Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-03-06
Every Citizen Must Be Prepared
to Give Government Full
Share of Support.
ALL MUST MAKE SACRIFICE
Present and Future Interests Of Ma
tion Are at Stake-Troops Must
Be Kept Fit to Bring the
Final Victory.
BY BEN z. M,cuTcHEoN.


States now is an active and determined
participant Is war Of the whole peo-
pie. 1t is not being waged In the in
terest Of any one class or combination
of classes. The present and future in
terests of every citizen of the nation
are at stake, and because of this there
can be no division of duty or RESPONSE
bility. AS plain matter of self-de-
Tense, every man, woman and child
must shoulder a fair share of duty
and responsibility must be willing to
make any sacrifice the circumstances
demand; must practice the thrift that
works Tor the conservation Of labor and
inaterial-in word, must be prepared
to cooperate with the government at
Washington In the most wholesome
and effective manner possible.
The United States has been at war
with the German empire almost year.
Despite the fact that great strides have
been made in the nations vast under
taking, many citizens, particularly
those In isolated parts of rural sec
tons, have not yet had the war
q brought home" to them forcibly and
with the full meaning Of the possibili-
ties Of victory or defeat.
Farmer Much Concerned.
Tie American farmer, however far
removed he may be from the centers
Of war activity, however vaguely the
war has been brought home" TO him,
is as much concerned with the outcome
Of the great struggle as any other citi-
zen.
America went to war with the impe-
rial German government partly be-
ca1se the kaiser and his advisers re-
fusfa TO let this nation send to Europe
Its vessels laden with the products of
American farms and fields and factor
les. The imperial German government
cruelty sank these vessels and murder
ed American sailors. Assuming that
the German government had not been
called on account for its open violation
of international treaty right-for there
was an understanding that neutral yes
sells should not be sunk without warn
ing and not then unless they contained
contraband of war destined to the en-
emy-what would have become of
American shipping In general?
The answer is that none of American
Products would have reached the for
eign markets. The war has vastly in
creased the foreign demand for Amer
lean farm products, and the prices the
producers are receiving are the high
est they have received In many years.
So, the war is being waged very largely
in the interest of the American produe-
er of foodstuffs, making 1t possible for
him to enter his goods In the foreign
markets, which, because of war condi-
tons, have been forced to rely almost
entirely upon the American producers
for the necessities of life.
Men Must Be Kept Fit.
With conditions, intolerabIe and de-
structive to the American producer,
brought about by the arrogant German
government, the United States, after
subjecting its patience to the severest
test, took the bit into her mouth
and entered upon the task of preserv-
ing her rights and the rights of all who
live under her flag. This nation has
called many hundreds of thousands of
young men to the colors, many of
whom already are In the war zones of
Flanders and France. Other young
nen-sons Of the soil as well as sons
of the city-win be called to strengthen
those who already have donned the
khaki Of the army and the blue of the
navy. Their voyage across the subma-
rine-infested seas must be safeguard
ed; their bodies must be kept strong by
the proper nourishment while on the
European battlefelds and on the war
ships that are striving to keep the seas
open to traffic between the American
producer and the buyers of Europe;
their health must be conserved--in a
word, they must be kept fit TO bring
victory TO the cause of the American
producer.
And those who remain at home real
lie c responsibility In keeping with
that upon the endangered shoulders of
American manhood In the fighting
ranks. By thrift and saving, by sac
rifiee, If need be, they are called upon
to form the second, but none the less
important, line of defense. They can
not engage in the actual business OF
fighting, but their government has tht
right to expect them to aid In support
ing the American fighting forces by
lending their money to the cause.