Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-03-22
BOARD OF TRADE
Continued from Page ons)

she has not only furnished her full
quota of soldiers and sailors but she
has answered the call for men in the
industries, in scientific work, and has
done her full share in contributing to
all war measures. We have right
to be proud of the old Pine Tree State.
Maine is fortunate in having but few
alien enemies among her people. The
Americanism Of our citizens is of such
a quality that we would not long toler-
ate the poisonous propaganda that mas
been used with some effect in other
parts of the country. We have under
stood from the beginning that THIS
world war is a struggle between auto
cracy and democracy. between the as
sumed divine right of few to rule and
the real divine right of all to equal OPP
portunity. The fundamental principles
of our government-order. justice, and
equality of opportunities, so dear to
us that no sacrifice is too great to
maintain them.
In England and France. there is no
longer any talk of when the war will
end The people of these nations are
determined to fight on till victory
comes. That spirit is beginning to
Take possession of us. 1t must become
the controlling spirit Of our people if
we are to win. We must win or all the
achievements and gains of the past are
gone. Whatever the cost may be now.
it is insignificant compared to the loss
that would come if civilization is al
lowed to slip back to the Teutonic
standard. The ideas and ideals of
American democracy are ours because
noble ancestors shed their blood and
gave their lives to establish them. We
are ready to make even greater sacri-
fees to preserve them and to extend
them to others.
It is fortunate that in this great
struggle for democracy there are Joined
together the forward looking and lib
loving people of the world. For
the first time. we are fighting side by
side with the other English speaking
nations. 1t must be remembered that
wherever English civilization has gone
there has grown up representative gov
eminent. law, order. justice, and in
dividual opportunity. Tho people of
the world who believe in these ideals
that hayesstood the test of time and
experience are joined together to main
tain them. 1t is a unique alliance
Many things are necessary to bring
victory There are. however. four that
the Allies must have or defeat will
come. These four are men. money.
transportation, and food. ! cannot
undertake to say which of these is most
important. Each one is absolutely
necessary. A failure of any one Of the
four is sure to bring defeat.
This war because of its magnitude
and because of new methods of Of
tense and defense makes the problem
of transportation of supreme i'm
portance Food supplies must be gath
cred from the remote corners of the
world, to say nothing of the supplies of
clothing and munitions or of the
transportation of soldiers. The diff
culties encountered in our own country
which have been brought to us so
acutely IN recent months are minor and
trlfilng compared to the difficulties Of
Transporting men, food. and supplies to
the battlefronts. If the Transportation
systems of the world break down. dis
aSter will come not only upon the bat =
/ tlefields but i'll the homes and the in =
dustries Of the fighting nations. Tn
less VIC can utilize our present system
of transportation more efficiently and
unless We can build ships more rapidly
and unless we can eliminate useless
TRANSFORMATION. the outlook for the f,I =
/ ture is dark indeed. Maine has al
ready contributed many railroad men.
sailors. and ship builders She is ready
! to contribute more.
Back Of these four absolute neressi-
ties for victory--men. money. trans
poitation. and food-there must be the
morale of the people. the will to win.
If the hundred million people of Amer
lea We're each one actiatea with the
supreme desire to make the world safe
for democracy and were each one will
ing to make whatever sacrifice is de-
manded, this country alone would be
sufficient to bring victory. 1t is this
Will to win that makes it possible for
men and women to work overtime. 10
initiate new or improved methods. and
to do the impossible. We need to catch
something of the spirit of the French
| people who have shown themselves
such heroes in this war 4 company Of
French soldiers were holding q trencl,
against great odds. An exploding shell
killed or severely wounded all except
| the young officer in charge OF the ma :
chine gun. He saw the enemy charC-
wounded comrades and said. Dead
mon. arise" And enough of the
mangled. wounded Frenchmen arose to
beat off the charge and hold the trench
Victory will come on sea and land
| In helping to expedite it's coming, we
must not forget to prepare for peace
This war will place many cherished
political beliefs and business practices
upon the junk heap. New and better
ones must replace them. The young
men of the nation will return from the
battlefield of Europe with world
visions. We of middle life and beyond
must be ready to meet them on com :
mon ground. We must give to the
youth of the land such enlarged op-
portunity that they will be prepared to
hold their own with their soldier broth
ers. We have learned many lessons in
| the past We have unusual and
strenuous duties in the present We
face the future with hone