The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-04-27
LETTING GEORGE DO 1T.


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1t is not our desire to badger congress at this
time of national danger. We prefer to support
the government in every possible way, for in sup
porting the government we are demonstrating
our loyalty to our country and our earnest desire
to aid.
But we can not refrain from opposing the con-
gressional policy of Letting George do it" 1t is
a failure and will result in disaster to our country
if pursued for any length of time.
Here's a sample of the results obtained by
letting George do it, in the matter of obtaining
recruits for the army.
Captain Franklin R. Kenney is admittedly the
finest recruiting officer the United States Army
has ever known. He is located in Chicago, but
! his fame is national in its scope.
Yet Captain Kenney, with all of his vast ex-
perience and remarkable ingenuity, can not secure
one quarter of the results that are to be expected
when our nation is at war.
True, he is succeeding to a reasonable degree
where many others are meeting with Indifferent
success, but it is due mainly to his remarkable
ability and revolutionary methods Of campaigning
for recruits.
The fault is entirely in the system. The peo-
pie do not believe in letting a patriotic few do the
work of the whole. Many thousands of young men
all over the country are ready to enlist as soon
as congress imposes the same obligation on ALL
YOUNG MEN OF MILITARY AGE who are ply
sically fit, but they do not feel inclined to be the
goat that pulls other peoples chestnuts from the
fire.
Mothers and fathers are willing to send THEIR
boys to tn: front as soon as they are assured that
THEIR NEIGHBORS' BOYS will be sent. But
they are not imbued with the idea of having their
sons face the lannon's mouth in defense of their
country while other sons Of the community remain
safely at home.
The volunteer system penalties patriotism and
puts a premium on Stacking, for the patriot goes
60 war for SIS a month while the Stacker remains
at home and earns from $50 to 500 a month.
The congress should Immediately enact into
law the presidents recommendations for compul-
sorry service. The congressman or senator who
can not publicly defend the Stacker should not in
turn be a congressional Stacker himself.
Let congress once pass a universal service law
and you will find an instant change In the senti-
ment Of the young men Of this country. There
will be an enthusiastic rush to the colors that will
surprise even the president himself, for each
young enthusiast will have the satisfaction of
knowing that he is not being asked to take his
life in his hand to defend a neighbor who Stacks at
home.
The latent patriotism of this country is un-
bounded, but there is smoldering resentment of in
justice that is holding back patriots who are SIM
ply itching to get to the front. m
If we are to fight a war Of humanity let us first
make it a war of justice to our own young blood.
We venture the assertion that if it were put
a vote of the young men of this community eight
out of every ten would refuse to enlist under the
present antiquated and unjust volunteer system,
but would heartily support universal service.
The blood of our own young men is red and
contains no water, but they believe, in a patriotism
that is founded upon justice.
Universal service must come, and it should
come, without another instant of delay.
The welfare of our country permits Of no
Stacking, either in congress or elsewhere.
AAAAAA
A MILLION BACK YARDS.
What of your back yard? Is it Uttered up with
refuse, or abandoned to weeds?
Plow it up and plant potatoes or other food
stuffs. 1t may yield only a dozen bushels or so,
and as only one back yard its effect upon the ma
tional yield would be but an atom.
But if a million back yards were thus titled,
THINK OF THE RESULT! Twelve million BUSH
els or more Of potatoes or other foods from back
yards alone!
And every available foot of ground, wherever
found, should receive the same attention.
The president and the nation are appealing to
yes personally. Let us Of this community answer
it with instant action.
~
1t has been said that: editors can be bought
cheaper in Mexico than in any other country, and
that may account for much.
Seems to be q friendly rivalry between English
and French to see which can capture most Ger
mans in the big spring drive.
pa ma m n ~ N
Bet the Oregon dairy maid who's killed 100