The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-05-11

WHAT WE CAN DO IN THIS WAR
The President, the Secretary Of War
and the Governors of the several
states are receiving thousands Of let
ters from patriotic citizens rendering
their services to the Government and
thousands more from men and compa'
MES rendering their manufacturing and
industrial plants for any use or pur'
pose to which the Government desires
to put them. In addition to that they
receive bushels Of letters from men
and women who desire to know what
they can do to aid in the great strug,
gle into which the country has been
unwillingly drawn.
In the first rush Of mobilization OF
men and resources to carry on the war
1T is impossible for all those letters
going to Federal and State authori'
ties to be answered promptly. Much
less possible is it for all the patriotic
citizens offering their services to be
assigned to specific tasks. However
there are few things that can be
suggested as general propositions.
In a few days the regular registrars
in each voting precinct in this, as
we'll as in all other states, will enroll
every man of the military age prescrtb-
ed in the Act Of Congress. This en-
rollment will be supervised and in
spected by local board In each coun-
ty, composed Of the sheriff, the county
clerk, a physician and one private
citizen from each of the dominant po-
litical parties. Later when the Gov
eminent calls for the first half mil
lion men, this board Of local citizens
will exclude those physically incapaci.
tated, those who have dependents and
who are employed in such work as to
make their services indispensable,
then out Of the remaining number they
will draw, Just as a jury is drawn, the
number each county is required to
furnish. The Federal Government will
not pick the men. Local citizens Will
do it.
In the mean time those who desire
to render military service can enlist
either In the volunteer army or the
national guard of the state, for the per-
iod of the war. Neither the volunteer
army nor the national guard is full,
by long way.
But how can the citizens, men who
are too young or too old to come with
in the military age limit, and how can
the women serve their country in this
crisis? Every man and every woman
worthy Of the name wants to do some
thing. They all want to do all they
can. Each can do something.
The Council Of National Defense
says the most urgent of all needs is
food and more food. Every man OF wo'
man who produces a bushel Of corn,
Of beans, Of potatoes will be render
ing distinct service to their coun'
try, as we'll as distinct service to
France and England and to starving
Belgium, a service for which they will
be well paid In every way, for the av.
erage citizen has little conception Of
the seriousness Of the food situation.
II one is at work at some other trade
or calling, in a manufacturing estab.
lishment Of any kind, steady work and
larger production there is patriotic
service, for labor will be woefully
scarce with corresponding shortage
IN manufactured products as well as
IN food products. The idler is the only
person who will not be rendering his
country some service.
You can render your country a dis
tinct service By being patient with
Inconvenience, BY being economical
and by saving, especially by being
saving with food. Don't grumble I'm.
necessarily. War means tnconveni.
ences. Il means trouble In every con.
oeiable way. we did not want It. We
did not bring II on. Germany made
war on Us. Il Is our duty to bear It
grimIy ana 20 lend every assistance n
our power 70 bring Il to such 9 finish
that no nation M again dare murder