Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-08-29
DISCIPLlN NE.

Gen Pershing gave correspondent
valuable message for the American
people the other day. 1t was intend
cd to reach the million Americans
now in arms and the million or two
more that will follow them
Men must realize the necessity OF
standing at attention and saluting
their officers said the general, think
ing perhaps of the confusion and dis.
aster that came upon the Russian
army when. for little while after
the revolution broke, the privates re-
fused to salute. THAT is little
thing, perhaps, but major factor in
establishing great army machine,
Not that we want automatons or
anything like automatic soldiers our
school of warfare differs from our enc
mics by realizing that every private
is potential officer, and in order to
make a good commander a soldier
must have initiative and think for him
self. But cultiyating initiative doesn't
mean lodging discipline
THE time is coming when we shall
attack, and II may be that all Off
GERS and all non-ccmmissioned officers
of unit will be lost. Then it will be
up to some private to lead his COM
pany or platoon In order to make
the most of such opportunities. that
man must have been grounded in dis
cipline-in obeying orders quickly so
that he can give orders quickly and
must have studied the officers above
him and been cognzant of their du-
ties.
And he must have his comrades
confidence, which will be his if he is
firstclass solder-quick to learn,
thoroughly familiar with his duties
and constantly rea d oty etaoin
even the minor ones like saluting and
standing at attention"
It's lesson that Americans par
ticularly need to learn It's new
version of the old truth that he who
would command must first learn to
obey. It's timely and vital. And it
applies about as well to any young
man in civilian pursuit as it does to
his friends in the army.
In discussing the question OF mar
red Womens relation to the war a
woman who speaks for 100000 Of
the most enlightened members of her
sex is entitled to a respectful hear
ing Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait,
president of the nations biggest suf
frage organization, draws an inspr
Ing picture Of Americas woman
power and the role it should play in
the war.
THE man.power of the country"
she says, moves to the front and the
woman-poWer of the country closes
up back of the men, pressing thru
all lines Of industry, trade and trans
p0rtation, nearer and nearer to the
trenches, until the women are on the
firing line itself, as they are in Rus.
STA today"
We do not need our women on the
actual firing line, but there is work for
them all in some branch of the in.
finitely varied service. She has no
tolerance for womer sackers And
she puts in this uncomplimentary
category large numbers of married
women who are encouraging their
husbands to plead exemption on the
ground that their wives are depend.
ont on them for support.
In The case Of the mother of small
children, says Mrs Gait, this is a le
Ultimate claim But she insists that
"childless young wives have no right
to ask legitimate claim But she in.
ssts that "childless young wives have
no right to ask he government to lp,
their men stay at home and toll 40
that they may lie on sofas
Uncle Sam seems to agree with her
And we've an idea that most women
do, too