Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-11-02
WAR TALKS
By UNCLE DAN
Number Five
Jimmie and German Boy Clash
Must Do Three Things to Save
Country.
Number Five

Must DO inree Things to save
Country.
1t was a warm evening, so Uncle |
Dan went out to lawn seat under the
spreading branches of the great tree
that suggested the FARMS name of Oak
Hill. Billie and Jimmie had been lay
ing for him, so Uncle Dan was cap
tured by the boys on short order.
"Say, Uncle Dan," Billie began. eve
had red-hot argument at school yes
terday with Carl Newman. Carl said
that German schools were miles ahead
of our schools and that no one could
come up to the educated German. Well,
Jimmie got hot under the collar and
handed it back to him good and plenty.
Jimmie said if their education taught
them to torpedo Lusitanias, sink hos
pital ships, murder hundreds of wom-
en- and children, make slaves of
the Belgians, poison wells, destroy fruit
trees and commit all sorts of crimes,
then we did not want that kind of
education here. What do you think
you spent lot of time in Europe and
knew all about schools, so give US your
opinion"
SWELL" replied Uncle Dan, deliber-
ately, "the German schools are very
thorough; they furnish exceedingly val
liable and practical instruction. The
Industrial training given there is prob
ably the best to be found. The schools
as a whole, however, in my opinion,
appeal to the head only, and never to
the heart. The aim and trend is to
make the individual blindly submis-
sive to the Prussian plan of world do
minion; they teach that it is the des-
tiny of Germany to rule the world, and
that to the glory and advance of Ger
many, in this plan, all things must give
/ way; that the kaiser as head of the
state, can do no wrong If he carries
! forward the plan of world control.
Some of the greatest teachers and
preachers even defend and justify her
heartless crushing of Belgians and the
many other atrocious crimes she has
committed in this war. Thank God,
our American education reaches both
the head and the heart. 1t is an edu-
cation with a soul, and we must main
tain the high ideals we have fixed. In
a word, in Germany, the people are
taught that they exist for the govern
ment, while here the government ex-
lists to serve the people"
"Just wait a minute" interrupted
Billie. Say that over again slowly, SO
1 can write it down."
Uncle Dan, smilingly, complied.
Billie exclaimed: "Now, we will hand
that nut out for Carl to crack
Carl, you know" continued Billie
"has very smart father who keeps
him posted on the German arguments
Carl said our government was only
an experiment anyway; that it would
not last twenty years, and that Il
might burst up any old time. Jimmie
. asked him if Germany was so mighty
good, why they did not go back there
to live"
sour government will go on forever
. won't it, Uncle Dan"
~
raising a big question, and one thai
!. has troubled me for years. Our gov
ernment is still in the experimental
stage; in fact, 1t is the greatest ex
pertinent ever undertaken, and If pop
ular government is to be successful, .
few things must be done, otherwise, t.
paraphrase the great Lincoln, the gov
j ernment of the people, by the peopl
e and for the people, will perish. 1t i
n my firm conviction" said Uncle Dan
, in very impressive manner, "that i
l. our country is to go on, as we hop
. and pray, we must very quickly d
y at least three things, and will nam
: them in the order of Importance as
: appears to me:
"First, adopt compulsory universe
: military training of all young me
|, physically fit before they reach tn
!. age of twenty years.
= 'Next, require that every foreigne
who comes here to live must, within
reasonable time, say a year, declar
his intention of becoming an America
citizen and take the necessary steps
do so, thereby, from that moment, a!
suming all the obligations of citizer
ship of our country, and that means b
must defend our flag upon equal term
with our native born, and if he is Nc
willing to do this, he should be ser
back from whence he came"
"That's the stuff" exclaimed Bill
Sand, finally, enact such legislatio
as will make voting compulsory. POI
ular government is based upon tt
participation of all and the rule {
the majority, and democracy came
continue and be successful unless "
live up to the spirit Of the instit1
ton.
''The first step, however, is the pas
ing of the Chamberlain bill for unive
sal military training. If you will g
the leading citizen, and especially tt
editor of your paper, to write persons
letters to your congressman and bot
senators, urging their support, it wi
help enormously.
81 see by the morning papers," sa
Uncle Dan, "that the Rotary clubs
the entire country, the livest, most eff
cient organization to be found, ha1
unanimously decided to get back
the Chamberlain bill and give it 10y
and enthusiastic support. They wi
work with the Universal Milital
Training league to accomplish this IL
portant piece of legislation, which vi
do more than anything else to make
a real nation with a common vie7
point, bring us back to sane living, al
teach us the patriotism of service"