Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-12-11
WAR TALKS
By UNCLE DAN
-
Number One
America Must Fight Ward or German,
May Win-kecessity for kiili-
tary Training.
Number One

spend q week with US on the farm, and
if you want to know about the war;
here's your opportunity. Uncle Dan is
probably one Of the best-ini0rmed men
In the country Billie cappcd his
hands and gave such Il whoop that he
Weakened the baby, but what could you
expect of a fifteen-year-old hoy who is
a living Interrogation point and wants
to know about war?
, Uncle Dan arrived in due time and
Billie watched for an opportunity. Il
came that evening after dinner when
Uncle Dan had lighted cigar am
taken a seat on the porch.
I'm mighty glad you came, Uncle
Dan. | want to talk to You about tho
war. We have just put military train
ing in our township high school, bu
we had a hard time to do it. The
JOneses and the Greggs objected. TN.
said the war wouldn't come over hero.
Grandma Jones said: They amt no
use to worrit, 1t will soon blow OYER,
Wen, we put the training in just the
same. You orter heard Judge Brow
nell, the president of the school board,
do the slackers up. He said unless we
take off our coats and 20 to it. Ger
many may yet win, and if she does, she
will take over the great British feet as
q war trophy ana compel Us to do what
ever she wants to; that she could make
us pay all the cost of the war; the
kaiser could Tux US as he pleased and
that we couldn't help ourselves. He
could make every one pay over a par
of what he earns: that he could make
the farmers pay rent for their own
farms, etc. Now, Uncle, what do you
think of that?'
well, my hoy" said Uncle Dan,
"all that Judge Brownell says might
easily come true and may unless we 90
quickly to the aid of the allies with
large numbers Of men and help them
break the German tine. Unless we can
beat the submarines. they may pre-
vent us from getting enough food to
the allies 70 keep them going. In that
cnSe Germany would win AS matters
stand today our greatest need is
trained men. If we had had several
millions of men with military training
in our industries and on our farms
when the war came. who could
have been called at once for service. /
do not believe the kaiser would have
forced the war upon us. AS IT was. he
had no respect for us, and now we are
in it and must 90 through with IT, But
never again must we be caught so
wholly unprepared.
There is only one safe way" said
Uncle Dan "and that is TO ad0pt per
manently universal military training
apply It 10 every Young man who is
physically fit, say in his nineteenth or
twentieth year. The training can be
carried forward In The United States
training camps that are now being eS-
tabIlshed for training men called by
the Selcctiyc draft. As soon as these
men vacatc these stations they should
be filed ny younger men, and this
should be made the permanent policy
of the country"
Billie's moth"r, Mrs. Graham. had
overheard the conversation. She came
out and said, Really Brother Dan,
are you serious rs to the dangers Of
our country? If ii is as bad rs that, it
is high time for US to wake up and do
something about it."
Exactly replied Uncle Dan. ct
Is better to wake up now than TO be
rudely awakened later. We may as
well understand, sister, that this is our
wat and we must win it or God helm
America. Everything that we have
g or hope to have--our liberties. ON.
blessings, our opportunities are all In.
VOWED in the great issue before us.
Nothing must stand between us and
winning this war It is n question
whether the peoples right or the kai.
ser's might shall dominate the world
Ii there ever was holy war, this is
1t. We are fighting For world liberty.
We are fighting for the freedom Of
humanity We are fighting for the
right OF men to govern themselves in.
stead Of being governed against their
will by war-mad overload. perllous
times are ahead of US. We must he
prepared to make any sacrifice, to ner.
, form any service that may be required
of u.s.
"Oh Uncle Dar," exclaimed Billie
[ "may ! bring my chum, Jimmie Col.
= inns, when we have our next talk? He
= Is a bug OF this war business and lust
crazy to see you"
Certainly" snid Uncle Dan, with q
5 hearty laugh III we are to have more
. talks, shah he glad to have jimmie
Q ioin u.s.
/. Billie claeped his hands and ran to
$ he phone and told Jmmie to be over
s at seven clock the next evening.