Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-11
Universal
Service Be
Universal
(By Julian Street Of the vieilantes.)

(By Julian Street Of the visilantes.)
About two years sago, when pa
cihsm wa rampant in the United
States. whom large numbers Of our
citixens were listening seriously to the
m~aundertngs Of Bryan and Henry
Ford, when James Hay, Of Virginia,
!.len chairman Of the House Commit
tee on Military Affairs. was acting as
an OLD man OF the sea upon the back
OF our weak brave. abused little regu-
lar army. when q few hArd-headed
mon foresaw the likelihood Of our be-
Ing drawn into the European war and
begged Q preparedness, only to be
dertded by h majority Of their fell
low Amertcans-at that time I found
myself one day talking with q dis
tingutshed American statesman who
q been trying to arous the country
to the dangers Immediately ahead.
and = been widely abused therefor
oy 9 large section, of the people he
was trying to preserve from their own
folly.
This gentleman had been ~conspicu-
ous IN politics for many years, and I
remember wondering at his continued.
nthustasm for patriotic work, and for
n american people, in face Of the
repu1e and insults Of which he was
tnen the victim. and in face Of . ma
tionai point OF view, regarding pre-.
which at the time verged
How can you help being . cynic."
I asked him. How can you have any
Iaitn left In human nature. when you
neve seen the people Of this country
play fool over and over again?"
sometimes" he returned, IT have
become respondent about. our people.
I nave saet them pile folly upon fol-
", until 1t seemed that there could be
notnins but disaster ahead. And then
them get the light and redeem them
selves by intelligent or even heroic &C.
uon. go, whom, ~ at the present
m they seem to be going utterly to
the bad. I remember the superb
hour reactions I have wit
heart" ~ ~'0 "Ae
The passage Of the universal serv-
ice measure recalls to my mind, vivid
y, snis conversation For the very
tning OF which that statesman spoke
has happened. Tho wonder Of Won
ders has occurred. The American
people have been touched with IN
spiratton and have risen splendidly
against false leaders, to he support
OF the president, and to the perform
G OF a great. sane, painful duty
a duty which two years ago, those
who believed 1t to be necessary hardly
dared propose.
But now that the principle Of uni
versal service under Federal control
a been adopted. let US not assume
tina with the adoption Of the prnci-
pie. the work is done. For Il In not
done. and the details are of an Inn
itself.
Nor are the enemies Of universal
service eliminated by the passage Of
the measure: Pro-Germans. I'M
scrupnlous poiitictans, pacifists, slop-
Tor the part. be aligned as be-
fore. to fight over the details and try
to make universal service. az finally
adopted. un-universai. unfair. iop-
sided and ineffective. They hope that
universal service will not be 4 success
II they can prevent success by
throwing monkey-wrenches into the
machinery, they will do 80.
one matter which must be watched
with n tmos care 10 that Of ex-
emptions. This subject 10 already be-
Ing discussed, and the corrupt and
n feeble-minded ~ already lining
up together Gas they 10 often dol to
make h kind Of universal service
that We get. a. IN universal. and
therefore al undefnocratic as possible.
If we do not keep suspicious eyes
upon the as1tators and the %trtcksters.
and let them know that we are keep
ing watch upon them. the list Of ex-
emptions will DESTROY fully half the
value of the measure
Under universal service the fitness
Of the individual for certain work
should be considered. and will Of
course be considered by the military
authorities. but the government
should be able to assign the individu-
al to such service as it may see At.
There must be no safe and easy posts
for the rich as against the poor, or
for the poor, 70 against the rich. Rich
and poor must be disciplined togeth-
or, and must run their risks together;
in doing 10 they will become better
citisens. better men and better friends.
No ms with a pull. political or A.
nanoial, should be able thereby to e.
cape his share Of service. There 10
but one ground on which a man Of
military g should be excused from
joining the colors, and that IL the
physical ground. And there is but
one kind Of tribunal which should be