Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-10-18
LOOKS LIKE POLITICS

The following letter has been sent
out to voters over the state from what
purports to be the Patriotic League
of Ohio.
Dear Sir:
The Patriotic League of Ohio, an
organization which was prompted by
a great love for our boys in the SER
vice, is addressing you as an Ohio
War Father.
We are anxious that every man in
Ohio, who has a son, brother, or
other near relative now serving our
country, become a member of the
Patriotic League. Throughout the
country "War Mothers" have organ
lied to be of every conscious service
to the boys in uniform, and we believe
it is only right that the fathers
should band themselves together to
back up the boys and their Mothers.
The Patriotic League of Ohio asks
no initial fee or membership dues.
Love of kin and of country, and the
sacrifice that our boys will make,
more than "pay in full" any fnan-
cial return we could ask.
The League has only one object to
insure the success of our sons. and
our country's cause. Our boys have
offered their lives on freedoms altar.
Our duty at home is 20 them. Ques-
tlons that divided mems minds in the
past must be forgotten.
Just as our sons have duty over
seas, so have we a duty at home.
Their way is the bullet, ours is the
dollar, and we must use our wealth
to keep from public office, regardless
of party, any who at any time STEP
ped aside from unquestionable 10y
atty to our country We do not
know your party, but we do know
that we should all be members of
one great patriotic party, standing
solldly for the success of our arms.
We know your heart is "Some-
where in France" We want your
support. Your son needs it.
Please communicate your desire to
cooperate with US by signing the
enclosed membership card, and re-
turning it in the envelope you will
find with this letter.
Yours for Victory,
The Patriotic League of Ohio,
By Harry w. Smith, President
/ w. y. Sn1Vely, secretary
/ In regard to this letter Mr.. E. M
Fullington, chairman of the State Re-
publican Executive Committee has
this to say:
l think you will agree with me that
this is the most vicious attempt to
capitalize for partisan purposes, the
blood of valient Ohio soldier boys ever
attempted in any state in the Union.
This patriotic league was organized
by the Democratic State Committee
for the one purpose of securing votes
for Mr.. Cox. Both of the men who
signed the letter are said, in their
home communities, to be strong par
tisan Democrats. Mr.. Shively re-
Gently held office in Noble county, as
Democrat.
They do not say what their pur-
pose is in this letter. They wish to
deceive people just as far as pos
sible. l trust that through your
press and by important messages to
your committeeman, in every other
possible way you will warn your
people against becoming victims
of this partisan subterfuge. There
can be nothing more discreditable
to American citizens than this un-
American attempt to falsely and un-
derhandedly capitalize the sacrifice
our soldier boys are making across
the seas.
Let me say to you that you have
no more important duty in this cam
paign than to attend to this matter,
Instantly and to the utmost extent. u
We have nothing to add to what
MIR. Fullington has to say in regard
to this effort on the part of some
individuals who have no more moral
sense than had Nero when he
''fiddled while Rome burned" Only
this, that just as my boy and your
boy are fighting for principles oi
/ righteousness and justice on the fields
of France and Belgium, so we shall
fight for those same principles here
and we shall fight with our ballots
, instead of guns.