Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-20
I'VE Registered Men
KnOU What We Want"

voiced truly stirringly than by
Brown Tyler, editor of the Conyers Times, in the
, latest issue of that hgh-prnciped and Outspoken
paper. Mr.. Tyler's plea for stanch Americanism
and his rebuke to those who seek to bring the
Seective Draft law into disrepute derive peculiar
force from the fact that he speaks one who is
subject TO be called under the provisions of that
measure and who is personally ready to respond
He is twenty-six years of age-young in birthdays,
but seasoned in the virtues of faithful citizenship
Referring to the agitators who fight the Govern
ment under pretense of defending the rights of
American youths, he says:
1--WE resent their solictous concern over
us We resent it because it is nothing to
them, because il is placing in a false light,
and, more than anything else, because it bears
on it the earmarks of the politician. They are
attempting to make political capital out of an
issue that does not in the least concern them,
that concerns us men Of twenty-one to thirty
one only. They are attempting to us for
their own selfish political ACKNOWLEDGMENT"
If any one is deceived by the ant-draft
propaganda, IL is not the young men who are liza
BILE to service and who, therefore, of all per-
sons most vitality concerned; for, their very in
stnct bids them distrust those who counsel safety
before honor. Georgia boys do not consider it
oppression to be called their countrys defense.
They do not think the Constitution is violated by
the adoption of practical measures to vindicate
its basic principles against foreign aggression.
They do not look upon the President either as a
dictator to be feared or some inconsiderabe
person to be disregarded; they look upon him as
their leader in these perilous and heroic times,
and they trust him infinitely above the whole tribe
of his dwarfsh critics.
Another thrust that strikes straight home is
Mr.. Tyler's declaration
1--WE registered men know what want
and what we going to do. We want to
stand squarely up to our Government. 1t is
OUR Government the only Government
want the only one know, and with Gods
help the only WILL know. 1t has
protected our lives and assured us liberty and
the pursuit of happiness; and if the time is
come for to pay, we'll pay like true Ameri-
cans that we are, and well pay anywhere
are needed"
How refreshing it is to hear these plain, heart
spoken words on the citizens debt to the Gov
eminent! From the tone of some utterances now
adays one would infer that the debt is all the
other way about The Government must do
everything for the citizen but the citizen must do
nothing for the Government except grudgngly
pay his pittance of taxes. The Government must
protect the citizens interests the citizen has
no obligation to support the Governments
ereignty. The Government must to it that
all have freedom and Justice with prosperity
thrown in but must grant the Government
no extraordinary powers to safeguard those bless
ings when they imperiled. So the logic
of those who oppose the selective draft and the
food control bills and other legislation imperative
" needed to wage effective war against German
frightfuIness But no appreciate number of
Georgians, we believe followers of that poti-
cal cult. The people who count in this State, as
hOth nd 70
they owe their country debt as deep and sacred
as a owed his mother: and they ready
to pay like and like Americans.
Particularly eloquent and opportune is Mr..
Iylers comment the contention that Selective
Draft troops should not be sent fight in France
for American principles and American security
"Our grandfathers marched the soil of
Canada in 1912 and the soil of Mexico
in 1886 he says; our fathers fought on North
ern soil in 1863 brothers left American
shores and won victory from the Spaniards
on SPANS own soil in 1898. We are blood of
their blood. Well go to the trenches of
France, or over the road to Berlin, or to the
gates of He'll, and pour out our last drop of
blood IL need be: or we'll stay at home to tend
the soil, to keep going the marts of trade,
to keep alive the souls dependent upon u.s.
Whatever Government says, that will
do, gladly, willingly. confident that our presi-
dent and members of congress know best the
situation and know best what is needed and
confident in their sincerity and honesty of pur-
pose, but feeling that, whether they be right or
wrong, voted for them and placed them
there to guide and now with them
Uncle Sam (praise God for the name) we
waiting-tell what to do"
There speaks an American; there speaks
Georgian to the manner born; there speaks
who is registered for the seective draft and who
voices the thought and will of hundreds of thou
sands like him. How his plain brave words must
sting in the minds of those who, installing the
manhood of Georgia for a selfish, laggardy lot
have appealed to them against the Government.
against the President, and, in effect, against the
flag!