Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1917-05-19
A SCATHING REBUKE
Palisade, N. j.,
Nav IL. 1917

May II, 1917.
Editor "Palisadian,"
Palisade, N. ].
Dear Sir:
In an editorial concerning the
Home Defense League, which APP
peared in a recent issue of the Fort
Lee Sentinel, reference is made to
"those who are trying to gain
little cheap notoriety by drilling
privately organized companies"
and that
these privately drilled COM
panies could have in themselves
no legal standing and could per-
form no service"
do not know who wrote the edi-
torial in question, but whoever wrote
it, even though it purports to be an
account of an address by Judge Will
am M. Seufert, should be given a
primary lesson in patriotism. It
would be far more to the credit of
this unknown writer to emulate the
example of those earnest patriotic
young men, not alone in Palisade and
Fort Lee, but throughout the entire
country, who are organizing them
selves into companies and squads and
are receiving instructions and SUBJ
hitting themselves to military drills
that they may be the better equipped
to render effective service when
called for duty in the existing war.
The promotion of patriotic spirit,
the education of the people to the
magnitude and seriousness of the war
conditions which our country faces,
the aid, in recruiting the milit " and
~ val f9rees Of y1se ;esssfsf.- ut s.
is so urgently calling for recruits, is
the highest duty of every citizen. The
open slur and disparagement of the
efforts being made in these directions,
contained in the editorial in ques-
ton, deserves the bitterest condemna-
ton of every patriotic citizen 1t
borders on sedition if not treason it.
self. 1t is an insult to the deep sense
of loyalty to our country possessed
by the manhood of our community.
Whoever wrote the editorial in ques-
ton should make his identity known
so that our citizens may know who
it is who dares challenge the pa
triotism, motives and loyalty of those
who are willing, anxious and ready
to serve our country and our flag in
our great national stress. Let the
writer of that editorial come out in
the open and reveal himself to the
scorn of the public. / strenuously
resent this insult because of the fact
that squad of earnest young men
has been drilling in Palisade. / I'M
derstand another small body actuated
by the same high motives has also
organized for the same work in Fort
Lee. l know that the Palisade squad
has already demonstrated it's great
value by furnishing several, the
flower of young manhood of our
town, to the service of our Govern
ment. The names of Paul Berkey,
James Woolcott, Ralph Hacker and
Mr.. Flack, who have already volun-
teered and have been accepted, and
of Glen Hacker and Mr.. Caffal, who
have volunteered and are expecting
and hoping soon to be accepted, con-
stitute a roll of honor deserving the
highest praise The entire COM
munity is proud of these young pa
triots, and it is upon such sturdy
hearts that we depend to maintain
the honor of our country and the
glory of our flag. I, for one, do not
propose to permit them, nor others
like them, nor those who are engaged
in assisting them in preparing and
fitting themselves for service to their
country, to be slandered and ridiculed
by skulking traitor, and now
bring the present unknown writer be-
fore the bar of public opinion for its
Scorp apd condoDop tiop
While the young men have named
have been drilling and fitting them
selves to respond valiantly to the call
of their country in so-called priv
ately organized" company, and while
they have been volunteering for
service under our flag, this unknown
editorial writer has been engaged
dsparagng and slandering their eff
forts. This is what l most strenu-
ously resent.
Very respectfully,
Captain S. E. Darby.
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