Omaha daily bee., 1917-04-11
Philadelphia Mobilizes
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, April 8.-Philadelphia the
BY Frederic J. Hdskin.


days is extremely conscious of its responsibility
to the nation. With the United States in state
Of war it feels that the city which Graded liberty
and the American constitution should set the pace
in patriotism. War; and Philadelpha's impor-
tant prospective part in it, is the subject OF much
interesting discussion. Everywhere you meet
enthusiastic citizens who talk about the possibl-
ty OF German attack, and the many appropriate
places about the city for the planting of machine
guns; the schools factories and business concerns
are granting time off for military training, and
the and 10-cent stores are growing prosperous
on the sale of small American flags.
No sef-respecting Philadelphia will purchase
goods from store which does not display an
American flag somewhere about its premises, and
anyone who neglects to hang large banner over
his front door step is Immediately regarded with
suspicion. The popular cafes too, look as If they
were decorated for a second jubilee, and every
time new people come in the orchestras change
what they are playing into the "Star Spangled
Banner" This keeps people jumping up every
few minutes to stand respectfully through the
national anthem, so that luncheon in public
cafe here has taken on the form of the Episcopal
ceremony. A story is told by some university
students of man who paid for hve-course din
ner the other day without getting to eat any OF it.
Every time he started i'll on new course he was
compelled to stand UP in respect to his country,
and the waiter, thinking he had finished, whisked
away his food.
This, however, is only story. For the most
part the university students take their patriotism
as seriously as anybody Franklin Field, which
has been the scene Of so many historic foot ball
games between the army and navy, is now a
training ground for students of the University of
Pennsylvania, which is doing all it can to encour-
age military training During the last two
months patriotic mass meetings among the STU
dents have been frequent; the glories of war have
been discussed and special guards detailed to
search the campus each night for bombs; and
military slang is fast taking the place Of the ord-
nary college variety.
All such military activities are loudly ap-
plauded by the faculty. Not long ago it called
a preparedness mass meeting, which was attended
by over $500 students. There the provost told
the boys he would like to see every one of them
a member of battalion being organized by the
university. Don't worry about graduation or
counseled "The call OF patriotism comes first.
The university will stand with the country"
Another speaker urged them to go slowly.
think things over calmly and avoid all forms OF
hysteria and fireworks" This advice, if prudent,
was not popular Practically the same advice had
been given gratutously to applicants at the city
recruiting stations few days before by a num-
Der of women pacifsts, and the result had been
disastrous. The women had been mobbed and
were rescued just in time by squad OF police
men. Philadelphia Indignantly refuses to go
slowly" any longer.
interest to the whole of Philadelphia. The re-
cruting stations are usually surrounded by
crowds of citizens who compliment the new re-
crut by hearty slap Of approval on the shoulder
and watch the number registered with worried ex-
preston. There was time when, in spite of
Philadelphia's best efforts, its recruiting quota
was Iowa matter of shame, if not absolute
scandal. in independence hail. Now, to see that
such thing does not occur again the people feel
that they must superintend the job.
Not long ago the government sent we'll
known naval officer to the City Of Brotherly
Love to speak on the qualifications of the United
States navy. The naval officer saw the navy with
an unprejudiced eye, though naval officer, and
told the people about its weaknesses as well as
its strength, hoping thereby to arouse them to
yet greater effort for preparedness. The next
day the recruiting was off shade and the people
were in critical mood. 1t was very unwise
they said to refer to any lacks Of the navy at
such crisis and thus discourage enlistment. So
did Philadelphia, in the dignity of its patriotic
fame, rebuke the government
The city is perfectly sincere in its anticipation
Of attack and ingenious in inventing methods OF
defense. For the Germans have already visited
there. To be sure. they appeared harmless
enough, but just before they were transported to
Georgia some alarming discoveries were reported
Four German stowaways were brought to light
on one of the informed vessels, together with a
secret wireless apparatus, while on another vessel
tn authorities uncovered perfectly well equipped
little bomb factory These reports, taken in con-
nection with the discovery Of ground glass in
Red Cross bandages were more than enough tc
arouse the city.
Thus Philadelphia is not only patriotic, but
prepared. At the first call to arms its sons march
| out as they did in '9S. You cannot threaten Phil
adelphia and get away with it. 1t simply HE:
itself to independence hall, takes another look a
the Liberty bell and girds on its armor. Then
| look out.