Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-11-20
THE POISONED DOVE

few months ago. reportSr on the
pier in San Francisco said. What do
they think In the far east about when
the war will end?"
That was the first expression about
the war heard by an American re-
turning 10 his native country and
aching TO know what Americans at
home had been thinking. planning.
doing, how we were expressing our
manhood and womanhood, whether
we would soon find way to mobilize
America and throw the gian. force of
her against the menace OF men.
heard this query with sickened
spirit. The reporter would never
have asked the question unless in be-
half Of the readers OF his paper
Could this represent the spirit Of the
people-the spirit of America?
l had heard the same question in
England back in the days when the
zeppelns had just begun to come
over London with the slogan "Wo-
men and children first"
Different Over There.
"Over there" however they
learned long ago of the folly of living
daily life with the sound Of this ques-
ton in their ears. They have learned
that insidiously, quietly, imperceptib-
ly, the persistent tap, tap tap of this
little question weakens the cause
turns the edge Of determination, en-
ters the subcorscious mind like a
slow disease draining off fighting
spirit, manhood and the dash and
power of the one purpose. and beats
upon that which should be the un-
breakable will of the people who
must win.
For America, this question haunt
ing the minds OF its citizens ia more
dangerous than It was "over there"
Our soft prosperity, our distance
from the struggle, tempts weak men
to cling to the comforts of peace we
have not felt the gaff of war. Not vet
have we learned the pain OF that full
deep thrust Of regret that when de-
mocracy called for us we, the pion-
GERS OF liberty, asked why and how
and when-but. at first, did not come
We have not learned even the pre-
Jude of that day when war will! have
seized and wrung our hearts, when
the ghosts of our men come back to
sit IN the farmhouse kitchen or in the
leather chairs Of the club, to click
the latches of village gates and
march in invisible brigades mp the
Gsphalted avenues.
SO the flabby men and women
among Ms still go on asking in that
voice OF childish eagerness, "How
long will the war last?"
Selfish Motives.
And the selfish retailer. trader, or
financier. fat with gain and ease or
lean with avarice, thinking of the eff
feet of peace upon the market, asks,
What would be your guess about the
end of the war?"
And the timid, faint-hearted wo-
man who has n son of g wonders
whether there is chance that when
he becomes Of draft age the conflict
gtn tuil hft1a m ha
colors, and she inquiries, Don't you
think peace will be made IN the
spring."
And even the thoughtless and the
ignorant and empty-headed, who
would otherwise say" rs this hot
enough for you?" or "Do you think
it's going to snow?" say now, "Well,
when will the war end?'
Test the spirit of these questions by
the two types-those who ask them
and those who do not. Which is the
type OF person whom you would trust
for character, courage, and sense, for
unflinching determination W h e n
something has been begun, to ''see 1t
thru? ?"
remember leaving Kitchener's
office in London to visit the recruit
ing at Scotland Yard. Six feet four
inches and $50 pounds Of retired
British army veteran, hardened, red
dened, grizzled, was my escort That
was in 1915.
Three Boys Gone.
"There's too much wondering when
the war will end" said he. MY three
boys have gone"
ITO France?" said I, misunder-
standing
"Killed in action. Perhaps tbs that
w D1O n1n | near
any Brtisher guessing about the end
of the war. My good sense would tell
me anyway. If you see two men
fighting, would you put n bet on him
who was wondering when 1t would be
over?"
mo" "a
"Nor ]. When they ask me when
like year or two after the Prussians
think it is time to stop"
For n contest between two men, |
two football teams, two nations, or
two great alliances struggling in the /
greatest war of all, over the greatest
issue of all, there can be no other
doctrine. When John Paul Jones's |
ready to stop fighting and he an
swered that he had not begun 70 fight
ii was not John Paul Jones but his
enemy who was licked. For II was
his enemy who was wondering when f,
it would lie over"
No man, no woman who contrib
utes even by innocent thouGhtless
mouthing to a mental attitude ex-
pressed IN wondering when the war
will be over is fulfilling the obliga-
tion of Americans to go straight and |
hard and together for the one united
persistent purpose to which the Uni
ted States has dedicated our strength
A job is to be done. A job is to be |
finished.
Gcrmany's Aim.
Germany will be gald at any mo-
ment to divert us from the Idea that
the job Is to finished. when In our
Judgment II Is finished, and attract
us as much as possible to the idea
that our Job will be finished some
place short of what by dangling peace |
as bait for towards and fools.
Here In Washington this policy OF
Germany is understood. 1t is the
primer lesson in an analysis of Ger
many's policies.
The state department knows well
enough that Germany has tried un-
successfully endless moves to make