The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1918-08-20
"CITIZEN" TAKES
DAWSON TO TASK
SAYS CITY'S REPUTATION is
SUFFERING AT HANDS OF A
FEW LAWLESS PEOPLE.

Editor of The Dawson News: One
IS always reluctant to enter into any
criticism of the home town, and for
outsiders to bring serious charges
against US never fails to arouse more
or less resentment, but there are
times when all right thinking citizens
must fearlessly face the truth no
matter how disagreeable. Right now
Dawson is in very unenviable light,
and this unsavory reputation has
come to us because handful of peo-
pie have been allowed to run rough
shOd over the laws by which the city
is supposed to be governed.
1t is commonly reported that mil
itary police guard the roads leading
from the aviation camp at Americas
to prevent any soldier coming to our
city. Men in higher positions in our
army never put restrictions on the
men without cause. Those who claim
to know assert that the soldiers who
were rounded up here two weeks ago
by military police sent down from
Souther Field were made drunk by
some of our own people, profteers
II you please, who propose to fatten
on the debauchery of Uncle Sans
men.
Isn't it about time somebody was
taking time from the strenuous pro-
gram of war activities to look into
this grave matter? What more pa
triotic duty confronts us? We are
having prayer meetings enough to
emily, don't believe the Lord is GO
ing to do the work he put US here
to look after Gen Foch is relig-
ious man, but he is of the Gideon
type and conquers by the might of
his faith put in action. If he did
aOthing but get down on his knees
and ask God for victory the Huns
would probably be over-running our
shores. While the flower of our
young manhood is being freely pour
ed out at the front is it asking too
much to expect our men at home to
do something to protect the young
boys of our county and the men IN
uniform coming our way? The cltl-
zen never known to strike blow at
this evil is an object of contempt
when he talks piously about what
ought to be done and winds up by
asking the women to have prayer
meeting.
From all accounts the cleaning up
of Dawson is a mans job and when
our men put the public good above
self-interest and political preferment
nobody doubts that a radical change
will speedily come. These war times
are showing folks up in their true
colors and no amount of camoufage
can hide the slackers at home. There
are some two-by-four men who sheer
at prohibition, but read below what
the great war leaders say about it
and then hide your head in shame if
you haven't the moral courage to
help clean up a demoralizing situa-
ton right under your nose:
General Pershing said: $50 long
as am at the head of the army l
shall speak for prohibition. When
told to ego slow" on this question,
he replied: 81 shall not go slow on
prohibition, for I know what is the
greatest foe to my men, greater even
than the bullets of the enemy"
What our allies say: owe are fight
ing Germany, Austria and Drink; and
as far as | can see the greatest of
these deadly foes is drink. David
Lloyd George, Premier of Great Brit
ain.
"Give me teetotal army and I will
lead it anywhere. Lord Roberts.
"Drink is as much your enemy as
Germany. "-R ymond Poincare,
President of the Republic of France.
"Alcohol by diminishing the moral
and material strength of the army is
crime against national defense in
the face of the enemy. General
Joffre
IF to sweep about our own doors
is not a paramount patriotic duty
why? Yours for safe city,
CITTZEN