Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-30

courage and iron endurance for the
national honor and the national inter
Fest. / appeal to the women as much
as to the men, for our nation has
risen to every great crisis only be-
cause in every such crisis the courage
of its women famed as high as the
courage of the men.
II appeal to you. to take the lead
in making good the Presidents mes
sage OF April 2, in which he set forth
the reasons why II was our unescap-
able duty to make war upon Ger
many. We can make the Presidents
message stand among the great state
papers in our history; but we can
make ii good only if we fight with all
our strength now, at once; IL at the
earliest possible moment we put the
flag on the firing line and keep II
there over a constantly growing army
until the war closes by a peace which
brings victory TO the great cause OF
democracy and civilization, the great
cause of justice and fair play among
the peoples of the world.
Pleads His own Cause
This is the appeal l make espe-
cially to the men and women OF the
West. l do not merely ask you to go
to the front, you men of the West; or
to cheer your men when they go. you
women. l also ask you to see that
am given the high privilege of max
ing my words good by my deeds and
going to the front with you. l have
asked leave to be allowed to raise a
division to take to the front in the
commanded of that force; a division
which. after two or three months pre-
liminary training here. can be taken
for intensive training to France, and
earliest possible moment that the al
lied generals deem Ii fit to render
service. l ask that / be allowed to
join with others who feel as l do in
making good the Presidents message
Il ask that 1 and those dearest tC
me and closest to me by blood shall.
be given the chance to prove the
truth of our endeavor and be sent al
the earliest possible moment under
the flag to the firing line.
Il do not ask for men in the classes
which would be taken under the Ad'
ministration<s plan for an army rails
ed under the obligatory system.
ask for men who would not otherwise
be allowed 10 60"
The Colonel was disappointed bu
not discouraged with news that the
House had voted down his volunteer
provision but he read with pleasure
that Senators Curtis, Republican, o.
Kansas, anu smith, INtpubllOdH, W
Michigan, had endorsed the Roosevelt
plan and Senator Lodge had spoken a
length in it's favor in the Senate.
II can see no reason why men owe
25 who earnestly desire to fight fol-
their country in France, If physically
| fit. should not be permitted to one
their lives il they want to. 1t canno
| injure' the principle OF universal com
pulsory service" said Senator Lodge
THE one man who would be able t
raise these divisions alone would b.
Colonel Roosevelt. He is known II
Europe as is no other American. Hi
| presence there would help and en-
courage the soldiers of the allied ma
| tions."
From New York comes the wort
that the news from Washington tina
| the House had voted down the amend
ment which would have permitted tn
Roosevelt eXpeditionary force to ge
on the firing line in France had no
the slightest dampening effect on tn
project. Applications poured in a
usual and were handled by the clerk
lwith undated enthusiasm. The set
I back in Washington seemed to have
stimulating effect.