Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-11
To the Editor Of the Euening Ledger:

To the Editor Of the EveninO Ledger:
Sir-It is with a certain difidence that
I address this communication to you, Since
the revolving details of the primary cleo
tion day scenes, enacted in the city which
l love by an organization which l loathe,
and whose leaders do not merit the re-
spect which we might accredit to Hohen-
zollern. l have on several occasions en-
deavored to express my convictions con-
Cernlng this episode. l have refrained be-
cause of the seeming inefncacy of one small
voice raised at a time of universal chat
ter. particularly when the author of these
remarks is totally unable to translate his
suggestions into actions, being at present
deeply engrossed in an endeavor to master
the grim science of war,
It was not until 1 became convinced
as a result of many sober after-mess talks
in a great southern training camp with
khalSi-clad Philadelphians grouped about
glowing campfres that was expressing
not my own views, but the sentiments of
many of our city's most devoted sons,
that l have been induced to champion the
cause of those Philadelphia's sons who are
calmly preparing to fight the battle of the
ages and whose nerve demands that they
be heard. These men are learning to fight
as men, not as cravens: and 1t is because
they love their city and respect its heritage
that they protest against the revolving
measures adopted by factional leaders whose
selfshness has stunted their nobler natures
tactics dubbed politics by the perpe-
traitors, but known before the bar of justice
by the less congenial name, murder
One bright day last August some of these
men bade farewell, publicly and personally,
TO hundreds of Philadelphia boys They
told us that we were the vanguard Of those
from our state who were to make the
world safe for democracy" That phrase
resounded in my brain as the train pulled
away from our city. ! gloried in the
Thought of return and without weighing the
consequences. There were sober faces that
day Those men, nurtured in homes Of
refinement blessed with culture and the
| will TO accomplish, had voluntarily sacri-
| feed the heritage of youth to become actors
| in that splendid cause of democracy. 1t
| was an ideal only that could induce these
men TO surrender lives devoted to creation
| TO learn the science of destruction, that the
future might live secure.
We left to those who remained home the
| preservation of democracy for which we are
| 10 fight Recent events have sullied that
| democracy and those who l0de us god
| speed have demonstrated that their patriot
| ism was Pickwickian; the leaders of Phila-
| delphla's democracy have prostituted the
! trust with which we endowed them on our
departure At any other time than the
| nresent these occurrences might be con-
| sidered bnly in the light of local disorders
| of a peculiarly morbid character Today
| however, they assume far greater signih-
cance, national in its scope and international
| in it's effect.
You (and I address the honest citizenship
| of Philadelphia) have sent to the colors
| thousands Of men inspired by the ideal OF
| democracy for the world The morale of an
army depends upon its discipline and It's
| patriotism. Its patriotism is measured by
the willingness Of the men to undergo sacri.
| fees for the commoa goal. Convince the
mep comprising our fighting personnel that
democracy is a sham. that even in this land
of liberty our people VIII spinelessly per-
| nit episodes such as were recently enacted
in Philadelphia. and you destroy the idea
| wnIca Is the very sinew of American
patriotism We who are now under the
| colors believe that the flag which we revere
symbolizes the ideal for which we are ready
and willing TO die. Destroy that ideal bs
cynical events such as your city has Wit.
messed showing the lengths 70 which auto,
| cratic hosslsm" parading under the guise OF
sdemocracyf win 30, and you win have AZ
army Of slaves. not soldiers Disciplined
anloma,ont cannot 1fnt soidlor mukl