Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-07-11
CLAMoRING FOR WAR WITH MEXICO

Tall Timothy Geer, who was governor OF oregon once
upon time the intense dissatisfaction OF his constlt
ents is out in communication to the Oregoman demand
np war with Mexico He would shoot real bullets instead
of notes. Dean Collins emptyheaded scrlbbler whose
poetcal efforts constitute about the worst conceivable
outrage upon the public contributes to the same issue
demand for surge OF blood to purge the STAIN from
the sands of CarliZal
The Oregonian prints these ncendiary contributions
quite geefully because it will do anything to score
political point That has been its rule OF action Tor over
half century and patriotism and all humanitarian I'M
pulses are subordinaed by the force OF habit Only two
weeks ago the president Of the United Staesnot OF
the democratic party any other parywas cartooned
and held up to oboquy as the man who got us INTO war
with Mexico" 1t insult to every patriotic citizen
ready to answer the call to at any time from the
nations head it saying to the Oregon boys VINO were
lust then entrainng for the Mexican border Your
mander in chiefhe presdentiS sending you to useless
slaughter---why should you obey the orderY'
No copperhead editor politician in the days OF the
civil war ever aimed dastardy, reasonable blow
at the government than did the Oregonan when 1t print
ed that foul cartoon
That was only TWO weeks ago and yet with reason,
able prospect of peaceabe settlement ahead the Ore
gOnan is already clamoring for war In another week
it will probably be cartoonng the president aganths
time for not getting into warn addition to printing
the stuff that little mental Shrmps like L. L. Geer ana
Dean Collins write.
Does not the Oregonian realize that if war with Mex
leo comes of the 1900 manly boys who marched away
from Portland Salem and other Oregon cities will never
come back again that many will return home manned and
crippled for fe burden to themselves their country
and their families The horrors of war will be brought
to our own doors---and what will Geer and Collins and
the editor of the Oegonan say then to comfort stricken
homes which have lost father brother or son?
This country is not afraid to fight no matter what the
cost may be- but it wants real for lighting and
the Mexican question may may not present real cause
for war in the end 1t is simply dirty mess which we
may be compelled in time to clean up in order to give our
border security and for the general good of the western
world We have always thought it would come to that
some time but endorse the presidents course in avoid
ing by any reasonable if it can be done Critics
will say that if Huerta had been recognized OF this OF
that had been done conditions might have been better
We doubt it. There is not and has not been since Dlaz
time any responsible government to deal WITH ana the
best course to take has been anything but plain Ihe
president has doubt done the best he could to handle
the problem and work out solution without bloodshed
lust as Mr. Taft did before him. Just he has stated
time and again in his public addresses have no reason
for going down into Mexico and slaughteling poor
weak ignorant people who in their own blind way are
really engaged in struggle against centuries OF sertdom
and oppression There is reason why single oregon
boy should be sacrificed account of the Mexican trouble
unless matters along the border reach such state tha
this country is compelled to act and if that time comes
not soldier boy will fail to do his duty.
In the meantime every father and mother IN oregon
will stand back of the president in his efforts to devise
plan whereby the MeXicans may eventually work out
their own emancipation from misrue and anarchy with
out the assistance of American bullets and bayonets.
The epidemic of infantle paralysis sweeping New
York City has higher death rate than any previous one