The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-05-10
WAAT HE DID SAY
WAS A PLENTY

Colcmbus, May 6.-Wide publicity
having been given to a misstatement
of facts in connection with a recent
address of Governor James M. Cox, al
West Liberty, at an assemblage OF
Mennonites and other citizens, there
was given out today at the Office of
the Governor letter which has been
written in response to several inquir
les in that connection. This is the
letter:
II have your letter of the 30th ul-
timo in which you ask whether in a
Liberty Loan speech made by me at
West Liberty, a community made up
in part by Mennonites, I suggested
the revival Of the whipping post.
am very pleased to advise you just
wha. observations were made with
references to the attitude Of the Men
nonites:
~ spoke cry denitely on the sub
ject, regretting the position which
these people had assumed, and urg-
ing the community to be tolerent be-
cause the Mennonites had a entire
miscocept of the whole situation.
They are not deliberately disloyal, but
in the eyes of their neighbors they
are disloyal because they withhold
their cooperation from the nation of
which the are a part, both in services
rendered, and in benets derived, not
the least of which is religious free
dom which they came rere to obtain.
The Mennonite hcildren attending the
public schools were a part Of the
ceremonies. We commented upon that
and voiced the pleasure which it nat
ura'ly inspired.
''In this connection the statement
was made that the community need
have no fears about the younger gen.
Grafton because it has now, and will
have In the future, no misguiding
ideas with reference to the duty of
America when faced by a menace
sub as is now before us.
"a Mennonite minister had said in
the pulpit, so we were advised, that
it was a form of idolatry for anyone
to yield allegiance to the nations
flag. 1 took issue with that as Wig
orously as 1 know how, contending
that the flag is the expression OF a
and when we lose the SEN
timental attachment for the traditions
of the country, the nation is about at
an end. We have reverence for the
cross because 1t symbolizes the sac
rice made by Christ, and we love the
flag beause its stars tie US to the SEN
timent of the Saviour's birth. We
have not only written on star into
the flag, but 48 stars of liberty, be-
cause every star represents a state,
and every state is devoted to the ma
tion's ideals
- said frankly that the Mennonites
should buy bonds to protect the ma
ton, the state, the community Of
West Liberty, and it's homes. We in
sisted also that, If the Mennonites
were opposed to war, then they could
not favor the consequences of war,
nor could they, moved either by con-
5ciene or consistency, prfiot by the
results Of war This clearly suggest
I'd that if performance were to match
Dreachmeni they should bring their
wheat to the market aud sell it for
| dollar a bushel and not place in
heir purse the additional dollar,
which is a direct result of the war
hey profess to abhor.
81 never mentioned the whipping
)ost-I don't believe in 1t because
heir are methods more modern. Pub
ic opinion will correct a community
condition based upon misunderstand-
ng rather than deliberate disloyalty
f dislloyalty, however, becomes a
natter of deliberatio, rather than Of
then very frankly, sug-
resi- measures that will be ecective-
'ut not the whipping post.
''If you have any influence with
ne Menonites, let me urge upon you
he Importance of counciling with
hem The great mass of Germans
n this y tie are loyal--they are Civ
ng their sons to the ar"v, and their
nergies to community war activities.
)ur people are tolerant-they will
ot accept German name as an in
ex of disloyalty, but they will not
0ok with pleasure nor will they toll
rate either individual or organized
esistance to this war, be it Memo
ite or otherwise.
4 4oirct,y HOac{ar ori1y he