Connecticut western news., 1917-09-20

ears the details may seem to vary. wonder whether my interpretation will help or hinder it's force.
 "In the composite thing which we call our Country the young men stand for strength. The Bible tells us that messages which exhort to worth while living may we'll be sent to young men because they are strong. Therefore times which peculiarly call for sturdy doing and brave enduring are the times for them.
 "In this soulless maelstrom of law less frightfuluess which Germany started three years ago and desires to continue and extend until most of the civilized world is drawn into her maw, America is now plainly seen to have peril and a part as vital as that of England or France. To avert that peril and perform that part much planning, much production, much self denial and much training are all indispen- sable, but only so because without them effective fighting cannot be done and fighting is the only thing which ultimately counts absolutely the only thing which now will make America safe for Americans.
 "It is the consummation of all the services which all her citizens at such time can render and therefore it is the crown of all and is the privilege if not the prerogative of her youth.
 "To be a good soldier for one's country when her existence is at issue is the highest type of earthly service but the capacity to "endure hardness is it's price and the young men alone, can pay it-for that the present hour seems to me to call".
 In his interview Mayor Brown of Norwich discusses the selective service law in the following manner:-
 cone of the greatest and wisest pieces of constructive law-making passed by Congress in this time of war was consummated when the bill pro- viding for the selective draft became law. It was conclusive proof that our lawmakers at Washington had earned at least one great lesson from the his tory of the War which is taking place on the other side of the Atlantic.
 England by bitter experience had learned the lesson which the United States could profit by without the sac rifices so expensive to her ally !n this matter. The fairness, value and eff ciency of this law as adopted are self evident propositions. But be every thing else as it may, the one great question to be answered at this time is: What is the value of this law to the United States as country? AS has been we'll said, we have become too prone to ask, What can our country do for us?' when we should be asking, What can we do for our country?' Now we have come to see the justice of the latter proposition, and when one does get this point of view he automa- ticallly realizes the value of the selec. tive draft law.
 "To be of greatest service to our country as individuals we must be put into that place where he will be most useful in helping to carry the war to u SuCC6SSlul COuCluSlOu. In0 SySGou Ol raising all of our armies by volunteer ing can never accomplish this result. The man most anxious to go to the front and so the one first to volunteer may be the one most needed to stay at home and attend to some duty there and so should be the last to volunteer. The government and not the indivi- dual should judge which should be the one to be sent to the front and which should be the one to attend to other duties at home or in other auxiliary branches of service. When his country calls man to do his duty, applying a fair and equitable general principle in the selection of that man, he should be glad to obey his country's bidding for he can then go knowing that he is doing the most that he can possibly do for his country, to which he owes even his life if need be-.