Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-26
Arc You IL Slackerc

| Is TINE for American men to stop talking
in parallels and thinking in circles and
look the war situation sQuarey in the face
This country has undertaken the biggest
task OF all its history. a task which involves
the expenditure of many billions of dollars
and. In all human probability, OF hundreds
of thousands Of lives. Tremendous difficult
ties attend every step of the process Of pre-
paredness. There is now. and will continue
TO be- more work than the country can do
though it expend it's every energy in this
monumental undertaking.
Even with consumption of men and con-
scription of money, miracles are not TO be
wrought Only In the mind of the dreamer
are armies called into existence by the wav-
ing of magic wand. For every man In the
field, five men must work at home, to supply
their sodier-representativc with arms, am
munition. uniform, the many details of his
equipment and the food required to keep
him in fighting trim. What applies to the
time when our troops In large numbers
shall be gaged in battle. applies with equal
force to this time of preparation We must
all begin to serve.
The ono great and imperative duty that
rests upon America and each Of her sons Is
to win this war. When we have done all
we can do to achieve this end, we may think
Of other things and cherish other ambitions,
but the winning of the war must be first
in every heart
a
sacrifice. balk at no surrender OF pleasure
money life. The man who can read the
daily accounts OF dissension in Russia with
out understanding that Russias military
power is in complete allegiance and that this
subtraction of one-fourth or one-third of the
allies military strength must be made good
by America is incapable of COMMUNICATING
the meaning OF words. Whatever the situa-
ton on the western front it is plain that
Ha!g and petan are not achieving the sue
ccsses expected of them by the people and
the newspapers Of Britain and France No
ono can hear the call of France. as the great
Johre phrased it. without knowing that her
need is exigent and her condition grave
America must win this war, and you, men.
are America Each of YOU must shoulder
your share OF the burden. That Is your
plain duty not to be blinked or evaded and
II you arc the same stuff Of which your
fathers were made, you will not try to
evade ii.
What are you doIng--you. yourself-that
your priceless heritage of freedom may not
be taken away? Have you shouldered
rife? Have you added to the production of
food? Have YOU bought Liberty bond?
Are you aiding the Red Cross? Are you
preparing yourself, with all the ardor that
is in YOU to render one or all OF these
patriotic services?
II not. you are a slacker-a Stacker in
this hottest of holy wars You have let
yourself drift with the tide of loose thinking
that is our countrys curse. You are seeing
ralnbows i'll skies overhung with dark and
menacing clouds. on arc consoling your
self with false consultations and purchasing
peace of mind with base currency
Awake! Think! Your country is at war
at war with the cruelcst and most relent-
less OF enemies, terrible despite all buffetines
In its military might Consider YOUR own
duty, and do IT, Leave whining and COM
planning 10 the coward and the knayc
Are YOU Il Stacker? Look deep into vour
heart before you answer 10