Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-04-20

Of great democracy. and we shall not
fall short of It
This let me say to the middlemen Of
every sort, whether they are handling our
foodstuffs or our raw materials of manu-
facture or the products Of our mills and
factories: The eyes Of the country will be
especially upon you. This is your oppor-
tunity for signal service. efficient and dis
interested. The country expects you, as
it expects all others, to foreeo unusual
profits, to organize and expedite shipments
Of supplies Of every kind. but especially of
food, with an eye to the service you are
rendering and in the spirit of those who
enlist in the ranks, for their people. not for
themselves. Ishsll confidently expect you
to deserve and win the confidence Of peo-
pie OF every sort and station.
To the men who run the railways Of the
country, whether they be managers or
operative employees, let me say that the
railways are the arteries Of the nations
life, and that upon them rests the immense
responsibility Of seeing to it that those
arteries suffer no obstruction of any kind,
no ipeficiency or slackened power. To
the merchant let me suggest the motto
Small profits and quick SERVICE" and to
the shipbuilder the thought that the life
Of the war depends upon him. The food
and the war supplies must be carried across
the seas, no matter how many ships are
sent to the bottom. The places of those
that 60 down must be supplied and sup
piled at once. To the miner let me say
he stands where the farmer does: The
work Of the world waits on him, ~ he
slackens or fails. armies and statesmen are
helpless. He also Is enlisted in the Great
service army. The manufacturer does not
need to be told | hope. that the nation
looks to him TO speed and perfect every
process, and want only to remind his
employees that their service is absolutely
indispensable and is counted on by every
man who loves his country and its liberties.
Let me suggest also that every one who
creates or cultivates garden helps, and
helps greatly, to solve the problem Of the
feeding of the nations. and that every
housewife who practices strict economy
puts herself in the ranks Of those who
serve the nation. This is the time for
America to correct her objectionable fault
Of wastefulness and extravaganza. Let
every man and every woman assume the
duty of careful. provident use and expen-
diture as public duty, as a dictate of
patriotism. which no one can now expect
ever to be excused or forgiven for ignoring.
In the hope that this statement Of the
needs Of the nation and Of the world in
this hour Of supreme crisis may stimulate
those to whom 1t comes and remind all
who need reminder Of the solemn duties
Of time such as the world has never seen
before, | beg that all editors and publishers
everywhere will give as prominent publ
cation and as wide circulation as possible
to this appeal. venture to suggest also e
all advertising agencies that they would
perhaps render very substantial and
timely service to the country II they would
give it widespread repetition. And Hope
that clergymen will not think the theme
Of it an unworthy or inappropriate sub
ject of comment and homily- from theil
pulpits.
The supreme test Of the nation has come
We must all speak, act and serve together
WOODROW WILSON.