Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1917-06-21
Professor Comstock of University OF
Wisconsin Delivers the Com
mencement Address "A
Powerful Discourse on
the World War

was the greatest tnIng CnaC WOulu
ever come into their lives, no matter
how long they lived. He said their
own interests, their own fate, was
bound up in it. He asked the great
question: "Why does each national
ity think it is at war;" He discussed
the great conflict from the standpoint
Of the German and the Englishman,
and derived the conclusion that the
European war resulted because peo-
pie want things that other people
don't want them to get.
We stayed neutral-we kept out OF
the conflict for nearly three years, al
though we did not like many things
that the Germans and English did.
We wondered when the German chan
cellor referred to the Belgian treaty
as a mere scrap Of paper; we pro-
tested when England stopped our
ships and opened our mails. He re-
cited many other things that we did
not like, but stated that it was war.
The speaker referred to the sinking
of ships, the loss of American lives.
He said that the trouble with the
allies could be paid for with money,
but with Germany it was matter OF
American lives that could not be re-
placed. The cup flowed over when
Germany renounced her promise and
stated that neutral ships would be
sunk in the barred zone. Little more
~ IC ppncidnnf Will
son laid before congress the grleV-
ances of the country and asked that
it declare war. 1t was then that the
United States cast off it's swaddling
clothes and assumed it's place in the
history of the world. Mr.. Comstock
said eve are in the war because we
! could not honorably stay out of it,
He said that a madness has seized
Germany-it must be subdued-ln that
country the schools and every public
institution have been used to build up
absolute obedience to the govern
ment They have set up a German
god and a deadly fanaticism seems
to have gripped the country.
Democracy, added the speaker,
must be kept safe in the world, and
there is just one way out Of it, and
that is victory. The German power
must be overcome and it is to that
end that the United States has gone
| into the war. 1t must now stay in it
! no matter how long it lasts or how
| much it costs. The first great test
came ten days ago on registration day
another critical time arrived at
| noon today when the liberty bond
| cut out for us and we must do it. The
war will end some time and then
there will be a host Of problems to
SETTLE We shall trust in God, but
we will put our own shoulder to the
wheel and hope that the United States
will be the most powerful factor al
| the council table.
| At the conclusion of Professor Com
stocks patriotic and powerful dis
course a pleasing vocal duet was Civ
en- by Mrs. M. T. Martin of Merrimacb
and her son, Theodore Martin, a mem
ber of the graduating class.
/ Presentation of Class
| superintendent A. C. Kingsford in
| presenting the class of 1917 stated
that it gave him more than the usua,
satisfaction-it was the largest in the
schools history, and that was not the
only good qualify about it. He
touched upon the school motto and
said that the qualities that win II
school life usually win in 1ife's school
He added, however that some who
are ordinary students make success
after leaving school. The main thing
for the next year or two for the mem
bers of the class should be to see tha
their service, talents and strength
should belong to their country The
Baraboo high school is already play
! ing part in the conflict, said Mr.
Kingsford. A former student in the
| Baraboo high school is already on hi
| way to Fra je as O. captain. He re
], cited the names of several forme
| graduates who were now preparing
themselves to be leaders of men, men
| tioning William Troy, Earl Battles
Ralph McGilYra, Harold Ellington
Il Roland Brennan. John SDrechar anf