Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-04

defensive measures. Mr.. Pattangall
knows that we commended the
strong notes" of President Wilson
until they became an overwhelming
repetition that caused Americans to
shrink In humiliation; that we urged
severance of relations with Germany
months before that recommendation
came to Congress from the Admins
tfation.
Mr.. Pattangall also knows. with
other readers of the Journal that We
have never hesitated to commend
frankly and fully. many OF the woros
and acts of the administration. And
he knows that the Journals active pro-
motion Of government-approve meth
DDS of raising money for Liberty
Loans" and all the other meritorious
plans of enlisting the people in the
war. have been unstinted and I'M
limited.
There has been no antagonism OF the
war as a necessary evil to prevent a
vastly greater.
But we are convinced that the ad-
ministration MUST be aroused. in some
manner. to the very great and rapidly
increasing danger of one-track pol
icy in prosecuting" the war-particu-
larly il that track leads to reduction Of
the most vital Of all. food products. in
securing preparedness" for war.
IL government zeal in procuring men,
munitions and ships over-balances the
greater need of food for oul, army, our
selves and our allies, how shall we
prosecute tue war? Certainly not by
sending out tons of circulars Of advice
and ill-considered urgings to one class
to do more than is a physical possibili-
ity.
"Our critic should remember that we
have been advised. urged, hammered
with the slogan that Food Will Win
the War
Mr.. Pattangall should know that bad
as labor and seed, and fertilizer, and
machinery conditions were last year,
they are sure to be worse in several
particulars this year. Some kinds Of
seed will be cheaper, we hope. but ma :
chincry will be almost out of the uues-
ton, poisons higher, and fertilizers no
better. Above all comes the labor diff
culty-not to be had, and where pos
sible to secure, wages will be so high
as to prohibit undertakings so far as
any encourag cement has been given to
agriculture by government, organized
business or consumers.
All these things were considered in
the several propositions which Mr..
Pattangall has chosen to lift from
their setting and present in different
light, a political light. But he makes
the mistake from his political angle Of
asking the question, How would you
suggest avoiding these things:"
There is a definite request for in
formation and we gladly respond. hop
ing that Mr.. Pattangall and others will
consider these things and join in Sc
curing attention to what we believe Is
a very great national peril. Let US
forget politics for a time, at least and
get together on the surest and quickest
Let us not hastily assign motives to the
Communications or criticisms nf any
Lody who thinks he sees danger. Lei
Is give him the benefit of the doubt
and look into his scare.
Unless Germany or Austria collapses
we have big job Oh our hands. To
carry it through we must have great
food crops, a great merchant fleet.
many transport ships, unnumbered air
ships, unending supplies Of munitions
millions on millions of small arms, ire
mendous equipment of big guns-and
men
How would we have the present pro:
ccdure changed,
BY proceeding from this proposition,
that an unframed man stands better
show on the west front, any day, than
does an UNARMED man.
We started to make war on Ger
many precisely as did Russia-we
called men, and more men, and talked
of fitting them to fight, talked loudly
and wisely Of the time required to fit
men to fight, to train them, harden
them put them in proper psychological
state for war.
Thousands of Russian soldiers
slaughtered by the Austro- German
forces in Poland had no guns (not even
a broomstick) in their hands. They
had been sent down for gun fodder and
for SHOW of Russia's swarming mil
lions of army material. UNARMED.
In this country we began at the
SHOW end. Despite the vociferous
warnings of those who knew-Roose-
welt, Gen. Wood. a. L. Gardner and
others-we hurried men out OF the IN
dustries months before they could bt.
equipped, TO bolster up the pretense
that we were prepared, or almost