The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-08-23
INSURANCE FOR
OUR SOLDIERS

The number of claims for exemp-
tion from military duty under the
draft law has caused a painful i'm
preston in many quarters, but af-
ter all, does not the fact that no
provision has yet been made by the
Government for the support of the
wives and children mothers or
fathers, of the men who have been
drafted explain many of these
a.. lns for eSenlr! oni
Under the draft law the Govern
ment has the power to require
every able-bodied man between 81
and 81 years of age to perform
military duty. Thousands of the
drafted men are wage-earners who
married years ago and are the sole
support of dependent families. So
long as the Government has made
no provision for the care of these
dependents. it is natural that such
draftd men should seek to protect
their loved one by staying at home.
1 am sure that if the Congress
should promptly enact the pending
war insurance bill, which makes de-
finite allowances for the support Of
the dependent wives and children,
fathers or mothers, of our soldiers
and sailors, claims for exemption
on that score will cease. This is
an imperative duty of the Govern
ment. We cannot deprive help
less women and children of the
support of the wage-earner by fore
ing him into the military service
of the country unless the Govern
ment substitutes itself as their
support.
Imagine the emotions of the
man who is called into the military
service of this country with full
knowledge that his loved ones are
left without means of support and
may be reduced to want unless the
charity of the cmomunity in which
they live comes to their relief. 1t
would be nothing less than crime
for rich and just Government to
treat its fighting men so heartless-
lily and to subject their dependent
wives and children. who are umabl.
to fight, to greater suffering than
Iif they could fight.
The morale of an army is as
essential to its effective fighting
power as guns,> ammunition and
other instrumentalities of war. or
equal Importance is the morale Of
the civil POPULATION which must
support the armies in the field. We
cannot have this essential morale
unless the Nation comforts the men
in the ranks with the knowledg"
that everything possible will be
done for them and their families.
and renders to the civil popu|at :nn
at home the assistance which will
make it most effective in upholdins
the Government and the fighting
forces.
The purpose of the war i,.s,pr-
ance bill row pending in I'll" Crn-
gress is 20 secure the futur" of
America soldiers and sai;c,s by
insuring their lives and providing
adequate compensati0ns and in
drminities fo;' loss of life an. total
or partial permanent disabil,'v:
also to protect their families
against poverty and want by pro
viding them with sufficient means
of support during the absence of
the men at the front.
The nation. having been forced
to resort to the draft in order 10
create quickly an army to save the
country. is under a higher obliga-
tion to do these things for it's fgh'
ing forces than if volunteer army
only was created. This great and
rich Republic cannot afford to do
less. and it must do what is pro
posed in a spirit of gratitude and
not as charity. Every soldier and
sailor who serves his country in
this war will earn everything tn"
proposed war insurance bill pro
vides; to be a beneficiary of the
proposed law will be a badge Of
honor.
When we drafted the wage
Garner. we call not only him but
the entire family to the flag; the
sacrifice entailed is not divisibIn.
The wife and children, the mothe".
the father. are all involved in the
sacrifce-they directly share th"
burden of defense. They sui
fer just as much as the soldier. but
in a different way, and the Nation
must genersously discharge as j
proud privilege the duty of main
tanning them until the soldiers
and sailors return from the war
and resume the responsibility.
We have drawn the sword to-