New-York tribune., 1918-04-27
Acid Tests
From The Mil1caukee Sentinel
TN THE columns of The New York Trib-
une DR.. Robert McElroy recounts what

TN THE columns Of The New York Trb-
une DR.. Robert McElroy recounts what
he is pleased to regard traitorous
demonstration at the University of Wis
consin on April g.
Dr. McE!roy has been making speaking
tour under the auspices of the National
Security League. At Madison, as he relates,
he spoke on American patriotism to large
audience of university young men wearing
the khaki Of the United States"
Let us turn to the doctors account of the
reception of his eloquence by these uni
formed "trators":
"for the most part, once they had learned
that American patriotism was my theme,
they sat with folded arms. starin. wearily
up at the ceiling. From time to time they
turned and looked at each other, and smiled
supercilousy, sort Of pityingly.
"There was good deal of fidgeting and
shutting of feet. Several times sounds
which bore every sign of being subdued
misses could be heard. Later it was Of
fered to me in explanation that these were
warnings to the noisy ones to be quiet, but
they didn't sound that way to me.
"When / began to quote from some of
President Wilson's messages the rattle of
swapping rifle triggers throughout the audi
ence the men, being under compulsory
military training, have guns) sounded very
much like an attempt to break up the
speech"
Finally, recounts the valiant doctor and
chagrined elocutionist, 81 could not stand
it any longer" he leaned forward and
devastated these young men in khaki with
these terrible words:
"Do you know what l think of you and
your conduct tonight? l think you are
bunch of damned traitors"
DR.. McElroy admits that he was surprised
that no angry demonstration of physical
nature ensued.
SO are we. 1t amazes us that those
young men did not yank him from the
platform and proceed to treat him to a
neatly fitting spring suit of tar and feath-
ers or a JOY ride fence rail, or some
thing of that festive sort
DR.. McElroy seems to admit that it would
have been patriotic thing to do We ad
nit ourselves that he seems to have had it
coming. Another time will do
However, what were the facts; what is
the explanation of the frightful fact that
the burning cloquence of McElroy was so
lndlfferently received and that the main
thing desired of MIN by the suffering audi
cnce was that he would shut off the spigot
of his talky-ta and let it go home?
The key to The situation is that those
boys had been paraded about town in
cold rain. and we're then Marched drcnched
to the skin, into cold hall to sit for two
mortal hours under another drcnching rain
of oratory from the pitiless McElroy.
But let us turn to the account by Chief
Justice Winslow Gas patriotic a man as
walks the earth, but also man with
heart for humanity in distress) of the su-
prcmc sacrifice demanded of those boys by
the inexorablc McEroy:
"The soldiers had, of course, carried no
umbrellas, wore no overcoats, and hence
were far more completely drenched than
the audience. Their teeth were chattering
with cold as their clammy uniforms cung
to their bodies and as the water gathered
in little pools about their feet
"The general audience began to file out in
sections and platoons, but the cadets had
not that privilege.
"1s it any wonder that under these cir
cumstances, with no end Of the speaking in
sight, these boys should make known in
some way their desire for release from
their discomfort, not to say misery, and
is disloyalty to be charged against them
because they did SO? The wonder to me
rather is that they remained as quiet as
they did
GAS matter Of fact, am of the opinion
that more than half Of them were in charge
of the medical department of the univer-
sity that night, and for several days after
ward
"Carefuly weighing my words, I affirm
that no more loyal and patriotic audience
ever faced speaker than that audience.
The man who doubts it may be honest,
but he certainly does not know of what he
speaks"