Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-09-19
OPEN FORUM
BOYS APPEAL TO PARENTS.

Editor Capital News: Nearly every
day you hear some fellow. usually ov-
er 40. rear UP and roar because we
young fellows don't enlist faster. Now,
from my observations, / find that
there are three classes of fellows, now
adays, who don't enlist.
First, fellows who might enlist but
won't; second, fellows who want to
enlist but who can't because of some
physical disability, such as blindness
or loss of a limb; and lastly those who
want to enlist but can't get their par
ents consent. The first, am sorry to
say, seem to be the most numerous.
They consist mainly of fellows whose
fathers are conscientious directors"
1. w. WIS, and fellows who haven't
given the matter serious thought.
With them shall not deal except to
say that they are slackers, every one.
the second group has the sympathy OF
every one am sure. however It is of
the third group that l wish to write.
1t Is an unpleasant fact that we fell
lows OF this group are almost unani-
mously classed with the fellows who
won't go, because 1t is Just a war
fought in behalf of capital" l tell you,
gentle reader" there are a great many
fellows, in this state alone, between
the ages of II and mans estate who
would give anything to enlist In the
army or navy, but who can't because
father or mother won't let them Now,
I'm not father, (being but IT'D and
don't know exactly how father feels
when his son goes away to war, but
| do know, that If was as stirred up,
excited, and interested in this war as
and others are, and as mine and, others
parents are, that If my son came to
me and told me seriously that he wish
ed to enlist, would most certainly do
all In my power to get him started
right, or forever hold my peace" It is
high time for every one to realize that
this nation is at war. l know that the
excuse of most-fathers and mothers is
wait until it's necessary to CO." Don't
you, parents, realize fully that that
time is now? Do you think that Ger
many is still lying idle? Some morn
ing you're liable to awaken to the fact
that the enemy Is on our shores, and
that our army and navy haven't enough
men to keep them back. People, we
don't want the old United States to be
a second Belgium or a second France.
Fathers, did you read that editorial at
the bottom of the first column on
page four of the Capital News of
Sept. Is. 1917?
Now, are you going to wait for such
time in this country before telling
us that we may go? Or are you going
to keep your son at home, and let the
neighbours son go over to France to
punish the barbarity Of the German
people and help overthrow the throne
and the power behind the throne.
whose power must be toppled? The
time of the popularity Of Il Didn't
Raise My Boy to be Soldier" is past,
and "the boy knows 1t.
Here's another thing parents, don't
be foolish enough to ridicule your son
for wishing to enlist. Maybe you think
ridiculc will drive thoughts of enlist
ments from your sons head. Well, it
wont. About two months ago heard
a fellow curse his father after patient
ly listening to a lot of badgering.
Now In closing l wish to say that
though this may sound impertinent yet
! know it's the way we fellows all
to take the physical examination and
show you that an American can be
brave too.
Yours respectfully,
WOULD BE SEAMAN.
Melta. Idaho, Sept. IS, 1917.