Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-05
survive and American government is
to maintain its position as the model
for other governments throughout the

to maintain its position as the model
for other governments throughout the
world.
OPTIMISM IS NOT ENOUGH
(From Wednesdays Daily
Wapello county is organized for the
third Liberty Loan campaign, down to
the smallest school district. Commit
tees are appointed, supplies are ready
for distribution to the workers and be.
fore Monday morning, when the actual
work OF canvassing for subscriptions
10 due to start, every campaign Work.
or will know exactly what Is expected
Of him.
There is no question as to Wapello
county's ability and intention to meet
it's quota. The task should be finished
within a week. There 10 a single FAC.
tor which cannot be measured until
the campaign Is under way, and which
is the only influence the solicitors will
be compelled to overcome with argu-
ment. :,
County Chairman Hutchison stated
It conc1sely today when he said,
"There is q groundless feeling of OPP
timism, not only here but all over the
country. which must be turned into
Northumberland pessimism or any
thing resembling 1t. but determinatlon
to win the war. Americans must wax
en- to the fact that Germany cannot Dc
defeated by words and bold oeciara-
lions Of American superiority Every
American must realize his 1ndivlduai
responsibility for the outcome OF TINS
war, and must do his full share 10
make victory certain"
This comedies exactly with the
views The Courier has expressed re.
peatedly during the past several
months. Wapello county Is no more TO
be criticised for failure to recognize
and realize the nations perilous posi-
ton than IL any other community IN
America. 1t Is only within the last
few weeks that millions OF Americans
have assimilated the war spirit which
the whole country must have II this
war Is to be won. And that American
shirt IA q determination based on the
realization thai defeat at the hands OF
Germany is possible.
Only when all America realizes that
It Is possible for Germany to defeat
and dominate the world will America
be in a position to stamp out Prusslan'
ism. There has been too much un.
founded optimism In the past year,
here in America. So many Pubic
speakers and public figures have as.
sured us that America cannot lose that
the feeling has gone abroad that this
IA true. regardless Of what individuals
may do or fail to do.
America cannot lose II every Ameri'
can does his patriotic share to make
victory certain. And his share Is the
full measure of his ability-physical,
financial, mental, moral ability.
II you refuse to buy Liberty Bond
when YOU are able to buy one, some.
one else must buy your share. Some
one else must make the sacrifice you
fail to make, whatever that sacrifice
may entail. And IL there were enough
Americans who failed to do their share
the burden Of the loyal portion would
be too great. Then America would
fail. Germany would win the war and
terror would rule the world
thus far, although we have been at
war for q year, America has been only
4 small and negligible factor in the
battle line. That is where the war
must be won. In dispatch which The
Courier published q few days ago. the
British headquarters correspondent OF
Reuters. Limited, said: "The British
have been fighting steadily since the
German advance slowed up, and al
though they have made little change
in the battle line they have killed q
great many Germans. And this Is
what must be done If the war Is to be
won"
It is not pretty thought, as the
correspondent added In his dispatch.
But 1t is true. And American soldiers
are only now getting into the line OF
battle for renewal Of the struggle
which may-probably will-tndicate
the ANAL result of the world war. They
must kill German soldiers or be killed.
They must hold the allies line against
further German advance II civilization
is to survive the assault Of the Huns.
And they are not lodging their in
dividual responsibility. these soldiers
Of America. They are eager to night,
eager to do their share, ready to make
whatever sacrifice the battle shall de-
mand. They are not blind to the ne
cessity for each khaki.clad mans scr.
vice. Each Of Americas first hundred
thousand is ready to hold his null
share of the western front.
And what of US. back here in the re-
serve trenches. far from the blood
soaked battle field? Is each OF us
equally eager, equally ready. equally
alive to his responsibility and his
duty? There can be no reason that VIII
pass the test Of loyalty II the reply 10
ANYTHING but affirmative.
Determination will win the war. and
optimism is q part Of determination.
But optimism alone, without oetermin-
alton, is poor weapon.
ROCK ISLANDS DRY VOTE
Ottumwa has a direct interest in
the vote which has decreed that Rock
Island shall be q saloonless city soon.
Much Of the whiskey which has been
brought to Ottumwa by bootleggers
has been purchased openly in Rock
Island and brought to this city either
on trains or In automobiles. To be
sure, the supply for Ottumwa boot
legsers will not be greatly reduced.
but at least ono source Of supply will