Gilpin observer. (Central City, Colo.) 1897-1921, 1918-08-22
BY CORA HARRIS,
(Author of "a Circuit Riders Wife,"
Ewes Second Husband" Etc.)


During the Thrift Stamp campaign
In July, 1918, prominent citizen was
sent into n backwoods farming com
munity to arouse the people, and if
possible sell Thrift Stamps. He was
not expected to have much success
! with the sale of stamps because the
people were very poor and illiterate.
The effort was to he chiefly educa-
tional.
The speaker found a dingy company
of farmers and their wives waiting
for him in an old field schoolhouse.
He began his address with argu-
ments for the support of the govern
ment reduced to the simplest forms.
No one seemed to listen. The men
stared straight ahead as II they had
something else ON their minds. The
women famed themselves and looked
out of the windows. He changed his
manner of speech to an impassioned
appeal; no one was moved. He
paused perspiring before making last
despairing effort. But before he could
20 on Il tall gaunt farmer stood up in
the back of the house and waved his
hand beseechingly:
Mister" he said. "if you are done
talking, give us n chance mt them
| Thrift Stamps so we kin sign up and
| get back to the field"
He gave them the "chance" They
bought nineteen hundred and fifty
dollars worth of stamps, although
there was not a man among them who
owned property to the amount of two
thousand dollars.
1--WE own this land" the farmer said.
addressing the prominent citizen grim
ly rs he passed up the last pledge card,
tive own all this country. The govern
ment at Washington belongs to us;
we made 1t and it is ours. The army
in France Is ours, too; they are our
sons. We sent 'siXty-two boys there
from this district, and l reckon we
know 1t is our duty to work for them
and take care of them while they are
busy whipping them Germans"
This is the best, most serviceable
and intelligent definition of patriotism
| have heard since this war began.
Victory at Any Cost.
| Ih1S is the most expensive war ever
known, still beyond our Imagination
to conceive of. The enormous destruc
ton wrought by the submarines, the
terrific sums spent for war materials,
the loans to our allies, none of these
things account for the incredible ex-
pense. The real explanation is that
civilization demands that it shall cost
everything. Never before has any ma.
ton spent so much to insure the health
of its soldiers, never before have such
provisions been made to safeguard a
great army morally. More is being
| spent to equip hospitals, provide am
balances, nurses and doctors to care
| for the wounded than whole campaigns
cost I'm former wars. Never in the his
tory of man has such provision been
made to insure widows and orphans
and soldiers from the after effects of
wounds and poverty. Formerly when
II man entered the army to fight for his
country, his country took his life, and
that was the end of 1t If he was killed.
! Now the government pays, and pays
enormously, for every man who lives
or dies in this struggle. All this Is so
because as nation we have developed
u sense of justice and honor that re-
CARDS any and every expense as sec
ondary to the one tremendous obliga-
/ ton to Its citizens.
our allies were compelled to fight
Germany to preserve their very exis.
tence, but we chose to fight her when we
might have made shameful treaty
with her that would have insured u
shameful peace. because we are not
craven grasping nation, but nation
built upon ideals. and 1t costs more to
preserve an ideal than 1t ever costs to
preserve peace. because you cannot
buy them-you must achieve them.
Nothing stands between the world
and this catastrophe but the American
people, their honor. their energy, their
fidelity and their wealth. Our troops
In France are only the sword arm Of
the nation. We, the people at home
are the body and life of that army.
II we fail ut all, they must fail en-
tirely.
We are about to make another loan
of six billion dollars for war expenses.
1t Is not gift, but an investment we
mike In the lives of American soldiers
and an insurance we take out for the
safety OF our country.