The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1916-06-16
WOOD MELLErTE COUNTY SOUTH DAKOTA


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blooded horse he protects himself
from loss at the hands Of thieves by
putting paddock on his barn door.
The banker who cares for your
money locks it up in his burglar proof
safe at night.
When the merchant goes home aft
er the days labor he leaves his goods
under lock and key and bolts and
bars.
The individual invariably takes
measures TO protect his own.
But not SO us as a nation. We have
accumulated vast stores Of wealth,
but have neglected to provide the
necessary means for the protection OF
that wealth.
Ii is true that after months Of in
difference congress has at last passed
! preparedness measure by providing
for the increase of the regular army
and the National Guard to a total ap-
proXimate force OF about 100000 men.
But it will be several years before
this force can be gathered together
and armed and equipped and drilled
and disciplined and put In shape to
meet an enemy on equal terms. In
the meantime we are just about
where we were before the bill was
passed without a lock to our door.
1t Is not likely now that we will
have any trouble with European
countries after the present war is
over. We sincerely hope not.
But we are not SO sanguine as TO
the attitude of Japan. Our present
sta te Of national helplessness has
forced congress and the administra-
tion to bow to the demands Of Japan
and eliminate from an immigration
bill certain sections which we design
ed to protect American laboring men
from the cheap japanese labor that
has been flooding this country.
There was no help for it. 1t was a
case of bow or fight, and we are in no
to fight.
If Japan would be content with her
victory all might even yet be fairly
well. But it is doubtful IL she will
be content. The japanese are war
like people, determinedly bent upon
securing equal right on the American
continent
And right here enters the present
of danger to our peace and
security of the future.
The Mexicans hate everything Am
erican. They are imbued with the
idea that we are people
who will not fight, and hence they
consider us beneath their contempt.
IT is reasonably well known that
Mexican emissaries are in Japan seek
ing the aid of the japanese people in
a war against the United States.
Nothing would suit the japanese de-
signs and purposes better than such
an alliance. 1t would afford them
the coveted opportunity and excuse
for siezing the Philippines, which
they greatly desire. A great army
could be landed on our Pacific coast
and we could not prevent it. An
other tremendous army of Japanese
could be landed in Mexico, and in CO.
operation with the Mexicans could
invade US across the border stimuli
taneously. Our present military
strength is 50 ridiculously small that
we would be hopelessley outnumbered
and outmatched at every point.
Press dispatches show every indica-
tion that the Mexicans are expecting
lust such an alliance with the Jap
anese, and if the attack comes at all
it will not be delayed until we have
had two or three years in which to
collect and drill an army. 1t will
come soon. while we are still in a
hopeless and helpless condition.
The American people are at last
awakening TO a realization Of the
peril Of our national helplessness. and
congress is taking belated steps to-
ward defense for our homes and our
great wealth. But are we locking
the door to late? Will the marauder
gain entrance before the paddock can
be made?
A stick OF dynamite is child's toy
compared with the Mexico-Japanese
situation which confronts the Ameri-
can government and people today.
A single word from Toxic or Mex
leo City is of more vital concern to
us than whole column from the
European front.