The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-18
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

have been afraid all along that we have made too little of the soldier and too much of the civilian, and now that we are at war In dead earnest it's hard for us to properly value the man who is on the firing line, for we are thinking too much about the ones at home
 We have got to get the French point of view so strongly set forth by M Clemenceau, who says: "The single, sim pie duty Is to stand by the soldier, live, suffer and fight with him. Let every zone be the zone of war. We shall not forge a greater France without putting our life into it." Now this has the right ring to 1t. No wonder the French sol- dier has withstood the onslaught of the German ho1des. and beaten them at the Marne, and held them at Verdun, for France was standing at their backs.
 
 Now, it's up to America to pledge to the men in khaki that all national effort is centered in their cause, and that every ounce of strength the govern ment can exert will be placed at their disposal so that they shall lack for noth- ing that will make them fit to win the war. It's foolish to try and skimp and economize when such big issues are at stake. Our soldier boys deserve the best, and if we must save let 1t come out of the pockets of those of us who remain at home.
 Already some are saying bought lib- erty loan bonds, I worked in the army Young Mems Christian association cam paign, am a member of the Red Cross, and I think I will step aside and rest take my place. It's all wrong to talk or even think that way. Suppose the gall lant French soldiers who got to the Aisne had said: Now, we will go back to Paris and enjoy a vacation and give some who have not done their bit a chance to get their baptism of fire" What would their people at home have thought of them? If military discipline had permitted such a thing they would have rested under the stigma of 1t for life. But thanks be to the spirit within them, they went on from the Aisne to Marne, and victory. and are holding at Verdun and in the end will go to Ber- lin.
 The truth of the business is with the campaigns coming thick and fast we are just beginning to learn how to work together here in Birmingham. At last we are finding leaders among our young men. Carson Adams made a record. Borden Burr struck his stride. Frank Rushton got a move on himself. Bob" Jemison, Jr., is getting under way. These are just few who come to mind and who have been before the public recently. Back of them are as fine a bunch of helpers as can be found in any town. I could name enthusia stic work CTS by the score. If you want to be somebody, get into the Red Cross mem friends see that business and pleasure are not the only things that can get your time.
 The Civic assoca tion has developed live bunch who are making themselves felt in many ways. The Chamber of Commerce. under my friend, Arthur Crowder, is going to be one of the livest bodies in the city. The Rotary club is just humping itself. The Kiwanis braves have got on their war paint, and my nephew, Mercer Barnett, is proving him self to be live wire. The Realtors are in. behind every worthy undertaking The various fraternal bodies are waking up, and the churches are doing their part. The truth of the business is there is new spirit in the air and Birming- ham is going to do big things not only for herself, but for others. She has showed an unselfsh spirit in working without hope of reward, but in the end she will reap what she has sown.
 
 The war is teaching us many lessons It Is teaching us self-denial. It is teach ing us how to economize. It is teaching us thrift. It Is teaching us discipline. It is teaching us that our country is worth fighting for. But of the many lessons it is teaching us, none is more valuable than the one which has taught us to utilize our unused, partially used man power. The biggest lesson we are getting is the mobilization of our men, Too long we left them to devote them selves to politics, society, sport, or even to the churches. We are now giving them a chance to get out of their little narrow circles into the broader life of the city, state and nation. We are talk ing the experts in organization, in fi- nance in executive work of every sort and showing them how they can help Uncle Sam There are yet opportunities TOT volunteers. Fellows. get nto the game.
 I am glad that the laymen are begin ming to wake up to the fact that the preachers cannot look after welfare work and uplift work and all the hu- manitarian work which the war times call for, and are pulling off their coats and getting into the thick of the fight wherever they can land anything which is for the betterment of the city, state or nation. The most hopeful thing that know Of as a minister is that here in Birmingham hundreds of men who here- tcfore have been apathetic about having a part in reforms of any kind are put ting across great things, like the army Young Mems Christian association and the Red Cross There are many big tasks which business men can tackle bet ter than preachers Now, I feel sure that in speaking my own sentiment I