The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-11-29
Sign With A Smile

The "Patriotic Week Campaign is
testing the brand of patriotism which is
prevalent in Kenosha. There is no
doubt but with the reception which it
has already received, and with the back
ing of churches, industries, lodges and
organizations of every nature the plan
will become a reality. 1t has gone so
far already that even the wage Garner
who desires to slack--if there be one
in Kenosha--will find his daily path
strewn with contempt and scorn from
his comrades. His own selfish interest
now commands him to sign the pledge
to give the "Uncle Sam Half Hour"
and avoid the criticism of his own con-
science and the condemnation of his
associates. The test of our patriotism
is not whether we signed the pledge
but how willingly we signed on the dot
ted line. The man who scowls as he
agrees to do his part in providing for
the comforts of the soldiers according
TO the scheme now being projected in
Kenosha either does not realize the
situation or has his patriotism wrong
side up. The man or woman who signs
"with a smile and the wider the
better--is the man or woman who really
shows patriotism in this great cam
paign. He is the man or woman who
will be worthy of the praise Of the cities
which will follow in the wake, of Ke-
nosha; he is the one who will deserve
the thanks of the boys cover there"
who will profit by the plan.
Sooner or later every wage Garner in
Kenosha will have the opportunity to
show how wide he can smi1e-and
smile sincerely-while he agrees to
give one half hour a week to keep the
boys over there in the best fighting
trim and so supply them with every
comfort possible while they are fighting
the battles which will benefit the ones
"back here" as surely as the ones who
follow the flag in Flanders. The
strange thing about it all is that the
longer one considers the project the
more ready he is to give freely in sup
port Of the plan. He realizes that the
value of the gift to himself depends
largely on whether he gives voluntarily
and shows his patriotism and he is
glad of the opportunity to show that if
he "can't go across" he can "come
across" and volunteer the service, He
smiles and gives because he realizes
that some way or other every penny
sent cheerfully will carry his greetings
to those across the sea and will give
him chance to have part-no matter
how small it may be-in the greatest
battle that democracy has ever waged
A second thought causes a second
smile as he signs the pledge. His name
is going to be one of those which viii
make Kenosha famous in the evo1u-
ton and carrying out Of workable
scheme for providing generously for
soldiers Of Uncle Sam When the plan
succeeds, as it must, he can take little.
of the glory upon himself because he
Willingly shouldered his corner of the
bnrden-or better the privilege-and is
entitled to that much of the praise. He
can have part in glorying in the fact
that he helped to write Kenosha Is name
large in the way in which it supported
the war financially.
There are many in Kenosha, who
have received r-uch from America and
are ready to the best of their ability
to pay the debt with interest. Condi-
tons are such that they can not go to
the front. They have subscribed to the