The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-06-01
THE GREATEST COUNTRY.

You fault finders and loafers, you
street corner generals and soap box
strategists. you who are lip loyal at
the mention of disloyalty and buy
Liberty bonds. but use every effort
to save your IONS from the purpose
for which you have sons-all of you
who criticize and find fault with the
way the war is run and the affairs OF
the country are conducted, listen!
Do you know, you windjammers,
that this is the greatest country on
earthf Do you know that 1t is not
merely a figure Of speech to say so,
and that the statement can be sub
stantiated by figures? Do you know
that with all the alleged waste of a
democratic government. 1t Is still as
efficient as that reputed most-effi-
cient nation? Then look at this:
The United States has an area,
without its Pacific possessions, OF
10000 square miles. all of one
tongue. one flag and one government.
The Russian. British and Chinese en-
pires have greater areas. But none
OF them have n of the unities that
this country has. Not one of them
are united under n flag. one tongue
or me government.
This country has a population OF
over 100. 900 900. all of one tongue,
and each person with equal rights.
In this. too, this country is unique.
No other country can nearly approach
II In the number OF its people in
united language.
With hardly the tradition of an
army to begin with. this country reg
istered an army OF 10, 900, 900 men
In . day. Not a slip nor hitch nor re-
bellion nor insurrection nor any re-
sistance whatever occurred - and
such a thing would be impossible to
any other nation on the footstool,
great or small.
Almost In a night great training
camps were built throughout the
country. and the stream OF soldiers in
the making was turned toward them.
More than 2.000. 900 men have been
equipped. trained and are being sent
across 5000 miles Of sub-infested
ocean to fight for a principle. from
. country which Is not invaded nor
In danger-an army OF Norwegian,
Swede. Dane. German. English, Irish.
Russian. Jews. Poles. Finn, French,
Spanish. Italian. Greek, Syrian, Chi
nese. Japanese-of every blood and
parentage represented on the face of
the earth-and II would be impossi-
BILE for any other nation to perform
the feat.
Do you know that in the equip
ment and movement OF an army such
= marshalling Of supplies under gov
eminent management was never be-
fore dreamed of? Never In the his
tory of the world has II been possible
to train. equip and transport so coll
losal an army Of men to so great a
distance. No other nation would
dare attempt 1t.
Criticize the waste and graft IL you
will. What do you know about it?
There has been both. But in the ma
tion you quote as being the most eff
ffcient and least wasteful $4,000 tons
Of potatoes froze and spoiled on the
tracks In January because of graft
and diversion OF the traffic for pri-
vate gain.
Beyond the reach OF physical dan
ger . program OF conservation of
foods and fuel was made effective
almost overnight. With bins burst
Ing With plenty. no danger in sight,
yet the thing was done. And you
talk Of effective governments by
kings and militarists. when a coun-
try did II while beyond the physical
fear 81 injury. and to support a the
DRY.
Don't quote the b~rilliance Of
French army. Of British valor or Ger
man training to US. Don't show your
lack OF knowledge in carping on the
fact that we have no government
worthy Of the name. Don't say our
leaders lack strategy or that our sol
dlers are not trained. What Of the
cbuntry that lifted itself by the boot
straps. ~ It were. from q condition
~ subjection, and has since elevated
numerous other countries to q like
advantage. What Of the country that
furnished Europe with rail Transport
tnfton and steam power, and the
49, - &H..--a-Ax