The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-02-06
cRIsIs IT HAND.
TluE CRITICAL STAGE OC THE
GREAT WAR COMING.
AfsAgc From President TO Farmers
81 United States Gathered In Illinois
Predicts That This Years Achieve
rents Will Decide Struggle for
World Freedom.

washington. Jan. 3l.-In a mes
spSe 20 the nations farmers deliver
~ today TO an agricultural conference
~ Urbana. ILL.,, President Wilson said
hs thought Statesmen on both sides Of
the water realised that the culmina-
t,ps crisis OF the war had come and
this years achievements would decide
h.
The message. which the president
tntended TO present personally until
attacked BY cold several days ago
was delivered by President James OF
the Uuiversity of Illinois. Recounting
ths assressions OF Germany, the pres
ident said:
We are nghting therefore as truly
for the liberty and self government
~ the United States as IL the war Of
eur own revolution had to be fought
oyer again; and every man In every
tpsiness I'm the United States must
know by this time that this whole fu-
ture fortune iies In the balance.
Our national life and our whole
fpture development will pass under
the sinister influences of foreign con-
Woi " we do not win. We must win,
therefore. and we shall win.
Il need not ask to pledge your
Hives and fortunes with those OF the
rsN OF the nation to the accomplish
uisnt OF this great end"
The president recalled that farmers
nrsd the FIRST shots at Lexington that
~ afiame the American Revolution
fef liberty and expressed the hope and
belief that American farmers now will
willingly and conspicuously stand by
n win this war. He said the farmers
/ ud not want themselves exempted
nom military service as a class but
that tho attention OF the war depart
Hsnt was centered upon the task OF
iftesferiny with farm labor as little
- possible and he believed that In the
pSxt draft the farmers would find
tbsar labor much Less seriously drawn
qpon than in the first.
THE presidents message said in
part. t'N,F
81 need not tell you. for I am sure
yco realize as keenly as 1 do that
~ are ss nation in the presence of
T. Srcat task which demands su-
tsems> Sacrince and endeavor OF every
che Of Ss. We can give everything
tina V nes<ed with the greater willing
ntSs. and even satisfaction. because
ths object OF the war In which we are
enlarged Is the greatest that free men
havs ever undertaken. 1t is to pre-
vent the life OF the world from be-
tnG determined and the fortunes OF
men everywhere affected by small
frosps OF military masters who seek
their own interest and tho selfish DOM
Ieisn throughout the world OF the
apartments they unhappily for the
U9ment control. You will not need
I've convinced that IT was necessary
", ns as free people to take part in
~ war The rulers OF Germany
ree sought to exercise their power In
mh way az to shut or our economic
Ins % far as our intercourse with Eu-
fSps was concerned. and to confine
our people within the Western henSis-
phefe while they accomplished pur-
poses which would have permanently
mpaired and impeded every process
q our national life and have put the
yftanes OF America at the mercy of
tns imperial government of Germany.
rnis was no threat. II had become
rsAiity. Their hand OF violence
md been laid upon our own people
ana our own property in fragrant vio-
ieuon not only OF justice but OF well
rseosnized and long standing conve-
rants OF international law and treaty..
We are fehting. Us IL the war OF our
sNn revolution therefore. as truly for
hs liberty and self-sovernment OF tho
United States had TO be fought over
main; and every man I'm every busi-
ness In the United States must know
by this time that his whole future lies
IN the balance. Our national life and
our whole economic development will
pass under the sinister Influences OF
Foreign control n we do not win. We
must wins therefore. and we shall win.
need not ask you to pledge your
lives and fortunes with those OF the
rtst OF the nation to the complish-
ment OF that great end.
You will realize. as think states.
men on both sides OF the water real
ise. that the eliminating crisis of
the struggle has come ana that tho