The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-04-09
SOME PERTINENT SUGGESTIONS.



SOME PERTINENT SUGGESTIONS.
AhA
Now that we have taken the plunge, there
but one thing for a loyal citizen of this country t
do-stand firmly by his country, whether it be ns
tive or adopted. The man who does otherwise
not true either to himself or to the land that she
ters, feeds and clothes him.
There are many who honestly thought W
should not 60 to war with Germany. But the gre
majority of American people thought otherwise
So did the president, and the congress.
Each was clearly entitled to his individua
opinion until such time as the matter was de
fnitely settled one way or the other.
But with war actually in existence, with ou
armies hurrying into the field, with our navy max
ing preparations to sweep the seas, with our youn,
men rushing to the colors, there can be but on,
path for US to tread-absolute loyalty to oul
country.
Whatever our beliefs may nave been in thu
past, our country now is at war, and we mus
support it with our every drop of blood and oul
every dollar of wealth.
Those who think that it will be simply q
bluff at war-merely the assembling of an army
that will drill for a few months and then go home
will be w~oefully mistaken.
The United States has been both loath and
slow to draw the sword, but once drawn it will
never be sheathed until victory is complete and
our enemy is no longer able to do us harm.
Government officials have voiced strong plea
to the farmers of the country to cultivate to the
limit, to the end that we may not be hampered
by a shortage in food supplies. The manufacture
ing interests of the country will supply the vast
quantities of arms, ammunition and equipment
needed. These are all in the making ever now.
But food does not grow where no seed has been
planted. and without food no army can fight and
no people can exist.
Therefore we ask the people of OUR OWN
COMMUNITY to arise to the occasion and pro-
duce every ounce of foodstuffs that is within our
power.
We may not all serve in the ranks, but we can
demonstrate our loyalty and our devotion to our
country by needing the plea of the president in
an increased production of food supplies.
Let US not have an acre that is not under cult
walton or in pastureage. Let US not even have a
back yard or vacant lot that is not producing
something. Patriotism lies here just as strongly
as it does on the battle line.
We suggest to the municipal authorities that
they pass a resolution pledging to the president
and the government the answering loyalty and
material support of this community. Similar &C.
ton will be taken in every nook and corner of the
country. It should not be overlooked here. Ac-
ton to this end should be both quick and en-
phatic.
How many American flags are floating to
the breeze in Greenwood? There should be more.
They should be shown in every home! They
should float from every building. They should be
in evidence everywhere. 1t is not seemly that we
go about the streets shouting our Americanism
into every ear, but it's proper and right that we
show our own colors by displaying the national
colors. And the largest flag of all should be proud
ly flown from the City Hall and the County Court
House.
War is hell, but now that we are into it we
must do our best to make it hell for the other
fellow.
"PAY.AS-YOU-ENTER" WAR.
Instead of borrowing money and issuing bonds,
President Wilson has suggested to congress that
the war revenue be Sustained by the present
generation" The words were nearly lost in the
recent message to congress, but it did not take
long for Wall Street spectators to notice them
and take fright.
A veritable nightmare has seized some of our
most efficient spectators, especially when two
of the leading financial journals seized upon the
idea and unreservedly advocated it. This has
been a blow from which "the street" is finding
it difficult to recover.
The idea of a "pay-as-you-enter" war is to tax