The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1917-04-27
SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT.

SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT.
Nero is said to nave nddled while
Rome was burned. The congress OF
the United States is playing politics,
trying to make solid with the boys at
home and to arrange for the distrlDu-
ton of additional plums in the way OF
volunteer commissions, while the ma
ton is imperatively demanding
trained army to fight its battles and
lhe battles of civilization and human
ity. Many members of congress may
sincerely believe in the volunteer sys-
tenn of political favoritism, OF political
appointments, of penalizing patriotism
and rewarding slackers, but the ma
jority who are thwarting the efforts
of the president and the military ex-
perts to give the country a real demo-
cratic system for raising an army, are
moved by the sordid belief that their
course will help them in the next
political campaign.
1t is going to bring down upon many
congressman the wrath OF many un-
patriotic slackers and their equally
unpatriotic parents, to force them to
serve their country in its hour Of dire
necessity, but the true patriot will not
count the cost. The compulsory uni
yersal service act so ably advocated
by the president and his advisers.
should be passed before the month
ends. The work of raising an army
should begin now, without further de-
lay. 1t should be a democratic army
too, one that will play no favorites.
The volunte er system has been tried
and found wanting. Even at the rate
of present enlistments it will take
over year to get an army OF a hall
million men enrolled, to say nothing
of the additional time to get them
drilled and ready for service on the
far flung battle lines of Europe.
Will the people of America be con-
tent to have the time of congress frit-
ted away in discussion of an out
grown, expensive and inefficient and
undemocratic system while the best
blood and treasure of France and Eng
land are being poured out without
stint or limit in defense OF everything
that our civilization counts dear? Are
we willing to withhold longer real sup
port and sacrifice to our noble and
gallant allies who have for nearly
three long years, not counting the
cost, fought our battles and the battles
to make "the world safe for democ-
racy?" This war is not over yet. 1t
will not be over for many long and
dark and dreary day. 1t is going to
take effort, heroic effort, sacrifice and
blood to win it, America must begin
to play it's part in the momentous
struggle to achieve victory for hui
mainly.
President Wilson, responsible for |
the proper conduct of the war, all OF |
the military experts, those to whom |
in this emergency the nation must and |
does appeal for counsel and advice, |
unanimously condemn the unfair, un !
Just and undemocratic volunteer sys- '
tenn. Why then waste time that poll
ticians may pay fiambuoyant tribute
to the ancient history Of the nation?
III the members of congress are so
welded to the volunteer system why
do they not prove their faith by their
works and visit a recruiting station,
not to enroll as commissioned Off
GERS, but as humble privates?
The nation, the great American PEG
pie. almost without exception, are
amt behind Wilson in this war. They
believe in him, in his advisers, and
his thorough conservation to the great
task to which he has dedicated Amer
lea. to make the world safe for de-
mocracy" and woe betide the politi-
clan in congress who refuses to give
the president legislation necessary to
arm the nationsfor it's part in the con-
aict.
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