The daily progressive-miner., 1918-01-11
TIE WAR: WHAT AGAINST AND
 WHAT FOR
By William English WalIing.

Ey Wltiist II 6n9iiSH Wdil'HS'
 We are fighting for America and against Germany But even military autocracy doe5 not dare to defend massacrcs on ne mere ground of na- tional egotism The German ruling class organized its vast propaganda solely to convince the world, includ- ing the Germans, that it is fighting for principle And the considerable de- velopment of that propaganda is chiefly due to it's positive elements. The Germans tell us they are fighting to spread "kultur," scientific efficiency and organization, state socialism.
 We are fighting against the effort of autocracy to spread at the expense of democracy. We are fighting to pre- vent militarism from committing sue cessful aggression. We are fighting against war. against the return of bar barism. What are we fighting for?
 Why rest with the statement that we are fighting against war and preparations for war? Is it not in- fnitely more inspiring that we are fighting fo rthat ceaseless improve ment of the relations between the na- tions which can not fail to lead to- ward the federation of the world?
 Why say We are fighting merely to defend democracy Are we not fight ing to spread it? We can not spread it bv means of the machine gun. We do not issue an ultimatum to the Ger man people: You must accept democ- racy But we do see-and say-that we shall be obliged to wage some kind cf warfare against it.
 But the German people may adopt some deceptive compromise that is nei- rher autocracy nor democracy. This we intend to prevent, but We can pre- rent it only by demonstrating 10 the Germans and to all the world that democracy is superior in war. in diplo- macy. in industrial technique and or ganization. in the handling of racial and other minorities; that the issues If war in the formulation of just terms of roace, and in willingness to sacrifice tie smaller for the larger good.
 We are fighting to demonstrate the superiority of democracy. But what democracy has given us chiefly 50 far has been individual opportunity. h the lack Of national organization, this opportunity has been little utilized for .re national welfare.
 We are fighting to develop supe- riority where Germany has thrown down the challenge We have to beat her in her chosen field, the develop ment Of industrial technique under the leadership of government. We shall not soon excel her as to thoroughness which means long preparation and often coercion or subordination of the individual. But We shall excel in the far more important matter of bring ing forth individual initiative. And our national organization-in prapor- ton as We build up a national organl? @ation-will prove superior because so many individuals in all ranks-too much not being demanded of them rill give more than is demanded.
 Again the Germans have produced an efficient government. But they nave produced it by physical, mental, and moral compulsion of the individual The state is everything, it shapes the cry thoughts and aspirations Of the people. As a result the state isc wor- shipped, not only for what it is but also for what it is not. The state can do no wrong-at least abroad At home it may not be omniscient, but it