Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1918-01-31
WAR TALKS
BY UNCLE DAM
Number Five
Jimmie and . German Boy Clash
Must Do Three Things 70 Save
Country.
Numbr Five

Nv subub0O " O8vV
Country.
1t vas q warm evening. 80 Uncle
Dan went out to a lawn seat under the
spreading branches Of the great tree
that suggested the farms name Of Oak
Hill. Billie and Jimmie had been lay
Ing. for him, SO Uncle Dan was cap
tured by the boys on short order.
"Say. Uncle Dam" Billie began. ave
had a red-hot argument at school yes
terday with Carl Newman. Carl said
that German schools were miles ahead
Of u schools and that no q could
come up to the educated German. Well,
Jimmie got hot under the collar and
handed 1t back to him good and plenty.
Jimmie said II their education taught
them to torpedo Lusitanias. sink hos
pftal ships, murder hundreds'o of WON,
en- and children. make slaves Of
the Belgians, poison wells, destroy fruit
trees and commit all sorts OF crimes,
then we did not want that kind of
education here. What do you think
about It. Uncle Dan? I told Jimmie
you spent a lot Of time in Europe and
knew all about schools, 81 give US your
opinion" =.
SWELL" replied Uncle Dan, dellbers
ately, "the German schools are very
thorough; they furnish exceedingly val
liable and practical instruction. The
Industrial training given there Is prob
ably the best to be found. The schools
as q whole. however, in my opinion.
appeal to the head only, and never to
the heart. The aim and trend is to
make the individual bllndly submits
sive to the Prussian plan OF world do
minion; they teach that It II the des-
tiny of Germany to rule the world. and
that to the glory and advance Of Ger.
many, In this plan, all things must give
way; that the kaiser as head Of the
state, can do no wrong II he carries
forward the plan of world control.
Some Of the greatest teachers and
preachers even defend and justify her
heartless crushing of Belgfans and the
many other atrocious crimes she has
committed in this war. THANK God,
OUT American education reaches Doth
theNhead and the heart. 1t II an edu'
cation with a soul, and we must main
tain the high ideals we have fixed. In
a word, in Germany, the people are
taught that they exist for the govern
ment, while here the government ex'
sc%. &o oorvo tho noonlp.n
"Just wait a minute" interrupted
Billie. Say that rel again slowly. 10
lean write It down."
Uncle Dan. smillngIy, complied.
Billie exclaimed "Now, we will hand
that nut out for Carl to crack.
Carl, you KNOW" continued Billie
'has a very smart father who keeps
him posted on;fhe German arguments.
Carl said our government was only
an experiment anyway; that it would
not last twenty years, and that II
might burst up any old time. Jimmie
asked him II GerIhany. was 80 mighty
good. why they did not 80 back there
to live"
"Our government viii gtoi>on forever.
won't It, Uncle Dan?
SNOW" said Uncle Dan. Ayea are
a big question, and one that
has troubled me for years. Our gov
ernment is still in the experimental
stage; in fact, It is the greatest ex-
pertinent ever undertaken, and II pop
ular government is to be successful. q
few things must be done, otherwise. to
paraphrase the great Lincoln, the gov
eminent of the people, by the people
and for the people, will perish. 1t Is
my Arm conviction" said Uncle Dan.
in q very impressive manner. shat If
our country is to 90 on. as we hope
and pray, we must very quickly do
mt least three things, and I will name
them in the order Of importance ~ It
appears to me:
"First, adopt compulsory universal
military training Of all young men
ct before they reach the
age OF twenty years.
"Next, require that every foreigner
who comes here to live must, within a
reasonable time, say a year. declare
his intention of becoming an American
and take the necessary steps to
do so. thereby, from that moment. as.
Stunning all the obligations Of citizen
ship of u country, and that means he
must defend our flag upoh equal terms
with our native born. and II he is not
to do this, he ahOsld be sent
80 A~-~~-AounA M ~~~n |
q sThat's the stuff," exclaimed Billie.
"And, finally. enact such legislation
as will make voting compulsory. Pop
ular government II based upon die
participation Of all and the rule Of
the majority, and democracy cannot
continue and be successful unless we
live up to the spirit Of the institu.
ton. 800
title first step. however. is the pass
Ing of the Chamberlain bin for univer.
sal military training. II you will get
the leading citizen, and especially the
editor of your paper, to write personal
letters to your congressman and both
senators, urging their support, 1t will
help enormously. @
II see by the morning papers," said
Uncle Dan, "that the Rotary clubs Of
the entire country, the Invest, most eth.
Gent organization to be found. have
unanimously decided to get back Of
the Chamberlain bill and give It loyal,
and enthusiastic support. They will
work with the Universal Military
Training league to accomplish this i'm.
portant piece Of legislation, which viii
do more than anything else to make US
q real nation with a common view.
point, bring us back to sane living, and
tooch M tho natrl0tisrn al SerVicA""