Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-05-25
Hugh Williams Gives
Interview On War

] AAuSh W lliuliSs tuttlIAtu VI Nlle
State Corporation Commission, whne
in Lordsburg last week was inter-
viewed by n representative Of the
Western Liberal on the subject Of
the stand of the United States in the
great war" The interview is of es-
pecial interest to railroad men. Mr..
Williams is an authority on matters
{ mder this head. His work as rail
road employee in the state and his
official capacity with the State Cor
poration Commission have given him
A knowledge Of affairs not otherwise
acquired. It is with pleasure the fol-
lowing statements made by "Ou1
Hughie' are published in the Western
| LIBERAL
"The call to the nation has gone
forth-the call to arms. The stir
ring words of President Wilson are
| ringing in our ears; and while there
is probably no question but he has
made mistakes, particularly in the
administration of foreign affairs he
is our president, and at this time
there should be no Democrats or Re-
publicans, as we should all stand back
of him though this crisis. Further
more, congress has concurred with
him in the only course which could
evade the stigma of democracy and
10 this great country Hence we are
now literally at war
eve are not fighting in order that
Britain may have bread; we are not
/ fighting that the French may drive
the invader beyond their borders; we
are not fighting for the freedom of
Belgium or the redemption of Servia
we are fighting only for the safety
of our own country and the ideals
which it must maintain or sink to- 'he
Shiny depths of unmanly serfdom, fit
subject to be bullied and richly de-
serving the taunts of real men and
real nations.
1T is true that Serbia, Belgium,
France, Italy, Great Britain and Rus
sia will be aided by our efforts as a
logical sequence, but we i'm our turn
will be assisted by all the nations
mentioned.
Now that we are in it; 1T is OUR
WAR. We must comport ourselves
in. manner which will leave no cause
to doubt the ultimate outcome. We
must so eXpend our energies and our
resources that in the future the AM
erican nation will command respect
that the world may learn that the
American plea for peace is one of
reason and of good will and not of
cowardice. And the world must learn
, that the spirit of Washington and
Lincoln is as dominant today as in
the time of those and other great
Americans.
The Railroads
"In this war, the railroads are GO
/ ing to be tremendously important
factor, as the expeditions handling of
o recruits and regulars, the safe and
speedy transportation of commissary
supplies, ordnance and munitions is
] an absolute essential
, 81 know of no American who will
be found wanting-I am confident
every man will be on hs toes to do
his bit to keep the great and compli-
ated- machinery of war running
, smoothly, with view to the speediest
possible success for the banner of his
country.
Undoubtedly, there will be spora-
Q die attempts on the part of irrespon-
sibles to do damage in whatever way
may hinder the operations of our ar
my and navy. These men must be
guarded against and mercilessly sup
pressed-leniency might cost the
! lives of virile Amercans.
, However, we must not look with
, suspicion on those of Germanancestry
whom we know are loyal Americans.
Undoubtedly the so called German
aAmercan will be just as ready to help
his country today as the so called
British-Amrican was to aid his coun-
try in 1772. The worst enemy of the
German-American will be the ire
5 sponsible who tries to commit acts of
= violence in this country. Such wos
I the case in Canada When the war
started, the Germans and Austrians
there were unmolested; and when a
/ really insignificant number attempted
violence, it only reslted in hardship
for their countrymen
: eve cannot blame the man of Ger
man nativity or ancestry for not be-
ing bouyant under the clouds of war
He must sympathize with his position
and our handshake must be as hearty
as ever. The man of German origin
q next to YOU is just as splendid a
I fellow today as he ever was; he Is
\ just as loyal an American as ever
but his heart is sad, despite his de-
. termination to be true to HIS country
2 as we'll as to YOUR and MY country.
4 Show the manly, American spirit and
- do as you would be done by. This is
i, is a time when we should be careful
with our words, and proceed cautious
I and without giving offense to any
] allen, no matter whether he be Ger
r man or any other natonality-thi is
h time when we should keep our head
: and trat the aliens in the United
States as we would desire TO be
{ treated if we were in foreign coun-
try; that is, of course, so long as the
laws of the United States are moi
transgressed by any of the foreigners
within our borders. These are MY
sentiments, which | believe express
h the sentiments of the averag true