Ripley County democrat., 1917-11-02
WAR TALKS
By UNCLE DAN
Ns'nssr ons

America Must Fight Hard or Germany
May Win---faecessIty for Mill
tary Training.
snow, Billie" said his mother, "your
Uncle Dan is coming tomorrow to
spend week with us on the farm, and
II you want to know about the war.
here's your opportunity. Uncle Dan is
probably one Of the best-informed men
In the country" Billie clapped his
hands and gave such o whoop that he
Weakened the baby, but what could you
expect Of q fifteen-year-old boy who Is
a living interrogation point and wants
to know about war1
Uncle Dan arrived In due time and
Billie watched for an opportunity. 1t
came that evening after dinner when
Uncle Dan had lighted a cigar and
taken q seat on the porch.
I'm mighty glad you came, Uncle
Dan. want to talk to you about the
war. We have just put military train
ing In our township high school, but
we had a hard time to do It. The
Joneses and the Greggs objected. They
said the war wouldn't come over here.
Grandma Jones said: They amt no
use to worrit, 1t will soon blow over.
Well, we put tho training in just the
same. You orter heard Judge Brow
nell, the president Of the school board,
do the slackers up. He said unless wei
take of our coats and go to II, Ger
many may yet win. and IL she does, sheI
win take over the great British fleet asI
a war trophy and compel us to do what
ever she wants to that she could make
us pay oil the cost Of the war; theI
kaiser could tax US as he pleased and
that we couldn't help ourselves, Hel
could make every one pay over a partI
of what he earns; that he could make
he farmers pay rent for their own
farms, etc. Now, Uncle. what do youI
think Of that7'e.
! "weII my boy" said Uncle Dan,
"all that Judge Brownell says might
easily come true and may unless we goI
quickly to the aid Of the allies with
large numbers Of men and help them
break the German line. Unless we can
beat the submarines, they may pre-
vent US from getting enough food to
tho allies to keep them going. In that
case Germany would win. As matters
stand today, our greatest need IL
trained men. II we had had several
millions Of men with military training
in our industries and on our farms
when the war came, who could
have been called at once for service, 7
do not believe the kaiser would have
forced the war upon US. As It was, ha
had no respect for us. and now we are
In It and must 60 through with II. But
never again must we be caught 80
wholly unprepared.
There Is only one safe way" said
Uncle Dan, "and that is to adopt per-
manently universal military training,
apply 1t to every young man who IL
physically at, say In his nineteenth or
twentieth year. The training can be
carried forward in the United States
training camps that are now being es-
tabllshed for training men called by
the selective draft. AS soon as these
men vacate these stations, they should
be filled by younger men. and this
should be made the permanent policy
OF the country"
Billie's mother, Mrs. Graham, had
overheard the conversation. She came
out and said: "Really, Brother Dan.
are you serious as to the dangers Of
our country II 1t is as bad as that, It
Is high time for us to wake up and do
something about It."
"Exactly," replied Uncle Dan. TT
Is better to wake up now than to be
rudely awakened later. We may AZ
well understand, sister, that this Is our
war and we must win It or God help
America. Everything that we have
or hope to have--our liberties. our
blessings, our opportunities are all In
volved In the great issue before us.
Nothing must stand between us and
winning this war. It is a question
whether the peoples right or the kali
ser's might shall dominate the world.
II there ever was a holy war, this Is
Il. We are fighting for world liberty.
We are fighting for the freedom Of
humanity. We are fighting for the
right Of men to govern themselves In
stead Of being governed against their
will BY o war-mad ovsriord. Perilous
times are ahead Of rs. We must be
prepared to make any sacrifice. TO per
Form any service that may BE- required
Of US.
j "0h, Uncle Dan.r exclaimed Bilia
..'may ! bring my chum. Jimmie Col
ains, when we have our next talkf He
- Q bug on this war business and 1ust
crazy to see you"
"Certainly," said Uncle Dan. with i
hearty laugh. III we are to have more
talks, ! shall be glad to have Jimmie
Join us.s
Billie elarped ms hands and ran to
the phone and told Jimmie to BE- oven
AZ seven o'clock me next evening.