The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-21
sRegardless How Great, Amer
lea Is Ready To Meet It."
Illinois Governor Urges Adop-
ton Universal Service Plan.
HUNS LOOK To THE FUTURE
Ambition of Present Wal
Matched Fifty Years Ago.
Selective Draft the Outstanding
Achievement of Preparedness.

Chicago, ILL.,, Feb. 21-Frank o.
Lowden, governor of Illinois. speaking
here today at the convention of the
National Security league, declared him
self in favor of universal military ser
vice as the answer of America to the
menace of the German war party
Prefacing his address with the
statements that the present world
struggle is only the fruit of a con-
spiracy Matched half century ago."
by the military party of the German
empire, the governor said:
IF our people shall understand the
meaning of the war they will pay the
price whatever it may be. for victory.
Should Have Universal Service.
1--WE have the men to win--the Sc
lectiye draft is the outstanding
achievement in preparation for this
strife. But the German war lords,
still fighting not on their own soil but
on that of their enemies, hearten
themselves with the belief that this
is but = temporary device and that we
shall soon weary of it. Our answer
for universal military training. We
have manhood suffrage. There should
go with it manhood service"
Governor Lowden said the wealth
of the nation is adequate for all war
eMgencies. but said the expenditure of
close coordination. I'VE also have
the material resources to win if we
but marshal them" he said. II have
no doubt but that your distinguished
body will inquire if the time has not
come to write down a definite finan-
cial program"
Financing the War.
He continued, in part, as follows:
"One of the most valuable and
promising features of the war financ-
ing is the thrift stamps and the war
sa wings certificates. If, as the treas
ury officials hope, we can raise Two
billion dollars this year in that way, 1t
ought to be possible to raise at least
as much each succeeding year. For
the money that goes into the thrift
stamps and certificates comes from in
come and not from principal.
with our experience of the last
year it ought to be possible to deter
mine how rapidly liberty bonds can
be absorbed by the country without
endangering necessary production. We
are the richest nation on the globe. 1t
is evident, however, that the farmer
cannot transmute his farm. nor the
manufacturer his factory, into NUM-
lions and supplies for war. All he
can do is to lend his credit to the
government. How rapidly that credit
can be used in the purchase of bonds
without endangering our financial sys-
tenn the treasury officials ought to be
able now to determine. If it be ten
billion dollars a year, we should know
as soon as possible, so as to make our
arrangements accordingly.
With Courage and Confidence.
with a full knowledge of what this
war means, with permanent policy
of universal military training, and a
definite financial program, we may
face the future with courage and con-
ffdence. The hope of the central en-
pires today is that we may become
war-weary while they are still fighting
on foreign soil. Nothing would SO
shatter that hope as our adoption OF
these two policies