The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-10-02
(sY coNoo)

| entrance int, the war with Germany
| that no wa" save one in defense OF
actual enemy invasion will bring re-
/ suits that will counter balance such
sacrifice as stated. Many will dwell
on the wonderful prosperity and ma
+ tioral well bciEs which was our por
t!cn before tecmLing involved in the
struggle, and III Tao darker days which
ny come before tne final curtain on
this bloody world drama, these citi.
zens will not cease to harp upon past
,ontentment and security. Why NOT
for a moment forget the little circle of
private satisfaction and stand of far
enough, and up high enough to take a
genuine broad peep at the national
swing during the past few years.
America has had longer career as
a republic than any other country re.
corded by history, nut could we state
with certainty, as things were going,
another hundred years would still have
found us a republic? The people Of
This nation were in a state of geat un.
rest-unity of aim in the populace was
thing OF the past. Selfish interests
and personal ambition had strangled
any consideration for national advance.
ment. The situation between labor
and capital was growing more and
more acute and government investiga.
ton and arbitration was becoming a
daily affair. Prolonged delivery into
the conduct and management OF cor.
porations and companies produced no
result except further evaporation on
the part OF the people.
The feeling Of national unity was so
nearly dead that only actual entry
into warfare could awaken it, and even
yet it is still blinking and rubbing its
eyes. So selfish and hardened were
great business interests that on the
very edge of our engagement, when a
babe could have seen that war was
"pon us, the government had to give to
England orders for desperately needed
ammunition because OF extortionate
prices asked by her very own pro.
ducers. Would you consider this a
condition Of national security? Also,
While prices climbed necessarily and
money poured in flood into the hands
CT big business, we're these same men
satisfied and happy in their prosper.
ity? Not at all - they we're lying
awake nights, scheming new ways to
throttle competition, news ways to
squeeze the public, and how to safely
wriggie through law loopholes clever.
~ constructed by subsidized politi.
cans. Our cities were being constant.
~ Jared by exposures OF absolutely
rotten city administration-each ex.
rosure being trifle more smelly"
than the last. Is a constant exploita.
ton of the common people a safe way
to conduct a republic, as you?
Then there was another side. The
youth of our country was in a most
regrettable trend. Where this fault
lay is hard to state, but indications OF
real decadence were not lacking Moth.
ing so unerringly points this out as the
mad craze for all sorts Of outrageous
dances which swept the entire nation.
1t speaks well for the real stamina OF
our young people that they emerged
from this flood Of nastiness and sue.
Eestion as clearly as they did. But 1t
must have left its mark, at that. The
women became absorbed in cards, The
significant thing about this was that
it was the brainy, educated club wo.
men and college women who were bit.
ten most severely by the fad for bridge.
The women with time and talents for
greater and better things spent hours
ana hours and days and nights over the