Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-08-30
By william II. Ellis

Recently there befell an incident
in a street car running from Phiia-
delphia to the neighborhood OF the
munition plants on the Delaware
river that portrays two attitudes
concerning the war. \ loud-volced
woman was talking across the aisle
of the car to an acquaintance. re-
counting the prosperity that has
come to her since her husband went
to work in munition factory, at
high wages, She wound up smugly
with, so l don't care how long this
war lastsi"
You don't? don't youi" exclaimed
a woman in the seat behind, sudden
ly rising and bringing her umbrella
down upon the others bonnet. We'll,
l do. for I have three sons in the
army. So take that and that
and that" whacking the astonished
profiteer at every phrase. The other
women in the car. moved in their
elemental impulses, applauded the
mother.
Grass. but real. the incident sug-
gests the line of division that the
war has drawn between two major
classes of people. To some 1t is q
getting war. a time for money MAX
ing and for enhanced social position.
and for improved worldly estate.
This "profiteering" class includes a
wide variety of persons, from the
craven. calculating Stacker" who gets
the job or the business of the real
man who has gone to France to fight.
to the businessman whose war profits
have added millions to his assets;
from the social climber who has used
Red Cross work to Improve her social
position and to get her name into the
papers. to the parasite who has made
this upheaval an occasion for preying
upon men.
Stigma deep and lasting, is attach
ed to all who construe this greatest
of mankind's tragedies as an occa-
sion for personal advantage. There
is something instructive in whole
some human nature which revolts
against this vulture quality. Blood
money! we murmur. as we watch
the ostentation of the war-enriched
ghouls. Legislation and common
sentiment are growing stronger
against all forms of war profiteering.
The person who has merely made
money out of humanity's Calvary is
like unto a Jerusalem Jew who ped
died stools to spectators for witness
ing the CrucifiXion of Jesus. Unless
am very much mistaken, these prof
tteerS are not mourning personal
odium themselves. but they are also
selling their sons and daughters to
the shame OF the years. The next
generation will be pointing the finger
of scorn at certain families. crying
They made their money out of the
war for the worlds liberty"
The Glory of the Trenches
We are testing our time by the
T-square of the Cross. The glory of
our land is that our best are meeting
the divine measure. For God so
loved that He gave" This is
the proof of the presence of the
spark Kinship to the Creator is re-
vealed Git is the family blood show
ing itself) by the way in which our
people are giving-parents giving
their sons, wives and sweethearts Civ
ing their beloved, young men giving
themselves kept-at-homes giving
their services and substance and sac
rifice. Thank God. the heart of the
nation bears the brand of the Cross.
Soldiers show this spirit. They
are not reluctant slaves to system.
dragged unwillingly into the war
They rejoice in the service, and deem
it the proof of their manhood. They