The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-08-25
SOMETHING TO BE
SOBER ABOUT

ID ADVAA
The proclamation by the Governor
of Nevada. declaring wednesday. Sep
TENDER 5, a legal holiday printed b
The Silver State Of last Thursday Is
surely a thing to be taken n sober
n 1t involves not politics. bat
patriotism; not ~expediency but a
question OF our national life.
In the same issue Of this newspaper
the telegraphic news contained the
report Of a most determined drive BY
Germany upon Russia, lead By Ger
many's great field marshal. o Hin
denburg. in person Our officials n
Washington admitted the situation u
be most serious. The meaning Of the
drive is this: If Germany can really
capture Russia. stupendous as the
task might seem when we remember
our geography, the s~ustenance OF the
Kaiser's army would be provided for
a long time-a very long time. Rein
forcements would be conscripted t5
his army, and the fight Of the Allies
would probably be prolonged tOI
years.
The government Of the United
States is making vast preparations
for war. Talk or feel as we may
there is no end to the struggle IN
sight Perhaps it has but commenced
So let US devote Wednesday, Septem-
Der 5. TO sober thinking and in prepa-
ration for sacrifices which it seems
certain this nation will be called upOr
TO make before this war for freedom
is won-sacrifces of luxuries, Of
comforts. of treasure. and of life Itself
in many cases - sacrifices for the
greatest Of all causes, which shoull
be made gladly. yet prayerfully.
The minds of citizens cannot come
into a condition for a right contem-
plation of this matter by making Of
Wednesday in any a day Of
~frivolity or idle amusement. Selfsa-
ness, in any sense. should not enter
the thought Drinking intoxicating
liquor is a selfish qualification, and
it is to be hoped that saloons viii
close on that day, as the Governor
suggests. We are liberal in Nevada
so let US be liberal in our unselfsh-
ness. Let US be distinctly sober eiti-
zens upon this day which is to wit
ness our real entry into the word
war.
II is difficult to realize what a titan
tic struggle is going on in this world
most difficult for US in this placid
intermountain region-but the strug-
gle is of such magnitude that all must,
sooner or later, feel its weight and
do, each one, his bit" The departure
Of Humboldt county men on Septem-
Der 5 will bring the reality home as
perhaps nothing else could.
This proclamation Of a legal holt
day is in reality an appeal TO the
conscience OF Neyadans. 1t is an
other way of demanding a nantes
tation of loyalty to this free govern
ment in its time of trial. Let us all
heed it. There is a German propa-
ganda all over the world today to
create sedition and so weaken the
enemies Of Germany-or, rather, the
nations which are fighting against a
military autocraey. 1t has been called
the whispered campaign" 1t has
well : nigh - perhaps completely -
disrupted the Russian army. 1t con
sists of a splendidly organized effort
to start and spread rumors Of faith
lessness on the part Of governments.
1t launches stories of soldiers being
poorly cared for; Of disasters met
with; of selhshness and conniying at
home by those who should be land
are) upholding the fighting men. This
whispered campaign" thriYes best
upon excited imaginations; so let US
be very sober on Wednesday. Septem-
Der s.
Fight we must-for our lives, and
TO a finish. Elihu Root, that great
Republican statesman who headed
the American mission to Russia. and
who returned but a short time ago,
solemnly said in an address at IAN
American port: AS surely as the
sun shall rise tomorrow morning, il
Germany wins in this wal the United