Help Swing the Needle to Democracy
A pen-and-ink balance scale hangs from a chain: the US Capitol sits in one pan and packaged food goods in the other, while a pointer runs from 'Democracy' through 'Conservation' to 'Destruction'. A funnel labelled 'Autocracy' swallows a figure at left, and a scroll at right headed 'Destruction Will Ensue' lists consequences of not conserving food. The tell is the three-point scale that frames conservation as the only alternative to destruction.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1918
- Period
- First World War
- Made by
- U.S. Food Administration (food conservation campaign)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Wilson Administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Home front, Economy and finance
- Event
- World War I
- Regime
- Wilson administration
- Leader
- Woodrow Wilson
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives (NARA), RG 4 (U.S. Food Administration), World War I Posters (NAID 512439), retrieved October 3, 2026
- Rights
- NARA Unrestricted; hosted by owner decision
U.S. Food Administration (food conservation campaign). National Archives and Records Administration, 4-P-19.
Text on the object
HELP SWING THE NEEDLE TO DEMOCRACY [arc under the pointer:] DEMOCRACY CONSERVATION DESTRUCTION [funnel:] AUTOCRACY [labels on goods in the right pan:] FLOUR, HAM, LARD, SUGAR [and others, partly legible] DESTRUCTION WILL ENSUE Unless there is a hearty response through Conservation. Uncle Sam has placed you on your honor to conserve food. Uncle Sam will discontinue this privilege unless there is a real change in your daily food rations. Uncle Sam is about to send you a card of caution against hoarding food. Some are still eating Meat Three times a day and he is aware of the fact. A ration of Seven pounds of Sugar has been allowed for your personal consumption per Month. A ration of Three pounds per Month will be your allowance if you dont save it. You are still at liberty to eat what you desire. Conditions do not remain so with our Allies at the present time. Uncle Sam has an abundance of food and he will not hoard it while our Allies are suffering the pangs of hunger. If you do not heed to a few conservation requests, you are doing an injustice to your Country, to our Allies and to yourself. You Must Save Food. FOOD AND MEN WILL WIN THE WAR [artist's signature in lettering at lower left, partly legible:] Paul J. K[illegible]
Scroll text read from the 2000 px scan; a few words are faint (for example 'real change', 'dont') and are given as best read. The signature at lower left is only partly legible.
