The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-04-05
Defend THE MEN
ASKS THAT THE BACKS OF
MEN BE PROTECTED.


where in France, publishes an article
interpreting the feeling of the men
who are In that country fighting.
The keynote of the appeal is that
they are willing TO fight and deny
themselves there. But they express
the idea that 1t is the duty of the
folks at home to protect them from
traitors and spies-defend them
from being stabbed in the back. 1t
Is submitted by courtesy of DIR. z. F.
Sears. The article Is under the cap
ton ITO the Folks at Home" and
is as follows:
Samuel j. Kirkwood, secretary of
the interior in the cabinets of presi-
dents Garfield and Arthur, while war
governor of Iowa in the year 1861,
made a speech from the steps of the
old capitol building, in which he
said In substance:
These are troublesome times and
there are traitors and spies in our
midst who would destroy this union.
III any man in this state is a traitor
to the cause or insults the flag, shoot
him in the act or in the uttering of
the word. l am the governor; your
pardon awaits you"
What the United States needs at
the present time is as wal governors
like Samuel j. Kirkwood. AS a peo-
pie we have too much z in our
cosmos We do a big thing in a big
way. but frequently neglect the de-
gest job the world has ever known,
and it is up to us to get down to the
m~aterialistic and unitarian.
We who are in France and those
who are TO follow have no fear for
the months of toll and battle that
lie before us-but we do want to
know that the spies and traitors who
are working to block our of
supplies and munitions shall not sue
coed. Alien enemies should be
watched and accounted for.
For three nights the writer was
with a French patrol in one of the
largest cities In France that made
the rounds from 1890 p. m. to 2 a..
m. Different patrols started In diff
fereht directions from q central base
and literally fine combed the city.
Sleepers in the parks were routed
out. hotels and lodging houses were
invaded. pedestrians were held up
and each was made, civilian and sol
der alike, to show his credentials.
In centers of population this is the
rule in France. France is original
and efficient in her methods.
For years Germany has permeated
the earth with her spies-beth mil
itary and commercial-who preached
German efficiency and took observa-
lions on the side. Germany pioneers
In nothing but robbery, murder,
rape. arson and kultur.
France gave the world a Pastaur.
who laid the foundation for modern
medicine and ever since Germany
has been giving the bugs a merry
chase. and calling ii German eff
cheney.
Italy gave the world the wireless,
and from the day the first word jar
red the virgin cons of the atmos-
phere. Germany has been setting up
great wireless stations on alien
shores for the avowed purpose of de-
stroying democracy.
The United Sttaes gave the world
an Edison wizard with a thou
sand wonders: a Holland with the
first submarine (which Germany re-
fused to buy but stole outright) /; the
Wright brothers. the first pioneers
of the air. Germany took up the
wondrous deeds of these and other
great men, dressed them In German
colthes and said to the world, Be
hold! We are the efficient"-and
said il so often the world came to be-
lieve II. She hired our newspapers
to propagate her kultur and pave the
way for what has happened; and,
folks at home. keep your eyes ever
and anon on the newspapers and
men who before the war favored the
German cause. The jingle of the
dollars helps the hurt that honor
feels-"The voice was the voice of
Jacob. but the hand was the hand
OF Esau."
A mother in Belgium saw a Ger
man approaching her home. She hid
her children. The German demand
ed supper, lodging and breakfast.
His wants were satisfied. In the
morning. to the surprise of the good
woman. he paid her. She said. How
strange thought all Germans
bad. am pleased to know
that you are a gentleman. Do you
know that when I first saw you l hid
my children"
"So?" he replied. Il. TOO, have
children. Let me see yours"
Whereupon the fond mother call
ed up the treasures of her heart from
the cellar. only to see them both shot
dead at her feet. In the hiatus of
hor grief she told tho story IN hor