The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-06-13
Lakeland Has The
Opportunity Now
To Show Her
Patriotism
Chamber of Commerce Notes.


In this democratic country a man
is usually allowed the privilege of do
ing pretty nearly as he pleases ex-
ccpt i'm cases where what he does or
wishes TO do conflicts with the wish
es or best interests of the communi-
~ generally. then there is higher
law than that of self-will which
makes those wishes or best interests
of the community paramount. De-
mocracy does not mean self-will or
the doctrine of individual rights to
the last degree. but "the greatest
good TO the greatest number" So in
the war which thes country has en-
tered upon. not only for the preserva-
ton of its own democratic principles
but for the encouragement and devel-
opment of those principles through
out the world There have been
stirred up individual opinions and
pre- judices which are nothing more
and in line with that which is prin-
ciple-"the greatest good to the
greatest number"-every patriotic cit
iZen has been asked to do "his Bit
for his country The young men
have already responded by registra-
ton. a number of others have volun-
tcered for army or navy service. still
others have placed themselves, in
varying capacities at the call of the
country No patriotic citizen can
withhold anything he is able to offer
for the service of the country. The
moment he does this his patriotism
One important axiom has been
stressed from time to time which has
an important bearing on the present
crucial situation. which is Strike
hard and strike quickly This is
the meaning of the immediate call
to arms and the raising of big war
loan. That which is done now will
determine to a very great extent the
length and desperateness of the
struggle and is in line with the effect
of Germany's preparedness as
against the absolute unpreparedness
of the allies.
HE who gives quickly gives
twice" is another axiom and the
promptness with which the citizens
of the nation respond to the appeal
of the Government for generous
support of the Liberty Loan will, it
is claimed be an important factor in
determining the duration and extent
of the war. Those who now think
/ they are too poor to save one dollar
per week from their present earnings
may well contemplate what they will
will do in case the government shall
! find it necessary to make another
selective draft including therein
those who are for the present escap
I ing the call to leave their business
and give up their present sources OF
income to follow the younger mon
and manage in some way to get along
on $50 month.
Too many people have the idea
that in contributing to this loan they
are practically donating that much to
the Government. Such has been the
experience of some of the men who
have accompanied the Boy Scouts or
their canvass. There is no donation
about it. The subscriber gets dollar
for dollar and very fair rate of in
terest, with the best security he car
find anywhere in the world 1t is al
opportunity to save little out OF
that little he geas and to help tC
make his present position more Sc
cure than it otherwise might be.
Someone has suggested that il
there is man engaged in any form
of employment in this community
who is absolutely unable to save at
least one dollar per week from his
earnings, he is justified in leaving
such a community which is either
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