Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-22
Editors Letter Box
Mr.. Hights' Editorial.

Editor Kennebec Journal:
1t has seemed to me that a careful
reading of your editorial. in which you
pay your Modest Respects to my eom-
munication printed in the Letter Box to-
day, betrays lack of vim when COM
pared with the dash and independent
swing in your drive upon my earlier let
ter in your issue of the 18th. I hope that
my persistence is not firing you. On the
chance that it is, however, and with the
desire to bring this struggle to an end' l
offer the following suggestion:
Here is a draft of an editorial which,
if I were responsible for such paper as
yours, should wish to print OF course l
am not journalist. and l should desire
to have it put in shape by some skilled
person like yourself: but 1t contains the
idea which l should like to circulate in
this community. Look it over, please
and let those who have followed our con-
troversy know in what respect 1t is
wrong. 4
BEHIND THE BATTLE LINE
The President of the United States
has called upon our young men Tor
registration. Selective Consumption is
to follow: but of this he significantly
says:-'It is no more a choosing Of
those who shall march with the colors
than 1t is a selection Of those who
shall serve an equally necessary and
DEVOTED purpose in the industries that
lie behind the battleline."
Farmers of Maine, there are none or
1.-The industries that lie behind the
battle line" more important than
yours. Our nation.-not alone our
army,-is at war A part Of 1t marches
with the colors; part of it tills the
soil The part that marches with the
colors must have food.
YOU MUST DO YOUR PART TO
PROVIDE IT.
Those who. like yourselves, are be
hind the battle line must have food.
YOU MUST DO YOUR PART TO
PROVIDE IT.
The nations fighting by our side.
Belgium and England. France and
Italy, all must have food.
YOU MUST DO YOUR PART TO
PROVIDE IT.
You may say But from my scant
acres I can barely feed my family
Well, if that is all your acres can do.
make them do that; for so, you Will
not have to draw on some other farm
er's surplus. but may let it go to those
whose service is making shoes instead
of raising crops.
1t is no time for faintheartedness or
for BARGAINING about what the prices
shall be next fall. This is an emer-
gency involving life and death. 1t in
wolves the life or the death of the lib
erty of the world. of the nation, OF
the State, of Kennebec. of Augusta, OF
Sidney. of yourself and your family
Famine means DEFEAT.
If you find yourself in debt next fall.
that is your sacrifice for the cause or
liberty Is it too great? 1t is not 50
great as that of your neighbours boy
who may give up his life and all his
hopes in the trenches somewhere In
France"
If you need aid and the nation or
the State can aid you.-Good. Take
the aid and KEEP WORKING.
If the aid is not forthcomlng,-
NEVER MIND. KEEP WORKING.
BY and by the war will end and you
will take your reckoning. If the bal
ance seems to be against you, write
upon the credit side by my self
respect and my share of liberty pre-
served and go about your business
undismayed. If the Flag is still the
emblem of a free nation, you will have
the right to a new pride in its noble
significance; for you. in common with
the brave boy,-your boy, Perhaps
who gave his life, will have HELPED
Leroy L. HIGHT.
Nav 49, 1917