South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-01
PROMINENT DEMOCRAT
WRITES WASHINGTON
Urges State Senators and
Congressman to Support
of President.

A prominent Mishawaka democrat
sent by mail 10 Pres't Wilson yes
terday and also 10 Senator's Kern
and Watson and Rep. Barnhart the
accompanying letter In an enclOs-
ure TO the president the writer told
Mr.. Wilson that every real Ameri-
can with red blood, instead of grape
juice, in his veins. hoped that he
would get from congress the power
20 use the armed forces of the
United States TO protect the lives Of
our citizens by such a large vote that
the German war cabal and the Ger
man people will finally realize that
the mouthy vaporings of paid propO-
gandists, deluded pacifists and trea-
sonable cOpperheads does not repre-
sent any considerable element OF
American public opinion.
Following is a copy of the letter:
Dear Sir:-Every patriotic Amer
lean desires peace with all nations,
but peace with honor and justice.
Some timerous souls want peace at
any price and would have the presi-
dent and congress meekly submit 10
any insult or injury rather than take
a stand for American rights and the
protection Of American lines.
The president has been patient
and forebearing. but firm in his
stand for the nations honor. for
American rights and for humanity,
and his statesmanlike handling of
our delicate international relations
had the approval of a large majority
of his fellow citizens at the NOvem-
Der election.
Organized Propaganda.
Now there is an organized prOpa-
ganda. small but noisy. for peace at
any price. and most Of the leaders
i'm il were opposed 70 the election
Of Pres't Wilson and a democratic
congress last fall. and the most ac-
tive in the movement are actuated,
not by any American interest, but by
their sympathy with, and their in
terest in a foreign government that
has repudiated its pledges TO the
United States. ruthlessly destroyed
our ships and murdered our citizens.
Some misguided pacifists are send
ing out literature and calling mass
meetings 10 demand a referendum
on the declaration of war, and one
of the statements they make is that
the election of Pres't Wilson last fall
was a mandate that he keep us out
OF the war at any cost.
The president has appealed 10
congress to expressly grant TO him
powers which he probably already
possesses under the constitution, TO
employ the armed forces of the
United States 10 protect our COM
merce and our citizens in their law
full business on the high seas, and
trust that congress will support the
president with such a vote of conf
dence as will disabuse the minds of
the German war lords and the Ger
man people, of the assumption that
we are divided on the question OF
American rights and American
honor. or that any considerable
number of our people are for peace
at any price.
The spectacle Of American mer-
chant ships hugging their home
ports i'm fear Of the insolent threat
Of desperate nation running
amuck on the seas is humiliating
and intolerable to free people.
our people do not want war. but
they Will accept it cheerfully with
all its horrors and privations. and
make every sacrifice rather than
have America play the craven and
poltroon before the world