Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-08
! Biggest and Littlest i.
Things in This War
by EDWARD A. BRADFORD.
OF the New York Times.

but dimes and quarters for each
soldier-war savings stamps may
win the war. and certainly VIII
help win ii.
The president of the biggest
bank in the United States said that
he was used to figuring in millions,
but that his mind could not grasp
billions. He could imagine what
sort of a shop, or ship, or house.
or hotel a million dollars would
build, but he could form no sort
of idea of what could be done with
billion.
Before this year is over this war
will have cost 200 billions of dol
lars. All the gold ever mined is
worth perhaps 10 billions. 1t
would take 400 years to produce
the cost of this war in gold if
every year produced the largest
sum of gold ever produced in any
one year. If the cost of this war
were spent in buildings, each as
large as the worlds largest build
ing, it would make street built
up solidly on both sides, running
from New York to Washington, and
miles farther.
If a true American held in his
power all that wealth he would
give it all for his life, and then
would give his life for the life of
his country. Nothing is so sure as
that the triumph of kaiserism
means the end of the United States
as known to US. The result of the
winning of the war by the kaiser
would be that Americans would
become like Germans, would take
orders to kill children, to lombard
churches with congregations pray
ing within, 10 sink peaceful ships
at sea, without notice apd without
leaving a trace, and in fact to
break laws and treaties, or to do
any abhorrent thing for the sake
of the state" That sort of Amer
lea would be unworthy CT Wash
ington or Lincoln, or any Ameri-
can who has inherited the tradi-
tions of their glorious lives. so diff
ferent from the kaiSer's.
Americans are willing that Ger
mans shall have the sort of Ger
many they like. If they will live in
it. But Americans are unwilling
that Germans should compel others
to make their country like Germany,
or take orders from Germany. Ger
mans want to export their kultur,
and Americans do not want to take
it from them. That is what the war
is about Belgium is bleeding be-
cause it stood for the American
ideas of government, treacherOu5ly
attacked by Germany. England and
France are fighting to- avenge Bel
GUM and establish what Belgium
stands for The United States join
ed them, because like them, it
would rather perish than see the
wrong triumph. That danger is so
great that every man, woman, and
child is asked to help with theiI
savings.
Who that appreciates the issue
can withhold savings to his utmost
ability? After all has been given
that it seems can be, who will not
make a little greater effort when
they are told how much good small
sums will do? The cost of the war
this year will be something more
than a quarter of a dellar-one
thrift stamp a day-for each
AtilGl I'D II. Out AHleIltdIS GdI
over a dollar a day apiece. Each
of them can buy this thrift stamp
and have three times as much left
for each of them. Any American
who is earning his dollar and not
putting his bit into war savings
stamps is not giving his share for
the glory of his country and the
satisfaction of his conscience. The
cost of an American soldier. for a
year is less than the average earn
ings of an American citizen for a
year. No American can give all he
earns for the holy war against kai-
serism, but there are enough who
earn more than the average. so that
multitudes can support more than
one soldier apiece.
A little more than 800 will clothe
an American soldier year. Less
than $50 will give each of our de-
tenders Of democracy their fighting
tools. One war savings stamp will
buy two soldiers shoes-one pair. |
There is a limit set to what indi-
viduals can put into war savings
stamps, but there are many fam
lilies which could support a soldier
dplCNC ny dNIiHS lOSCtHtI hhdI
each could put into this way pro-
vided for letting every man, wom-
an, and child who detests kaiser
ism help smash it.
It's cheaper TO do it than take the
consequences of not doing it. The
war has cost. Russia less money
than France or England The mon
ey has been saved. but Russia has
ceased to exist, and more Russians
have been killed than any other ma
ton has lost The way for a SOL
der or a nation to live is to con-
quer. 1t is said of General Sheri- |
dan that he never went into a bat |
tie without feeling that he would |
rather die than lose it. Now is the
time for Americans to say, each 90 |
himself. Now is the time to do or |
die" With that feeling hard things |
become easy.
Already the facts show that this |
country is hardly holding its end |
up. It is too early yet for many |
OF our soldier lads to die for their !
country and its cause. 1t is no re-
proach to them that more French
men have died than Americans |
have stood in the ranks. But does I
not the French example nerve I'D |
our soldiers and make ii easier for |
US to save a few bits? About |
ten million Americans answered to |
the draft call with a spirit beyond |
praise. About seven million sub
scribed to the last Liberty loan. |
How many millions have done their /
bit by the war savings stamps?
We have not begun to tax orr