The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-30

to the theatre of war. The moral
line of an American force would be
| immense" From France, England
and Canada, from the highest sources,
1 have been told the same thing
By all means let US set our house in
order here at home. Let us obey the
presidents exhortation and put stop
to waste. Let US do as he outlines in
furnishing money and ships and food
| to the allies. Let us furnish the war
era # necessary to hunt down the sub
marines wherever the British admir-
| atty deems that this service can best
! be rendered and in whatever manner
! it desires. Let us, if necessary by gov
| ernmental action, see that the fullest
use is made of the soil and the largest
/ possible production obtained there
| from. Let US see that skilled workers
are employed wherever they can do
most good, and all our industrial es-
| adjustments and transportation lines
used to the utmost. Let us see that
there is no improper or excessive prof
| lt-making by those whose business &C
| tivites are stimulated by the war. Let
us, even in war time, strive efficiently.
| by legislation. and administration and
thru the activities of private associa-
tions and organizations. to secure a
! larger social and industrial justice for
the men who actually toll, the work
| ingmen on the soil and in industry;
/
that we may show by our deeds that
this is their country, the country of all
| of us, where the welfare of every hon.
est and Woodworking man is the prime
object of government, where the flag
| means justice, and fair play, and rea-
sonable equality of opportunity to all.
and where in consequence we have
| right to expect, and il necessary to eX-
act, from all the fullest measure of
| loyal service to the flag. Do all this;
| 1Ior- fI1ay f1f1
avail unless we also show by the valor
| of our fighting men at the front that
there is in US the great quality which
makes us willing and eager to do and
dare and die at need for the things we
| hold sacred.
Appeal to All Americans.
| I make my appeal to all Americans,
without distinction of creed or of ma
tional origin, of birthplace or of the
section in which they live. In time of
war like this all party distinctions
vanish, and l know only those who
are for America and those who are
against America.
1 speak a. a man who himself has
German blood in his veins The
American of the future will have in
his veins the blood of many different
| nationalities, and he will not be
American az all unless he is loyal to
the principle OF the American of the
| past, who opposed any nationality, if
that nationality was a foe to his coun-
try and to humanity.
Twice we have fought Great
Britain; and in each case the immense
majority of our citizens of British ORR
gin were undoubtedly loyal to the
/ United States. And now, when we
| fight Germany, 1 know I utter the SEN
timents of the immense majority of
| my fellow citizens of German origin,
when L say that their undivided al
legiance is given to the stars and
stripes and to the nation for which
the banner stands. 1 appeal especial
| ly to the descendants of those heroes
| of liberty, the Germans of '4S. We
| battle now for freedom and justice in
| exactly the spirit of the men of AS
who so valiantly stood against tyr
amy.
Appeal for Division.
If 1 am allowed to raise the division
for which 1 have asked, 1 most earn
estly hope that it will have as large a
proportion as possible of Americans
who are in whole or, like myself, in
part, of German blood. The other day
l was with the head of the war col
Iege at Washington, General Kuhn.
He is of pure German blood, his father
and his mother being born in Ger
many. But he is an American and moth
ing else! L would welcome the chance,
if l am allowed TO raise division, to
serve with that division under him at
the front; and 1 would ask no favor
of any kind save thus to serve with
him and to be judged on my merits
| by him for my service. In similar
fashion, 1 would gladly serve under
General Barry. who is with you here
| in Chicago, and who is of Irish par
entage; or under General Pershing, or
of course with deep enthusiasm under
my old friend and commander, Cen
Leonard Wood, who like Pershing is
of Revolutionary stock; or under any
other men of the same type. Each of
the men 1 have named has held my
commission when l was president; and
I would wish nothing more at the
close of my active career, than the
chance to serve under one of them or
under any other officer of their type
They differ n hood and in creed
among themselves and from me. But
they and I are Americans and nothing
else. Our lives are actuated by the
same principles of honor, and our un-
divided loyalty is given to the same
flag.
This is the appeal make especiala-
~ to the men and women of the west