The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-02
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1918.
THE PRESIDENT TO THE
FARMERS.

Ills in his great power OF APP
peal that the president finds ms
strongest place in the hearts ana
confidence of the American. pco-
MIC. We do not recall president,
save Lincoln, who has APP
preached Mr.. Wilson in his tran
sceudent ability Of driving great
thoughts into the minds of his
countrymcn by the use Of words.
SO phrascd as TO Become mighty
levers in the creation Of public
opinion. His messages have been
masterpieces Of statescraft, to
live for all time in the archives
Of American history. His con-
duct during all the trying and
cxaspcrating hours Of German in
suits, broken promises and war
within our boundaries, reveals
the patience. the courage and the
wisdom OF a true leader of men.
When the time came for war, the
country was confident Of the jus
tice Of our cause and ready and
willing to stand back Of the presi-
dent to the limit Of its resources.
All gifts, however, are in the
possession Of no man. Our crlti-
cism of the conduct Of the war,
based upOn sworn evidence be-
fore committees Of investigation,
is directed mainly towards the
presidents lack Of judgment in
his selection Of men to aid
him, in his mistaken sense
Of personal loyalty to these men
and in his aversion to criticism
and his nnwillingncss to correct
errors Of his departmental chiefs.
The first thought, that Of the
presidents singular power to
command public attention, occurs
to us again as we read his mes
sage to an agricultural confer
ence at urbana, H., on Thursday.
The president tells his audience
that the eliminating crisis Of the
war has CONC, and that i IS TO be
decided BY the achievements this
wear. He makes apt reference to
the patriotism OF the farmers who
fired the first shot at Lexington,
and follows with a great appeal
to the farmers throughout our
land, to extend themselves to the
limit Of scrvicc'this year. These
inspiring words ought to be read
and rc-rcad:
IN. y, Wa TIA fightisag, therefore, AZ
truly for the liberty and self gov
eminent az the United States as If
the war OF our own revolution
had to be fought over again and
every man IN every business in
the United States must know by
this time that his whole future for
tune lies in the balance. Our ma
tional life and our whole economic
development win pass under the
sinister influences Of foreign con-
troll IL We do not win. We must
win, therefore, and we shall win.
lives and fortunes with those OF the
rest OF the nation to the accom-
plishment Of that great end.
You will realize, as l think
statesmen on both sides OF the
water realize, that the eliminating
crisis OF the struggle has come and
that the achievements of this year
on the one side or the other must
determine the issue. 1t has turned
out that the forces that fight for
freedom, the freedom Of men all
over the World as well as our own.
depend upon us in an extraordinary
and unexpected degree for susie
nance, for the supply of the mate
rails, by which men are to live and
fight and it will be our glory when
the war is over that we have sup
piled those materials and supplied
them abundantly, and 1t will be all
the more glory because In supply
ing them we have made our SUI
preme effort and sacrifice.
The presidents cali to tn,
farmers in this great hour of onl
nations life will not go unan'
swcrcd. They are asked to per,
IoElll Il ScINltc Iltt bil' NIilt -iCSs
high or patriotic than ina
of the men who have gone to the
trenches. In this crisis we dc
not believe that they will Civ,
great heed to demagognes anC
b,mco-steerers like Mr.. Townley
who, q few months ago was
sncering at the war as scheme
for profitecring by rich men bu
who hurried fast to the folds Of
the American flag when tn,
smnuldcring wrath Of the patrioii,
people Of Minnesota prevented
HIM from speaking in various
towns in that state
We think i, The rari of wisdom
as, we'll as Of patriotism for tn,
farmers Of Montana as we'll as o
other citizens to pnt politics a.
lar IN the rear as possible unit
we have Won The war.