The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-09-30
CONSCIENTIOUS DIRECTORS"
ARE ROASTED BY ROOSEVELT

pie, or else traitorous pro-Germans.
Describing the various kinds Of pa
cificists in this country, Mr.. Roose-
welt said that some Of the leading
apostles of applied pacifiism are not
timid men, but, on the contrary, they
are brutal, violent men, who are per-
fectly willing to fight, but only for
themselves and not for the nation.
These roughneck pacifists, he said,
have always been the potent allies
Of the parlor or milk-and-water paci-
fist, the white-handed or sissy type
of pacifist, represents decadence, rep
resents the rotting ont Of the virlle
virtues among people who typify the
unlovely senile side Of civilization.
Teh rough-neck pacifist, on the con-
trary, is a mere belated savage, who
has not been educated to virtues of
national patriotism and of willingness
to fight for the national flag and the
national IDEAL
Mr.. Roosevelt continued: IF man
does not wish to take life, but does
wish to serve his country, let him
serve on board q mine-sweeper or IN
some other position where the danger
is to his own life and not to the life
of anyoe else. But If he will take no
useful or efficient part in helping IN
this war, in running his share OF the
common risk and doing his part OF
the common duty, then treat him as
having forfeited his right to vote, his
right to render at the polls any de-
cision which in the long run can only
be made good in the face of brutal
and hastile men by the ability and
willingness of good citizens to back
right with might.
Such a man, Mr.. Roosevelt insisted,
who claims citizenship but is not viii
ing to perform the necessary dutles,slt
not entitled to any of the rights OF
citizenship, saying Service to the ma :
ton in war stands precisely on foot
ing with any other service. If man
will not perform it, let him lose all the
benefits of war; and at least let him
lose the political rights which a free
country can keep if its free citizens
are willing to fight for them. We
stand against all privileges not based
on the full performance of duty; and
there is no more contemplate form
of privilege than the privilege of ex-
listing in snug, self-righteous, peace
full safetybecause other, Drawer, more
self sacrificing men give up safety and
go to war to preserve the nation. 1t
a mans too conscientious to fight,
then the rest of us ought to be too
conscientious to let him vote in
democratic land which can perma-
| nently exist only if the average man
| is willing in the last resort to hight
! for it and die for it.
Mr.. Roosevelt said that any work
man today, whether he be on the farm
or. in the shop, who supports Ger.
many, lis not only playing the part OF
| a traitor to the United States. but
| is playing the part Of traitor to the
spirit of democracy throughout the
civilized world The speaker asserted
| that the Socialist party and the |. w:
| w. organization in this country had
been the tools of German autocracy
and the enemies of liberty.
! A plea for universal military obi
cation was made by Mr.. Roosevelt.
who said the selective draft system
/ it wrong, because it chooses one
| man to make the sacrifice and do the
! work of two or three other men VIVA
are allowed to stay at home and make
money, while the first man risks his
i life for their common country.
! The o1s GERS training camps were
| also criticised by Mr.. Roosevelt. be-
cause, he said ''they have been so
| conducted that only men Of some
| means could go thither or send their
sons He said they have done admir-
able work, but this feature ought to
be remedied to s'every man who is re-
| spectable man and who has sons OF
| the right type, would feel that those
| sons had an equal chance to become
/ b. GERS with any men in the land