Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-30
TIME FOR ACTION

minds of people throughout tine
country that participation of the
United States in the world war
means more than mere academic
discussion of the situation. There
has been disposition to look upon
our entry into the war as something
rather fine and interesting from the
standpoint of the great humanitar-
ian principle involved, but as the
facts develop thoughtful men and
women realize that this is no holiday
performance.
We must be prepared for all the
eventualities of a titanic conflict.
Germany is far from crushed and
we are to some extent weakened in
this country by the paciflst attitude
of many good people who fail to un-
derstand that peace without honor is
not peace at all. Nor must we for
get that we are not only to fight for
a great worldwide democracy; we
are fighting for the rights of a ma
ton which have been invaded out
rageously by an imperialistic dynas-
ty that hopes to perpetuate itself by
crushing and overrunning all the
peoples who have the courage to re-
sist its brutal aggression.
We must be ready as a patriotic
people to place at the service of the
government all the resources of a
prosperous and favored nation. We
should halt at nothing in definite
preparations for the continuance of
the struggle. Even the sending of
our soldiers to Europe should not be
regarded as something impossible or
unnecessary. Whatever we can do
to end the conflict so that permanent
peace may come and that the rights
of all shall be maintained ought to
be done and done promptly and
without serious division among our
people.
In addition to increasing our ship
ping facilities, the manufacture of
munitions, the raising Of food stuffs,
the making of materials for the sus-
tenance and comfort of an army in
the field, we must be prepared to
continue with increased energy the
industrial and commercial, activities
of an intelligent people. There must
be no let down or minimizing of our
ordinary activities. We should be
pressing forward with renewed ef-
fort in every direction.
Fortunately for us, the experience
of England and France will aid in
preventing mistakes on this side of
the water which were so serious a
handicap on the other side az the
outstart of the war. Thousands of
lives will be saved because we shall
enter the war with our eyes open and
be ready to anticipate much that was
uncertain and unknown in 1914.
Perhaps the most important thing
which now confronts the United
States is the producing of food not
only for ourselves, but for our allies
abroad. No army can fight on star
vation rations nor can the people
back of the lines continue to produce
necessities without sufficient food.
The submarine warfare of Germany
has seriously menaced both England
and FRANCE and the menace is still
a real thing. 1t will be part of the
big Job Of the United States to re-
lieve the food situation of the Allies
while preparing for support in other
directions.
Clifford Pinchot, in a recent appeal,
Points out that the Kaiser cannot
whip French and English armies and
the English navy while England has
food. But it is still possible that the
German submarine may be able to
keep food enough from England to
starve her into submission"
Nh. Pinchot also points out the
self-evident proposition that with
the English feet in possession of the
Kaiser he would be master of the
world and what would happen to the
United States need not be discussed.
our responsibility is great We
must do our full part and in no lag
gard fashion. The time for talking
is past; the time for action'is here.