing for your country ?” the shame of saying “Nothing” will bring home to many men the need for proving their manhood. It will awaken thousands who are now asleep. It will for the first time make many people who now honestly believe the country is getting millions of men, in fact all that are required, and that no special effort is needed, recognize how great has been their mistake and how urgent is the need. When we know district by district that there are so many thousand men of military age dwelling therein who are not engaged in any work which is needful to sustain the nation or will help to shorten the war, the pressure of public opinion will unquestionably be very great.
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