The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-03-31

n several Of our citizens have consulted
+ - have arrived at the conclusion thai
. ~ hour calls for men.
We can join them and feel pretty Sc
en- n joining them. too. because We
voo1a not be able to quality for service,
elEhsr.
y A number Of our prominent financiers
with Offices In walLst., are Of the further
euinion that the hour calls for money.
Some of our officials In Washington
ark q contribution to France ot-oh'
aay a billion dollars-would be about
right.
There is no doubt about the hour call
inr for both men and money.
We can conceive of a necessity for
the very liberal use of both.
We are opposed to SQUANDERING
either one
What we believe the hour calls for
mostly is BALANCE-the exercise Of
the country's best judgment; for sanity.
Let's see what the real status quo is:
Germany wants to keep munitions out
Of England
Germany wants to starve England II
she can.
SO Germany decided that she would
ink all ships engaged in carrying NUM-
tions to England, the ships of the United
States included.
The United States decided that Ger
many could not deny to United States
ships their rights and privileges on the
seas as fixed by international law.
An announcement from Berlin Of the
German intentions to conduct a
campaign of submarine ruthlessness,
amounted to the breaking of promises
made this government by Germany,
which was an affront that resulted in the
breaking of by this country of diplomatic
rolations with Germany.
We have supplied this country's ships
With guns and gunners for their defense
ngainst submarines, with the idea of
ohooting q way across for them if Ger
lnany persists in her submarine policy.
A speech by the imperial chancellor Of
Germany, on the eve of the special session
~ congress, amounted TO an announce
mont that Germany intends to 60 ahead
With her campaign as outlined.
That means, simply, that we, in turn,
must 30 ahead with our program-must
4 hpep On arming ships
Our answer. again. is that American
11pe and American citizens. in their
4 Yenceful pursuits, have a right to go
where they please, and it is up to US to
- that they do.
Congress is about to meet in special
session and declare a state of war.
That's all right. It is coming and will
have to come
The fight 20 keep the United States out
of the war entirely has been made and
lost.
We submit, not with three cheers for
war. but deploring, on the other hand,
that we should have reached even a
STATE of war.
y It is to this state of war that we pin
onr hopes.
Granting that our ships must sail
granting that we owe it to our industries
that our ships sail; granting that it is
necessary to arm what was once our neu-
trality; granting all these things, and
standing with the president, we can still
hope that our military party will not in
oist that the assertion of our rights upon
the seas calls upon us to send an army
b invade Berlin.
The big thing at stake is the right of
our ships and our citizens to go where
and as they please upon the seas-that's
what the fuss Is all about and that is
THE issue.
Our part will have been done when the
issue has been met.
And our part will end there if the coun-
try keeps its head.
II won't end there if the jingoes can
hsve their way.
The hour calls for BALANCE.
"