The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-09-24
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PEOPLES FORUM. !:
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WHERE'S OUR NERVE?

endurance and ambition OF their an
cestorso We do not believe this, but
10 a superficial observer it has
that appearance. What does all this
gloomy talk about coming disaster
mean? Apparently a dismal shadow
/ from some coming catastrophe has
baen thrown athwart the land and
great people are in distress. What
is the matter? There are no signs
of any great plague or pestilence'
that would mock the skill OF our
physicians; there is no famine or
danger Of famine in the land: no for
eign enemy is laying waste, or even
threatening our homes While more
than two thirds Of the civilized
world is in the grip OF a deadly
war. We are at peace with all OF
them. and have perhaps greater
abundance OF the good things OF life
than ever before blessed any people.
- Yet our farmers, our professional
and business men, as well as our
. wage earners, are standing almost
baIDless and terror stricken, before
+ real or imaginary crisis. And
r What is It? Simply this, the price
. of cotton is about one and one-hali
cents below what We expected, and
r this seems to threaten to break the
merchants. pinch the banks, ruin
n tho farmers and starye the laborers.
= We are frantically calling on the
s. government as we'll as our financial
and commercial leaders to come to
IS the rescue. A paralysis has seized
upon every department of business
b. and almost stopped the wheels OF
al commerce. 1t is all right TO resort
O. 10 legislation to avert a threatened
calamity. but is there nothing for
Jr us 10 do? What has become OF our
nerve and ingenuity? The descend
,X ants of the brave men and women
~ who first peopled the southwest,
H. ought to remember who they are, and
a let the achievements of their ances-
tors nerve them to meet the present
crisis. While our governors, legis-
lators. bankers and farmers are busy
We laving plans to avert disaster, let
es Ms be busy too. There is one rem
he edy at least that We can apply
en- which always has been, and always
ay will be. a helpful one. 1t is nothine
ith more than little old-fashioned
ms common-sense economy. 1t does no
lit seem to have entered the heads o
cts our city ladies, whose husbands ar
ice puzzling over the problem, that the
led costly hat bought when cotton brough
,ht ten cents might be worked owe
nd and worn again this season; th'
Der young town dude does not seem t
grasp the idea that he might hav'
the his last winters suit cleaned AM
IN wear it again, or that he coul
give up game Of pool, or live
ori- single day without his cigarette; tn
it thrifty business man never think
about giving up his costly lunche
5. at the club house, or foregoing
ltic single cigar. or other unnecessr
luxury; the devotee of social pleas
ced ure could not possibly reduce tn
iOc. expenses of the costly function o
cut off a single hue in the "colo
ats scheme" at the up-to-date Shove
,ok. giyen a prospective bride. We mus
,ok. have the choicest steak, the beS
ook brand of bacon, and the finest CT
ary of mutton if it bankrupts us. An
in il would take more than bombar'
ment from a battery of German mo
pre- tars to stop one of our bridge pa
are ties with its costly prize. And OF
rice poorly fed and badly clothed farr
ers too. must have their particuli
emf of tobacco, and favOrite make
snuff. And many of them cann'
IsE. forego their thirst for the bootle
gers wares, and must make the
lists contribution to the gambler, even
are the wife and children go hungr
rom The family of the laborer must Wis
al. the picture show once or twice
II day, whether the grocery bill is pa
for or not. Common people must have
rrce auto. and can not be satisfied wi
,bot a cheap, serviceable Ford but mu
: on have more pretentious car like
ouor oil magnate.
= =, OF course. the cutting off of t
A.. price of cotton one and one-half Ger
., per pound makes some Of the
- things impossible. Hence our d
i'0' tress. The country is full of go
things to eat, we are at peace WI
~ the world, and no pestilence thre
ie'' ems. Now why not grid up
.iloSe loins. set our faces resolutely a
"p 20 at the situation like men? All II
is needed is a little common SCI
and pluck. Let each one take
'e pencil. run over his list of eXpe
4. M