Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-06
70 Virginia..

= OFERNOR STUART'S warning message
~ to officers throughout the State TO hold
themselves in readiness is the first sound of
the countrys imperative call to all Virginia.
Heretofore, tho organized militia OF the State
has been summoned TO the colors and appeals
for volunteers have gone forth. but within
few days all the manhood OF Virginia will
be called at the nations command, and all
the womanhood of Virginia will hear the
country's summons to sacrifice. Within
few days. the time TO question the wisdom of
this system or OF that will have passed. the
time TO shrink from this word or that will
have gone. and there will It main for Virginia
one thing to consider and only one: How
shall Virginia serve America TO the utmost?
For the completeness of the service to
which Virginia will be called will depend
almost entirely on Virginia Universal SER
vice will be dccrecd by Congress and approved
by the President. but its real universally will
largely be left TO enforcement by the States
This is as surely the nations war as il is
the war OF democracy against autocracy, as
ii is the war OF the people against oppression
as it is the war OF man against the Prussian
Supcrman, but the States, as indivisible and
inscparablc members of the body corporate
which is the nation. arc demanding that each
State shall do its part.
In this respect. that part the Immediate
part, will be TO see that the only democratic
and just form OF service to which free people
may be called is justly and mpartially I'M
posed. Propaganda. either ignorant or sim
lister, has dared TO say that this conflict into
which We have been plunged is "a rich mans
war to be fought by poor men, No more
complete misrepresentation ever existed 1t
is war OF all the people, and all the people
are TO share the burden. This will be Vir-
Sinia's first duty: TO see that all her people
do share the burden, rich and poor. high and
low, strong and weak If Virginia does not
Mi ch hon,
failed i'll her duty TO herself. her people and
her peoples country.
Let there be no mistake to the urgent
need, if not the desperate need, for all that
every State can do Those who confidently
and lightly believed that America would
wage only dollar war either did not think
or thought without knowledge OF the facts
There is every reason 10 believe that the war
will be long, and that this country will have
10 pour out its treasures of mon and money in
abundant measure before the menace OF Prus-
sian!sn is forever wiped out And that
means that there Is urgent need for all that
every man do. Just now tho country
is planning definitely TO call for lighting mon
but the planning is just begun. 1t is csti-
mated that back OF every fighting man there
must be five mon al homo doing the work
that must sustain the nation at homo and in
the field. Those five men and their innumcr-
able multiples must be classified as definitely
as the lighting Ncn.
SO the duty that will fall to Virginia
within few days Is clear. How VIII she
perform il? The answer lies with the people
OF Virginia. When the Law has been agreed
on i'll all its details. the President will be
char cd with its execution Under him, the
Governor OF Virginia will direct its enforce
mcnt in Virginia. and under the Governor the
odicers OF the State will put its provisions
into effect Eventually and as Z last resort
the Federal government might pcrcmptorily
take charge in case OF even partial failure
Whether it shall whether Virginia shall
stand in the forefront of willing and proud
national service. rests also with the pcope
OF Virginia
Registration. demonstrating assignment TO
individual tasks, whether i'll uniformed ranks
or in the corn fields. arc III matters of detail
Governmental agencies will work them ont.
and wisely. The call 10 the people OF Viz
ginia is not to settle details. but to rise brave
~, gladly and fcrvcntly TO this crisis in the
history OF Virginia. OF the nation and of tho
world 1t cannot be that they viii! pause.
1t must be that they will be quick to give
their all as they have done since the first
settler put his foot on Virginia soil.