Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1917-08-16
THE SWALLOWS MURNUR

Elihu Root, on his return from
Russia, speaks with his accustomed
wisdom. Il would not have the PEG
pie of this country misled with re.
spect to the various uprisngs in Rus
sia,' he says. From the press re-
ports from that vast country the
people of America would be led to
believe that there was constant tur-
MOL there. This is by no means the
situation. If the startling headlines
OF happenings all over this country
and nothing else were flung across the
Pacific for the benefit of the Russians.
they would gain an impression of the
United States similar to the one that
we here are obtaining of Russia. 1t
is the exceptional thing that we hear
about in Russia, not the daily occur
renee"
Here is warning that cannot be
too often repeated, and it is applica-
BILE to conditions in the United States,
as Mr.. Root suggests, as in Russia.
The shadows murmur while the
deeps are dumb"
The newspapers are filled with re-
ports and charges of treason and
near-treason; with opposition to the
draft and draft riots; with tales of
slackers and the difficulties encount-
cred in filling the ranks of the army.
SO yesterday there were the numer-
GUS reports of Indifference and hos
tility TO the Liberty Loan and the
raising of Red Cross funds. So to-
morrow there will be other stories of
obstacles in the way OF each new ma
tional endeavor and accomplishment
as the fresh emergency arises. And
| the man from Mars unfamiliar with
| the general facts, reading them all
could hardly do otherwise than con-
clude that our condition is hopeless
| But the Liberty Loan was oversub-
Scribed and the Re< Cross fund was
| oversubscribed. Since April /. the
| New York Times shows, more than
| 100000 men have volunteered for
service in the army, navy and marine
corps. Though many We're rejected
| the spirit that prompted each man
who freely offered himself was the
same. In spite of the many rejec-
| tions this country now has, equipped
and under arms, more than 500, 900
men, not including the men selected
! for the national army. 1T must be
borne in mind, too says the Times.
that the recruiting has been con-
Quoted in the most businesslke way.
The martial spirit has not been
aroused by military parades and
music. There have been no reports
of military achievements or misad-
ventures under the American flag to
stir our young men to offer their
services. They have gone to the re-
cruiting offices as one goes to his
office, shop or factory"
The Times tells the simple truth
when it says further: "The result of
the selective CONSUMPTION. which will
increase our armed forces by next
winter to nearly 100000, is more
satisfactory each day. We hear a
great deal about the slackers, but in
proportion to the stalwart patriots
there are very few of them"
So we hear a great deal about the
other DIRECTORS and malcontents, but
their number and influence. in COM
parison with the whole, is negligible.
With all possible speed, at enormous
expense and, taking it by and large,
with great efficiency, the preparations
for war move forward. And that the
people are behind the government is
proved, not by the noise they make
but by the money they furnish, the
sons they furnish. the manner In
which they submit to the laws, the
calm and sober and orderly way in
which they go about their business
and conduct themselves as citizens.
That many were bewildered and I'M
willing, in the beginning, was the
most natural thing in the world For
three years we had believed that this
was not our war and that we should
keep out of 1t. 1t was not easy for
the ordinary man to understand. on
the instant, that events had forced us
in or to realize the stern necessity for
our fighting. But daily the ranks Of
those who support the government
not only as a patriotic duty but with
understanding and enthusiasm find
new recruits, while the number of