The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-11-15
A SERIOUS CHARGE
AND A SERIOUS TASK


We are persuaded that some folks |
don't look at these important things /
the right way. Maybe they don't UNI
derstand, or 1--WE hope noD maybe |
they don't want to face the facts |
Therefore they don't care to argue the |
matter when a citizen calls around |
to talk conditions over with them |
They plod along trying to deceive |
themselves into the notion that they
have no responsibility in this war
that it is somebody else's fight, that
they are neutral, and that the whole
thing is immaterial to them
It's alright for an alien to so de-
ceive himself (perhaps), but it isn't
safe for a citizen of the United States,
whether free born or naturalized to
face his fellOwmen with those kind of
opinions. 1t is too easy to be lenient to
our enemies, and lit may be wrong)
but genuine. enthusiastic patriotic
Americans are kinda looking out for
that sort of thing" There may be
some who have good conscientious
reasons for not feeling enthusiastic
about this war business. In fact we
suppose that every one who refuses
to take hold of things has, but we are
\ y .
streak in some of our neighbors looks
just a little like "sauerkraut" to us.
You see, it's this way: We Ameri-
can folks are very much wrought up
over this affair with Germany. and
the average man never did think any
too much of his neighbOrs as it was.
But now he is more ticklish than ever.
about such little things as traitOrous
actions against his country, and
sometimes just other folks opinions
stir him up considerably.
All of this is not to be without a
certain outcome. Folks are going to
look longer and more carefully for
any signs of disloyalty in their neigh
bors, and such disloyalty, wherever
it is found will be properly taken into
account. Moreover we are living in a
time when we are going to find out
what kind of people some of our
neighbors and even national and state
leaders are.
And with this war and the task of
America on our hearts as it is, 1t
won't be exceptionally safe for the
man who leans the wrong way. We
are liable to step off our end of the
plank and let fall over into mis- own
country Germany, perhaps) such
How careless then of some folks,
even in the Twin Falls tract-think
of tito refuse absolutely to give a
cent to such good causes as the Red
Cross, the Army Y Nj. c. A, or even
to loan money to the government up
on such occasions as the recent call
for Liberty Loans. We are persuaded
that very few folks are subsisting on
the line of demarcation that divides
them from the position in life where
they need help, and where they car
give help. OF course we know, that
many industrious business men anC
: farmers are often in a place for I
short time when they really do neeC
help. They would be mighty Thankful
for a little loan themselves. Thel
4 would gladly give thousands OF dol
lars if they could to the country an'
their loyalty is not to be doubted TO-
an instance because they don't come
through We mean to be rational il
! our judgment concerning these things
But this is a serious proposition, ant
those loyal ones who cannot he'll
when these calls come, had better b.
ready with their books to show tina
they really need help and cannot Civ
lit. Don't stand in suspicion. No, no
| for a moment.
But listenl This is your war. 70,
want the nation as a whole to be pre-
! pared for it, You want them to kee
| preparing for further developments
| The nation cannot do so unless the in
1 dividual is always prepared. Yo
\ know these calls are coming. You tai
about the next Liberty Loan, the mex
| Red Cross Drive. the next Y. NJ G.
| campaign Will you be prepare
when they come? Start little saw
ings account in some bank, and la
aside in that account money frOr
time to time to be used to buy Lib
erty bonds with, to help the Y. M.
A., to assist the Red Cross, to NEE
the calls of the government, especial
ly you folks who are always liabl
to be short when the call comes, an
\ are liable to be unable to raise tn
money in the usual ways. Have
war fund of your own.
Always remember, YOU ARE TIL
| GOVERNMENT War has been declaI
ed upon YOU. YOU have issued
draft law, and YOU say to Georg
! Smith and to John Brown, you g
to war and fight for me, suffer 70
me die for me-" YOU make him g
If he doesn't you call him a slacke
and treat him accordingly OF cours
| il is his business to go. It's his wa
too. He is the government as well a
you. but his task is greater tina
/ yours. His is sacrifice OF his al
even life itself that you might liy
in peace and prosperity. Now II
! your business to take care of hli