The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-04-30
UNIVERSAL SERVICE AND WAR.


RAAA
War, at best is bloody business. The side with
the better organization will be ahead of the game
all the time.
For the United States to adopt the volunteer
system, with its imperfections, is an error which
will mean more blood. Every man should be at
the disposal Of the government. Such is demo-
cracy.
To be at the disposal of the government men
should be organized for effective service, other
wise confusion will prevail, trades will suffer and
the war will drag. This will mean more blood.
Whenever the leaders of a democratic party
speak for their country those who have enjoyed
its liberties should not deny their services wher-
ever the government wants them. If they do
deny the obligation and shirk the duty they should
be conscripted. Not to c~onscript them means
more blood.
The principle of universal service, with selec-
tive draft, renders every man the soldier OF his
country. Some will be in the trenches amid great
peril while others remain at home to keep alive
the life of the nation, 80 that its full strength
may be exerted. If none remained behind it
would mean more blood.
If some are to stay at ,lome why should not
the government select those who are to remain
and leave the necessary workers at their jobs and
take the dispensible men for the army? Why
should the men who are not aiding their country
in its economic struggle remain at home simply
because those who choose not to volunteer? To
let them shirk means more blood.
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THE "SELECTIVE DRAFT"
A %selective draft is not like a regular draft.
If it were it wouldn't be called "selective," though
the difference probably has escaped the attention
of most people.
The ~selective draft is one where the efficient
in factory and farm are left alone. They will
not be drafted for the army. The experience OF
the allies has shown US that an efficient factory
of farm laborer is more valuable to the govern
ment in his place in factory or on farm than in the
ranks, thus giving way for an inefficient man in
or farm.
The allies have asked the United States to CO.
operate financially and industrial first first; and
this cannot be done if the efficient men are taken
from factory or farm.
They found this out, much to their cost.
The modern state must be run like a huge ma
chine in wartime, and to have good soldiers is not
snough-there must be good men manning the in
likewise. For without them ION the
Jobs the work of the armies is nullified.
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WAR IN THE KITCHEN.
We hear much of woman taking her part"
part in this war is most effective in the
As food is going to play as important a part
in the war as guns and ammunition, it is essen
tial that there be no waste; not only no waste,
but housewives must learn the exact values OF
kinds of foods and be able to substitute
sorts of lesser cost for those whose cost may go
reach.
No one has a right to waste food, nor pay little
to the science or culinary efficiency,
merely because they can afford to be wasteful and
thoughtless.
The less food we use in our kitchen this year,
the more food others will be able to use.
The idea is not to go undernourished, for that
would seriously affect the vitality of the nation,
but merely to make proteins and calories be.of bet
ter service than heretofore.
Every person will have to contribute his mite
to the warm the kitchen if nowhere else.
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BOYS AND CIGARETS.
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Tests made among high school boys show that
those who are not addicted to the use of cigarets
stand highest in their studies every time. Lads
free from the pernicious effects of "coffin nails"
give most promise of physical and moral strength.
There is not a single argument in favor Of the
friendly puff"