The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-06-07
The People Will Wake to
the Seriousness of War
When Congress Wakes Up


in a newspaper relating that the Cham-
her Of Commerce Of the United States
has sent a message to the president
asking him to arouse the people 70 the
truth and sense of their danger.
The Chamber of Commerce, along
with many government officials, along
with many newspapers and along with
MANY observing men i'm private iiie is
alarmed by the apathetic manner OF the
peopl Of our country
They are at a loss to understand the
matter-of-fact attitude Of so many OF
the citizenship, in view of the crisis they
face with the nation.
There is no gainsaying this apalhy.
There is nothing to do but admit II ana
10 get busy finding the cause for Il gust
as quickly as we can.
The sooner the cause is found the
sooner can the condition be remedled II
the United States : 20 meet It's heavy
responsibility with chances brightest Tor
the successful discharge of that respon-
sibility.
Preparations By the nation should be
speeded up, the Chamber OF Commerce
declares. for the life and death reason
that the United States may be called
upon to stand the brunt Of the war.
Five contingencies are named upon
which this possibility could become
fact:
If Russia should collapse.
If the English fleet be overcome.
If the food situation should bring our
Allies TO their knees.
If great reverses should be met on the
western front.
If the submarine menace be not
checked.
Despite the situation, the United
States, clearly, is not excited.
1t is not flushed, like one in mood to
fight.
There is no anger apparent in the
public voice.
The country is NOT IN A FIGHTING I
SPIRIT.
The Times has two reasons to advance
explaining why these things are facts.
The reasons are Business and Con
gressr
II would have been fine for all con-
cerned if war could have come and the
country enjoyed business as usual
which business invited, but the time has
come TO admit that the raising Of that
cry was a mistake and that it Is one OF I
the things responsible for the dampening
of the national ardor.
The man who is to take the firing line
does not relish exactly the spectacle of 4
himself being asked to make the great
sacrifice while business is pleading that
it be spared from any sacrifice at all.
The Chamber Of Commerce Of the /
United States realizes that this was
mistake. 1t declares that business in /
wartime is not as usual
It vas perfectly proper to advise the
people against false economy, which
kind VI economy is unwise at any time
and more unwise when a country IS al
war
1t was perfectly proper TO advise the
people that an unwise economy would
mean the paralyzing of industries giving
men employment and that the country
would suffer at home from such a condi-
ton.
Business as near as possible would
have been a better slogan.
IT was somewhat of an affront to tire
intelligence of the average man to try
to make him believe that war puts M
additional tax on his dollar and does not
decrease its purchasing value
We can all join with more heart in
a program that will exact from business
the LEAST sacrifice.
Business as near as usual as p0ss-
ble,' sounds better
1t has more Of tendency to keep the
citizen reminded that his country is 1T
war than a movement does which aims
at no interruption whatever
We have not the slightest doubt that
the people viii be found fully awake to
the nations peril when they find con-
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