New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-17
THE MIDDLE WEST ATTITUDE
Unknowing Far-Away-New Makes War
Seem Inconceiyable
To tho Editor of The Tribune.

To tho Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The attitude Of the multitude in the
rural districts of the Middle West Is, as |
gather it, roughly this: War for the United
States is not imminent; In case of war, ulti'
mate victory for US is certain; In the fight
ing, before the nations losses could possibly
endsnger or compromise the ultimate victory,
the nations resources would have been placed
on an adequate war footing; the extent OF
any initial losses would not be commensurate
with the expense and dangers Of an elaborate
military programme in the years OF peace.
This attitude is fallacious and provincial, nc
doubt, and not representative Of the thinkers
among US, but il seems to Mt the remainder
pretty well.
The majority of us here do very little
thinking; arc not equipped through expe-
rience and cultural education with the wide
knowledge OF things and fundamental prin-
ciples that make thinking possible. Europe
s long way of from the Mississippi VAL
ley, geographically, historically, CONNER
cially, sentimentslly-as friend or foe. Our
eyes through the past years have not turned
that way. 1t is not permitted us in tho morn
ing TO gaze out over vast sea and speculate
on it's further shores, or TO wonder about the
nome pOIls OF lNe s0lpS NuiNu NNhhV anu ~
on its waters With us, even the weather eye
of our Imagination, in whatever direction we
may turn, sees scarcely TO the boundaries of
our native land. A German invasion of New
York seems equally fantastic with a Japanese
invasion of California. Tho conception of the
European world, it's people, politics and sf-
fairs which the East had In common, even
at the beginning of the war; was more vivid
and enlightening than that TO which we have
been able to attain thus far Even now we
happen upon few of those intimate views OF
the war which stimulate sentiment and In
fame the passions of those closer No one
can truly estimate this attitude without corr
sidering our unknowing fsr-awsy-ness.
We almost never speculate upon the dam
age OF a possible invasion OF the Eastern
coast, though the thought or fear OF such an
invasion must surely be ever present with
New Workers. We say: Even If few hos
tile troops could be landed they wouldn't get
very far. What damage they might do as far
as they we're able to 60 does not occur to Us
with concern.
Nor do We feel keenly the immediate need
OF an expensive army. There will be time
enough TO think OF those things when the
danger begins to warm up. The more tho
army officers shout warnings at US the more
they remind us Of fanatics. They are not
true prophets-to our way Of thinking.
Neither is Teddy, nor Gardner, nor Lodge,
nor, frankly, the New York papers. If Mr. Will
son showed signs of nervousness; if william
Allen White cried Prepare" il the stock
markets grew increasingly unsteady
we'd begin to cast our eyes to the clouds, |
think.
Having no pressing fear of going TO war
we are singularly without serious prejudces
against getting into it, if necessary. With.
out confessing il, we have the feeling that
the decision is not up 20 US; that the decision
to 90 in or stay out will be made elsewhere.
And we know, as well as we know anything
else in the world, that if the decision should
be for war we'd 90 in unreseryedly, and we
are unthinkingly certain of the outcome.
This is the attitude, as l see it, Of the un-
thinking multitude out here, and, founded as
it is upon nothing, it is mighty unstable
attitude. II may be swept away in night, II
some event occurs TO make US think or feel
deeply. ] can easily conceive OF condition
m which the East may find itself laying re-
straining hand upon a war-nhamed West.
A. r. WARNOCK.
Champaign, ILL.,, Jan. II, 1917.