The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1917-11-28
Supplying Soldiers
With Tobacco

A majority of the European gov
ernments supply their soldiers with
tobacco. Before the war, the ration
issued to the German soldiers was
much in excess of his need. He sold
the surplus and thus secured a little
spending money. The German sol
dier's pay in time of peace is one
penny day.
Tobacco has never been a part of
the military ration furnished by the
government of the United States.
Uncle Sam has always paid his sol
diers in cash, all that he thought he
could afford. and the soldier has been
required to buy is own tobacco.
During the Civil war, tobacco was
not a part of the American soldiers
ration.
Those who use tobacco, say that it
is great hardship to be deprived OF
it. During the American Civil war,
prisoners would adopt almost any
means to get it. They exercised their
skill in making powder horns and
combs in order to trade the same to
the guard for tobacco.
1t is conceded that the tobacco habit
T is wholly unnecessary; it is conceded
that it is expensive and, that it might
well be abandoned. However, the
pending question is, shall the good
hearted fathers. mothers, sisters and
patriots, generally, ship smoking and
chewing tobacco to the American sol
diers who are to fight in northern
France?
Men who use tobacco are in favor
of sending it to the boys. Some men
who do not use tobacco are in favor
Of sending it. Many women who have
no love for tobacco will be willing to
send it to the boys. Then there are
those who think it is wrong-who be-
I lieve that the boys should quit the
habit and quit it while in the armies
of northern France.
| Those who either use O., favor to-
bacco are in the majority. They are
1 going to send it to France. Smok-
ers are giving up their money to help
the boys.
Parents who have been unable to
| break the tobacco habit in their sons
at home would be foolish to under
take to enforce this reform on their
boys away from home therefore, as
la reform proposition, the attacks up
1
| The editor Of the Capital does not
use tobacco in any form, but makes
no claim to superior virtue on that
account. However, he saw men in
/ the Cuban war who were without to-
lbacco. He saw them in the mud OF
4 the trenches back of Santiago. and
he desired to suppyl the tobacco
They were suffering and nothing
would relieve them excepting tobacco
The writer saw men in the Balkan
/ trenches and hospitals in the year
1913 suffering for want of tobacco
The wounded were suffering for want
of tobacco. The first thing man
wants after his wound is dressed, un-
/ less it is an unusually severe one, is
a cigarette. We believe that it would
be a Christian act to furnish man
\ tobacco under any Of the conditions
we have referred to. We are send
/ ing few men to France who are not
over 81 years of age. A man Of that
age knows what he is doing. If he
is ever going to have the tobacco
habit, he has it already. Then why
/ trv to take advantage of him to COM
pei him to quit, while offering his
life to his country?
The Capital is in favor of fighting
this war to a successful issue. If we
can fight it without tobacco thai
would be good way to do it. But
if we must fight it with tobacco, lei
US do it that way Des Moines Cap.
i ital.