Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-10-23

L
read at yesterdays morning service by
DIR. Day as a contribution to the
clergy's campaign for the second Lib
erty Loan.l
These are the times which reveal the
real fiber of mems character. Either
avarice or patriotism must assert con-
troll of American citizenship. The
miser is not merely man who boards
his gold and gloats in his possessions.
Any man is miser who in the pres
ence of great national crisis, thinks
of profits before he contemplates his
obligation to his country.
In a solicitation for the buying Of
bonds came upon one man who had
carefully figured out, that, as the first
81 per cent issue had sold on the
stock market, one day, for trace OF
a fraction Of I per cent below par,
though they have also sold at greater
per cent Of premium, he would be max
ing bad investment to risk the loss
which he had computed from $3.50 to
So on $1,000.
THAT MAN is NOT WORTHY OF
AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP!
All that men possess in America is
the fruit of our free institutions. The
claim that Germany cares more abun-
dainty for her very poor by her varied
system of pensions than America does,
found to be true in my travels in the
Teuton empire. But found, too, that
there were very many more very poor
in Germany than there are in America
Our system has reduced the number
Of public charges and increased the
Independent and self-supporting hosts
In the war through which we are
passing, the very man to whom re-
ferred has made vast profits, profits
which overbalance thousands of times
the small loss he had figured as pos
sibility, possibility so remote, by the
way that one can only pity man who
recognizes it as worthy of attention.
Our American citizenry is derelict
in that appalling indifference which
makes it necessary for busy men to
leave their heavy business responsible
tiles to make drive upon the masses
for the purpose Of persuading them to
invest their money in the maintenance
Of this, the best government ever
known among men. 1t is not gift
nor donation, but an investment, the
best which can be found in the mar
kets of civilized nations. 1t will net
more than renting houses, and in the
end will exceed any per cent invest
ment which any capitalist holds today
But this is contemplate argument
feel Inundated to know that it must
be INDUCED anywhere or to any one of
my fellow citizens. Here are men hes
itating because of fear that they may
lose trace of fraction of per cent
in an investment, and our boys In the
environments, on the high seas and at
the French front, have, many Of them,
left positions paying as high as 5000
per month to defend the liberties Of
these cautious holders of the rights Of
American citizens, at a soldiers sti-
pend of $50 per month and soldiers
lot in tent and his board at the plain
mess table. Every member of the
national army has made financial sac
rifice.
My soul protests against this eau
ton, which too many feel. If only one
feels it. as I remember what our boys
are enduring for the safety and happi-
ness of these. unworthy Americans.
Il is not choice Of investments.
1t is a choice between a tax and a
loan. If we loan our government the
money which will run to tens Of bill.
lions, we shall win, for the money is
as necessary as the millions Of men. II
we win, all mankind will rejoice in lib.
erty and equality. OF course, we shall
win, not because we must, not because
we are obstinate, but because we are