The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1917-08-23
INSURANCE EOR sOLDlRRS
VUO WILL GO TO THE Front

Tn number of claims for exenp-
ton from milAasy ADty ,nnAse ~
daft law has caased DainfUl N
psDssion in many Guartess. b1t Aeter
slls docs not the fsct that no p0ovis-
ion has yet been aaGe By the Gsvesu-
meat for the support of tile wives -
children. mothers or fathers. Of the
men vhs have been drafted sxnaain
many Of these claims for exemptioas
Under the draft law the Govern
meat has the power 70 require every
ahls- -hoAied man hstvsen 2l and II
years Of age to preform military duty.
Thousands of the drafted men are
wage-earners who married years ago
and are the sole support Of depsad-
ent families. So long rs the Govern
ment has made no provision for the
care Of these dependents, it is natural
that such drafted men should seek To
protect their loved on.s by stayinx at
home. l am sure that il Congress
should promptly enact the pending war
insurance bill, which makes definite
allowances for the support Of the de-
pendent wives and children, fathers
and mothers, of our soldiers and sail
ors. claims for exemption on that seort
will cease. This is an imperative duty
OF the Government. We cannot de-
prive helpless women and children of
the support of the wage-earner by
forcing him into the military service
OF the country unless the Government
substitutes itself as their support.
Imagine the emotions of man who
is called into military service of III.
country with full knowledge that hi.
loved ones are left without means of
support and may be reduced to want
unless the charity of the community
in which they live comes to their no,
lief. 1t would be nothing less thar
CRIME for a rich and lust Govern.
ment to treat its fighting men N
neartlessly and to subject their a.
pendent wives and children. who nm
aoie 70 iight, to greater sufferines
than if they could fight.
The morals of an army is as es.
sential to its effective fighting pow.,
as guns, ammunition and other in
strumentalities of war. OF equal i'm.
portance is the morale of the c;v;,
population which must support tha
armies ar IN the field. We cannot have
ms essential morale unless the Ma
tion comforts the men in the ranks
with the knowledge that everth;na
possible will be done for them .nS
tneir families, and renders to the civil
population at home the assist.noa
winch will make the most effact;.. :.
the unfolding of the Govern ~
the fighting forces. anu
~ Inc purpose Of the war insur.,.o
".il now pending in Congress is to sa
.ure tne future of Americas so1d;s..
ana sailors by insuring their l;ves "as
providing adequate compensat;ons an1 a9
indemnities ror loss of life and an, ana
or partial disability; also to protect
.nell families against poverty and
want oy providing them with suff;c;'
eht means of support during the 4
'ence OF the men at the front.
Inc nation, having been forced n
resort to the draft in order to create
quickly an army to save the country
IS under higher obligation to do these
'hihgs Tor its fighting forces than if
volunteer army only was cre,ted
ms great and rich Republic cannot
afford to do less, and it must do u,bat
IS proposed in'a a spirit of gratitudo
and not as charity. Every soldier and
sailor who serves his country in this
war will earn everything the proposed
war insurance bill provides; to be a
beneficiary of the proposed law will
be badge of honor.
When we draft the wage Garner, we
call not only him but the entire fam
lily to the flag; the sacrifice entailed
is not divisible. The wife and child
rem, the mother, the father, are all in
volved in the sacrifice-they directly
share the burden of defense. They
suffer just as much as the soldier, but
in different way. and the Nation
must generously discharge as proud
privilege the duty of maintaining
them until the soldiers and sailors re-
turn from the war and resume the re-
sponsibilty.
We have drawn the sword to vindi-
cate Americas violated rights, to re-
store peace and justice. and to secure
the progress of civilization. We cam
not permit our soldiers, while they
hold the front, to be stabbed in the
hack by uncertainty as to what is be-
ing done for their loved ones at home.
O"~ tomorrows are in their hands
theirs in ours. The national consci-
ence viii! not permit Americas soldiers
and their dependents to go unprovided
with everything that is just, generous
and noble people can do to compen-
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