The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1918-07-17

tiOn 10 discussion. II the subma-
rine warfare had not interferred
with business and profits there
would in my judgment, probably
have been no war;
Really, Senator, did this intervie
express your feelings? You say no
you would not change your colors-
dot an i or cross a t'-if it wei
all to do over again. Are you reall
serious in this?
Doesn't Believe Him.
You also stated in letter tha
President Wilson had summarized tn
prohibition ship, and sent her to til
bottom Of the sea. This ! do not b.
lieve. Indeed you have done and sal
many things that lead me to beliey
that you are not in sympathy wit
the great majority of the America
people | believe, so far as Americ
is concerned, this is a just war.
regret that we we're not in two year
before we were so that we might hay
conquered Germany sooner, and PEI
haps the price we are paying for ou
liberty and indeed for the freedom c
the world, would not be so great.
Senator, one of my boys, proud,
brave, patriotic son, has just fal.
len in this great battle. He was
buried few days age on the
shellt0rn fields of bleeding
France. ! do not feel that he
died in an unhOly cause. on ac-
count of the interference of Ger
many with commerce between
New York and London. | feel
that he died fighting for freedom,
in just and righteous cause, and
that he fills a patriotic grave.
have another son whom the gov
ernment has selected to die for his
his country and freedoms holy
cause, if needs be, and | do not
feel that when he is called TO
march away in khaki he will re-
sembIe convict. No, Senator,
when | see him march proudly
away under the flag of his cOun-
try do not feel that he is in COM
pany with. and the companion of
cOnvicts. merely because he has
been called to serve his country
in this great war, and ! think
that the comparison made by you
is an affrOnt to every good, law
abiding, liberty-lOving citizen of
this great country.
No, Senator, you and | do not agree
rs to your course. | think the Senate
If the United States should have
passed the Ship Purchase Bill, the
Armed Neutrality Bill, the resolution
declaring war, the Selective Draft
Bill, and a great many other demo,
ratio measures, which you and a few
)uny Democrats and Republicans have
-oted against and in this way tried
o tie the hands Of our great Presi-
lent.
Can't Support Him.
Feeling this way about it, ] can't
uppOrt you, | cannot follow you long
r. and cannot distribute your liter
ture. which believe disseminates
,oison, as it is an appeal to the mas
es for the purpose Of placing you IN
position again where you can still
'etter your government in the prose
ution Of this war. ] have kept up
With your course in the Senate as best
could, and from your record | find
hat YOU have never said one word
ommendatory of England, Belgium,
rance, Italy, Serbia or Roumania.
he fact is, all that you have had to
ay apparently was commendatOry Of
'ermany. Your powerful voice seems
ever to have been raised in defense
f the Allies.
Senator, have always thought
YOU were a great man of the peO-
pie, but your course has led me to
believe that your sympathy and
feelings ard judgment are nov
against us, and that your every
act and deed has been to deter
and fetter those in office from
vigorously pr0secuting this war to
a successful conclusion. You have
commended the acts of some Of
the Canadian in rebelling against
their country when it called them.
There is practically no seditiOn in
Mississippi, and if there is. don't
you think that your acts are
largely the cause of it! You
know when a great man goes
wrong it is easy to take follow
ing. You seem to have pretend
ed to offer your services to the
army. Why should you offer your
services to fight and to die in
war brought on by the "interfer-
ence on the part of Germany
with commerce between New
York and LOndon7
Surely your would not have offered
, fight to assist and save those rich
lew York and London profiteers, if
lch there are.
81 Stand by My Country"
No, Senator, ! shall not scatter your
terature. | shall stand by my coun-
" and do all that can in my hum
e way to see that the right results
e accomplished, and that Germany
ay be conquered in the end. If you
iii want your literature distributed,
ivise me to whom to deliver it and
shall do so.
| do not feel that when my son
surrendered his life under the Am"
erican flag in France that he was
then assisting England TO stab
Germany in the back. | do not
think it becoming of you to make
such a charge against an unfor-
tunate American lad in France,
even though it might be your own
son.
Very respectfully,
;iqned) J. II. McDERMlT.
n.