Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-13
Editorial Comment
A Mothers Appeal to President vii.
son.


| ilization, l plead with you TO make
certain that the spies and the pro-
Germans in this country, whether
holding allegiance TO Germany or
claiming to be Americans, shall not be
permitted by a continuation Of the
work which they have been doing to
lessen the chance for the life of my
boy and the millions Of other boys
| who are answering your call and Of
fering themselves on the altar of the
nations life.
| Mr.. President. those Of us who are
| giving sons and husbands or other
| loved ones, are giving all that we have
the sorrows which have been placed
upon US. Bravely we are trying to
look forward with some hope Of their
! return.
| They are going out to fight the NEST
desperate. diaholical enemies ever
known to mankind. and they are co.
ing because you have called them to
| this holy task.
| WE would not hold them back for
we know that they are going for our
| honor and to save US and all woman
hood from the fearful fate which has
befallen Belgium and much Of Fcance.
But. Mr.. President, we know that
their lives are being menaced because
of pro- German activities. We know
that many a soldiers life will be lost
which might otherwise have been
saved had these pro-German activities
been suppressed with a ruthless hand.
| The men who in this country are
! fighting the United States by working
| for Germany are infinitely more our
enemies and the enemies Of these
| loved ones that we are sending to
| battle than are the men in Germa ny,
even than the Kaiser and his associ-
! ates. These men at home are seeking to
stab our loved ones in the back. and
| you, Mr. President, know II. These
| black hearted traitors to humanit'
| are walking our streets, doing bust
| ness with our people, and vet are al
! lied with He'll in an effort to make
! sure that many thousands Of orr sons
who might otherwise be saved shall
be left on the battlefields Of Europe.
! In the name Of the mothers, and the
wives, the sisters and the sweethearts
of all these soldiers VIVA are Icing
called, and of the other millions who
will be called I plead with you to SIP
press with an iron hand every man
and woman in this country who Sc
cretly or openly is ende4voring TO
bring about the murder Of these be-
| loved sons and husbands and sweet
/ hearts-the very flower of the nations
| life.
! 1t is within your power, Mr.. Pres
ident to suppress this German ele-
ment.
! It is in your power to shorten the
| length Of this war and to save to us
| thousands and tens of thousands of
! lives Of our soldier boys by deciding
whether you will permit these unbrid
| led activities in behalf of Germany.
to run rampant in this country. or
whether you will suppress, before the
firing squad if need be. every man in
| this country who is traitor to God,
to America and to Humanity.
! If you falter. Mr. President, and do
| not suppress these Pro-German activ-
| tiles regardless of the number of
spies and other German agents who
! may have 70 pay the just penalty or
their crimes. YOU will be responsible
before God and man for the death Of
MANY times as many American SOL
diers.
| would not add one iota to the bur
den you are bearing; I would not seek
to lessen the appreciation Of this
| country of the magnificent work YOU
have done: but for the boy who has
left meat your call, and the millions
Of boys who will leave their loved
ones, / plead with you that nothing
shall he left undone to lessen the
dangers which they face.
Andyou and 1 know, Mr.. President,
that these dangers will he Increased
many-.old if pro-Germans, working
for Germany and against this coun-
try. are allowed to roam the land UNI
hammered in all their vicious actlv--
tiles.
Any YOU know and know that how
over true and good however loyal ana
patriotic may be some of the people u
German descent living in this country,
there are so many that their number
must be millions, who quietly some-
times. and openly at other times are
doing their utmost to bring about the
downfall of this country and the sue
cess of Germany. Everywhere, on
trains in factories. through the press
and In other ways these people are
seeking to sow the seeds Of disccrd
for the benefit Of Germany.
The facts are too plain to be ignoreo'
You know them full we'll. and every
other honest hearted American KNOWS
them. and is constantly running
against them.
Unless the Government suppresses
this element with a strong hana, ana
with unbending determination, un!n-
euenced by aught else than the wei.
fare Of the nation and the safety 9!
the lives of it's soldiers. there VIII
come a time when, bitter, undying re-
sentiment and hatred against every
German American will fill the hearts
Of American people.
And then the people, through mon
shirt. in which the innocent as wen ms
the guilty will suffer, will break loose
and wreak vengeance and DO Te
things which the Government should
in its official capacity have done from
the very teginning Of the war.
For nv boy. and every other boy. I
plead with YOU. Mr.. President. to re-
alize that the lives Of millions Of these