The Weston leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 189?-1946, 1918-11-22
CONCERNING THE LAcGARDs

seems that the Weston communit
has qualified as a laggard at leas
in the United War Work drive.
While Oregon and umatilla cour
" are well over the top. at last &C
counts the Weston district had nc
yet completed its quota.
We find this condition Difficult
TO understand. Weston is in H.,
heart of a rich wheat belt-ka
raised two dollar wheat and vii
raise another crop next year at tn,
same figure. Laying aside human
itarian considerations. and looking
at the war from a purely CONNER,
cisl and business standpoint, We
feel that it has been worth to the
Weston agricultural interests more
than it viii cost in increased taxes
Moreover, the balance on the right
side of the ledger has yet to grow
in volume. 1t would seem, then.
that pocket-book gratitude alone
would impel a prompt and gener-
Gus response to war work of unde-
niable merit.
Or is it that the local laggards
belong to the Pll-get-and-keep-all
! can and Observation-Disclosures
low class? If so, we consider they
are poor indeed in the only wealth
that counts. For the greatest bles-
sing of the war-if it can be said
to have had a blessing at all COM
mensurate with the destruction and
misery it has caused-is the spirit
ual growth, the broader vision it
has inculcated.
The gallant stand of little Belg.
ium; the self-sacrifcing devotion,
unfaltering courage of France; the
unswerving fidelity to world duty
of England; the heroic come back
of italy after a well-nigh over
whelming defeat; the magic trans
formation of the United States
from a peaceful nation to a war
power in full and formidable pano-
ply; the wonderful bravery and
skill of our own beloved soldiers
on the firing line and the honor
and glory they have won for our
republic-these are things, we say,
that should inspire all save those
with hearts Of stone. They have re-
deemed the world for Democracy;
they have even saved the United
States from domination by the
Hun.
Is 1T possible that our laggaTdE
,an read or think of these things
without a thrill without some con-
eption Of the utter paitriness of
he trivial money sacrifice they are /!
sked to make? Do they no longer ,
eel sense of obligation now that I
heir country is safe and their prop t
rty secured to them, and have de- X
srnlined to follow again the path :.
narrow selfishness? If SO, we 3
ar they are not men with red
Iood in their veins. and to call
lem mice would be to SANDER that D
little rodent.
Perhaps they do not believe the
atements Of President Wilson, b
enera1 Pershing and a host of Il
her public men that funds are
.eded for United War Work, even
ough the war is practically over. "
so, their conceit and obstinacy m
e beyond understanding. u
The most charitable view is that &C
E laggards are merely neglectful if
d will eventually come through. pa
this be the case they owe an APP
" to the loyal and Woodworking
al committee, whose members M
not only giving their money but alb
ir time to this great cause, as tn
y have to every preceding war
We. To cause them extra trou-
and worry betrays. it seems to tn,
an arrant lack of consideration. eal
eed, we would almost prefer the ne,
ant attitude Of the open Stacker, coo