The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-08-13
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

A man within the draft age who, Wftn- out good cause, seeks to avoid military duty, is looked upon as a ''siacker' and frowned upon by right thinking men and women.
 A man of voting age who looks lightly upon his suffrage in a crisis like this, when his vote may put into an office q man out of sympathy with the .adminis- tration, and casts it careIessly or for per- sonal or selfish reasons, is unworthy to be trusted with the ballot
 Never before in the history of America has a vote meant so much and it's high time that our people are being educated upon the tremendous power for good or evil which they can wieid in the dropping of a bit of white paper into the ballot box on this August IS.
 It was a German in high position who contemptuousiy spoke of a sacred treaty as being but "a scrap of paper" and was surprised because an English dipio- mat took it seriously that his imperial master, William III, the Hohenzoliern, was ready to break the pliehted word of his country and brutally invade neigh bor's territory.
 The Anglo-saxon is today what he is because it is ingrained in him that trea- ties are made to be kept, and that an Ei-glishman's word is his bond, and that the right to vote for candidates repre- senting his views is a privilege worth fighting for, and should be done with 8 high purpose. We need here a revival which will set us on fire with desire to preserve our citizenship from being contaminated with unloyal voters.
 I am made sick at heart by the indif- ference with which some men who ought to know better look upon their duties as voters, and cast their ballots on a whim, through prejudice, for personal reasons, or even for spite. If 2 man happens to be "a good fellow" they will support him without regard to the platform upon which he stands, or whether, if elected, he will stand for the great liberties which were handed down to us by our fore fathers.
 It is Q curious state of mind which will make man support another for public office to stand in his stead and represent him in matters of the very gravest im- portance when he knows full we'll that he would not be willing to father the measures advocated or fight them him. self, and yet he gives his proxy willingly and feels no further responsibility in the matter.
 Now, this is our danger here in Jeffer- sor county. There are quite a number Of men who have taken part in the va rious activities of the war, and whose patriotism is above suspicion, and yet they are going to vote for the return of a representative to Congress whose pub lie record shows that on three great war measures he voted against the adminis- tration.
 I can better understand how the unin- peal to his selfish interests, with the bait that his taxes should be lowered and the cost of the running of the gov ernment war measures should be levied or big business than I can see how men who are used to weighing candidates and measures are so easily hoodwinked as to stand by an office seeker whose Americanism has been questioned because of his public utterances in the halls Of Congress
 We are facing a congressional election in which the vote of the people, will have it's influence in determining the future conduct of the war and will put Jefferson county on record as either standing by the President whole -heartedly, or only when the present congressman happens to agree with him if he should be returned Our loyalty to our great leader who has spoken, is hang I ing in the balance and it ought to make every voter ponder we'll the situation l is out of sympathy with him on vital issues connected with the successful and vigorous prosecution of the war.
 
 Unless the loyal men of this district | ge, thoroughly aroused, there is grave danger that many voters will be misled i by sophistry and snbterfuge to send as their representative far more anti 1 American influence than they dream ot to put stumbling blocks in the way of tho administration and to give the coup ltry at large the idea that Jefferson county is not absolutely loyal. If Amerl- canism is as defined in the Declaration of Independence and the federal consti- tuition is to prevail, let's send l00-pel cent American to represent us.
 feel that America is depending on hin for support, and that the ballot which hf will cast today is not merely of local, but national importance, and that the wal | issue is so fine and big and world com. polling as to lift him above petty poll tics personal preferences. and puerilt i platitudes. into the high region of pa I triotism, where the devotion and coura gf for cur boys who are pouring out thsil life blood like young Anderson, gailan, Mort Jordan and host of others | making Americanism known abroad q synonymous with democracy
 
 4 vote is a sacred thing. requiring no only knowledge and experience in its use but conscience in its bestowal. It's u] to every loyal, right thinking man |,