The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-02-27
Whispering Traitors

go last week When ne spoke OF Whispering tioi'~
ors," meaning men and women who tell us that
we ought not to have gone to war with Germany
and that we will lose thousands of our young men
before the Kaiser is through with us.
"Whisperng traitors is an apt description OF
this class They dare not shout an accusation
against America loudly so that the whole world
may hear it. They must resort to the privacy OF
their homes and be sure no one is hearing before
they make the assertion.
"Whispering traitors include those who
openly say they want America to win but priv
ately believe we had no business entering the war.
The whisperers are harder to capture than the
outspoken disloyalists, because they ply their
nefarious work under cover.
The number of whispering traitors is much
larger than we imagine it to be. And their
number is commensurate with the mischief they
are doing. Whispering disloyalty takes the edge
off patriotism 1t weakens our determination to
win 1t parayzes our morale.
II will not be long before we will be sum-
moned to exert every ounce of courage, to apply
every bit of our Americanism, to utilize every
factor of our national life. When that supreme
hour comes, the whole weight of Amerlcanlsm
must be solidly behind the drive. For that rea-
son it is necessary to eradicate every little CEN
ter of discomfort in the country.
Former President Taft declared that this
whispering suggestion has had its effect
Who can deny the statement?
How can bows be enthusiastic for army lite II
their fathers grumble against our entrance into
the war and daily paint picture depicting thous-
ands of our boys suffering and dying on Eur
opean battlefelds?
How can girls enter into the spirit OF 1000 con-
seryation if their mothers condemn the govern
ment for participating in the struggle?
How can the fire of patriotism be kept going
in the hearts of the boys in the military camps II
their parents give only lukewarln support to
their government?
It is natural that the interest of the people in
the war will be dulled by the persistent assaults
of whispering traitors" and the continued pres
ence of "Iittle centers of discomfort"
The animating influence of a Four-Minute
Man appealing for the enrolment OF men Tor
service in the shipyards and munition plants eX-
erted of an evening will be vtiated the next
morning if whispering traitor" at the next
lathe says, you're fool if you go; the govern
ment started this war, let 'em scout around and
oct their own men; we're not going to get any
thing out of it."
The decision of a good housewife to apply
food conservation principles to the very extreme
in her household may be nullified by some "whis-
pering traitor" who argues, chow foolish OF you
to be such crank; the government can get food
all right if it wants to; you're just being used as
a tool so that some one else can gormandize.'
A patriots orthodox zeal for the cause may
gradually be changed into apostasy if he hears
little center of discomfort preaching, this is
rich mans war; the poor man has to pay for 1t;
every one else is getting his share out of it,
what are we getting?"
Pro-Germanism is kept alive in this country
by the Kaisers secret agents and whispering
traitors" Unless man is backing Uncle San,
with his whole heart believing firmly that this
country must win. and accepting without reserve
the Righteousness of the cause, he is whisper
ing traitor
Some whispering traitors say they believe
the United States must win because we ARE in
it." but add that the principle of free speech
gives them the right to say, "the United States
had no business to get into the war;"
We believe with Former President Taft that
this attitude "is taking off the fine edge of pa
triotism among our people, and must be sup
pressed. The principle of free speech, as it per
tans to war conditions, was applicable until the
very minute Congress declared war Then II
-ro;Mr n ci7v nm Esther Tsass Main Names c;.u