Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-04-20
NEEDING THEIR CoUNTRY'S CALL

Marshall Field, the third heir to fifty million dollars
enlisted in the ranks of the Illinois National Guard as
private yesterday and went into camp equal foot
ing with the other young men from all walks of life
That manly thing to do but not an uncommon oc-
currence since the nation called its to Scions
of the wealthiest families of the country Vanderbts
AStoTs, AmouTs, and others not so well advertised as
mionaires are serving the coors in the ranks by hun
dreds and asking no special favors privileges. We
talk of classes in this country days. that is many
persons do for the land is filled with agtators who rail
at conditions and revile our laws and the officials who
administer them but when the days of peril come and
national honor and security stake the class distnc
tion socaed disappears by magic and we behold one
hundred million Americans ony yready to fight to die If
need be for the flag that ymbozes the greatest nation
and freest government earth; nation where every
citizen walks erect in the knowledge that his rights OF
citizenship not abridged and where man need o
doff his hat unwlingy to Of higher rank or nober
birth; where liberty is common that it is sometimes
unappreciaed else is interpreted to mean license o
abuse the sacred heritage of citizenship.
We have been told by certain individuals that wealth
should pay the cost of war; that the toll of blood and
treasure will be taken from the poor But already we
know that this charge is unruethat if our soldiers are
called upon to the battle trenches Of Europe before
peace comes to the warning world the millionaire and the
poor man will pay the cost of the conflict alike and die as
comrades side by side. Rich men, multi millonaire
publisher being notable example, are asking that the
financial burden be placed upon their shoulders and man
ufactuers of the country are rendering their DIVIDEND
paving plants to the government at its own price for any
purpose for which they may be Of service. The wealth
Of the nation will pay the bills and pay them without al
murmur because it is American wealth and realizes its
origin and its obligations.
The people Of the United States have been sneered at
because in security they have stood for peace and
taken the peaceful professions OF other great powers
all sincerity and have no great military establishment
or oceandomnatng navy struggling at the leash to meet
the alien foe it has been said that we are not nation
but mob made up of all peoples and lacking IN national
character pride and patriotism Already these slanders
have been refuted The thrill Of patriotism fills the land
today it pervades every home and rules every industry
no hyphenated Americans manning the guns and carry
inc the stars and stripes to victory Irish Americans and
Scandinavian Americans and German Americans and all
the other hyphenaed citizens of our political campaigns
will be plain Americans then with a common work to-
do and grim determination to 10 it.
The nation is being tried by fire and it will emerge
from the test stronger in all respects and more firmly
welded together by the sacrifices made upon the altar of
a common country