Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-03
Six Months to Decide Il

Decide IL III favor IF the allies and
ORD peace. human justice and demo-
,racy He does not say. The end may
iot hc reached within that time. we
may Judge is his opinion. but the end
VIII be determined
Financial experts Of the world are
luoki5g for the conclusion of peace III
1918. ard they are making their calcu-
lations and prc parations accordingly.
olitical and economic conditions, so
closely found together, are the multi
l'icard and multipiier for The financial
'l"m,ni The result is a matter Of fig
uIes We shall see the result in l9iS,
tf
Ven. If America does not hesitate.
or fail 10 increase its activities and de-
termination. Every world power knows
that America CAN he the determining
actor IN this war, Is it to be"
That il the question. tnquestionably
America entered the war too late to
ave millions of lives and oceans of
iT'FN uTc, but not 100 Ettc 10 save tile
World from I'russianism. if England
and France retain their bulldog grip
until the United States is ready to
throw Ter weight upon foe that has
passed the zenith of its power IN men
and Frances.
We entered the war late with a boast
n hot ,lrl,,
10 beast of what we are going to do.
We have been dlatory in government,
prosecution of the war and in national
support Of the war. The government
has naCcod the people about their pat
ri"tIc duty" 10 do this and do that: and
the people have criticized the govern
mont, unjustly many times, and have
urged methods without knowing needs.
The 6, vcrnmont has bigotedly refused
f." take the people into its confidence,
and the people have insisted on pro
ATS and business as usual"
Thu summary showed in the last
month Of 1917. lack of creditablp CO.
operation. lack of confidence Of one in
the other: more red tape than NUM-
lions, more fighting between bureaus
and commissions than on the war
front, moro tonnage of circulars than
81 ships, more gossip than guns.
who Is to blame"
The whole box and dice Of US
W" must hang tose Their. or hans
Neparitely with Huns manipulating the
individual ropes. II is time 10 slash red
tape and dump pettifogsinG. We must
forget profits and give up old dollars,
Unless we prize them more than we do
our sons.
We have admired the system Of gov
eminent efficiency and the answering
loyalty of the German people that have
Enabled them to stand off the whole
world and defy it. even assault it again
and again. for a period of 40 months.
could we 40 anything like that with
cur greater population. our tremendous,
all-sufticient area. iour untold wealth.
when "" are already whining at cost
and hardship. and government restrtc-
lions. before we have even entered
Aosti.ifies
Germany has expended more than
0,0Ho ,ooo.oo0 ana the annual interest on
her debt is more than one billion dol
lars. Could we do that even for the
sake Of the liberty we have enjoyed.
even to prevent the autocratic hand of
q Kaiser from settling on our land"
Not unless We get together and work
md nsht together. government and
ieople. without party or creed, without
ace or religion. all for each and each
for all without profit or progress until
rho land that is ours is safe. until the
world is guaranteed peace for all time.
until tho oppresSor is doWned and every
man is worthy of hi. hire
FIRST Of all our government and peo-
I.is must agree % reduce production
and distribution of essentials and
lUNur.cs and turn such forces into pro-
dGctiCu If essential captain Tardieu
d names OILS. SHIPS and LOCOMO-
rINES as the greatest requirements of
us' in 1918, In his itemized demand we
fud u" mention of hundreds Of thou
sands "f inactive men held for show in
lone CantoNmentS. They are needed in
industry more than the are needed 1T
The front until such time as the gov
'lnment can furnish arms ammuni-
iinn. food and clothing for them aid
can guarantee transportation for them
and continuous supplies We need them
IN the farms where labor is reduced 20
an unheard of minimum when condi-
ti,ns require an unheard of maximum
II farm product. They are dying by
thuus1 rdS because recklessly called and
ordered here and there, without rifles,
record or reason, before clothed or
properly equipped in any way, of pneu-
rnonia, diphtheria and measles. The
surgeon generals report Is appalling.
The letter.. Of our boys are pitiful in
their loyalty and cheerful acceptance
II manhandling, knowing not that they
aIe entitled to better usage, and that