Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-04
With Autocracy's Finest Weapon,

IL
- have been completed the nations great
census of fighting men who to seal Ger
many's inevitable doom. To the Kaiser and
his Junkers tomorrow Will more unerringly
point the way to the downfall of their ruth
less ambitions than did the battle of the
Marine, though that checked their advance
toward realization. AS each man of mill
tary age registers tomorrow. he writes more
deeply on the scroll OF the future democ-
racy's ultimate triumph. And this triumph
is assured because America has put aside the
old theories of millions of men leaping to
arms, of embattled farmers and Of a people
armed only with patriotism, and has in their
stead embraced the certain doctrine that
modern warfare is science, efficiency. CEN
tralization. organization and coordination of
all national resources
From Its agents, Prussiansm had become
convinced that so free a democracy as ours
could not be brought to employ the cold
thoughtful. mass methods used by the eff
hc1ent autocracy. Perhaps it's agents should
not be blamed: two years ago. the thought
Of universal service in America was almost
uniformed; certainly the idea was supported
by a negligible few. From these same
agents Prussianism believed the pro-Germa
population of this country was sufficiently in
fuential TO make Americas possible partici-
patton in the war hardly worthy OF consd-
Grafton in Berlin. Wherefore. Prussianism
forced war upon America. And what is the
result?
All over this vast country tomorrow the
young manhood of the nation will enroll,
for service under the American flag No
volunteer spirit. no local conditions Of pride
or shame, will be relied on. We have taken
a leaf out Of Germany's own book and the
least militaristic o. all the great nations is
adopting the plan which the most militaristic
OF them all has enforced for years. Germany
knows how efficient that plan is, and knows
1t Will be as efficient against Germany as i'm
its behalf.
Germany knows that from the fields of this
continent must come the product that will
feed the world allied against Prussianism
and Germany never conceived that those prod
ucts would be conserved under governmental
direction as its own are. The rigid super-
vision necessary to keep half OF Germany
from actual starvation is not necessary here
put already steps have been taken TO con-
serve Americas food supply under central
authority, and further steps will be taken as
they become necessary. So too hundreds of
ships TO transport food and supplies to the
allies have been authorized by the govern
ment, and all over America its people are
subscribing millions to the Liberty loan which
VIII finance the war for democracy
On the western front there is temporary
standstlli, though the Hndenburg line is still
nebulous thing. On the Russian line there
is little activity, and there is talk of sepa-
rate peace, though one faction in Russia can
no more bind the Russian people to a sep
arate peace than any faction has been able.
as yet, to stir them TO vigorous fighting On
the Italian front there is an apparent halt
in the victorious advance of Cadorna's troops.
IL these conditions hold tomorrow. the
Kaiser might dream again of Kultur's tri-
umph, Of Hohenzollern world-power-but
Tor the knowledge that America is making
ready.
And when she is ready, Kaiser and Kultur
cannot long prevail for to the forces that
have saved civilization till now will he added
Anybody can make songs for soldiers. but
nobody cal make them sing what they don't
the might of great democracy fighting au-
tocracy with autocracy's finest weapons.