American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-04-09
WHAT ARE WE FIGHTING FOR!
VIII II. Hays of Indianapolis, Tells
Salt Lake Audience Some OF the
Strongest Reasons.

if YOU will. by a discussion OF now
men may best bayonet their fellow
men. Yet that is exactly what we
have to do The business OF every
one of US today is war, and every
thing else is chores
Next to the birth of the Savior OF
the world, the greatest event IN the
history of the world, the one most
fully laden with good to mankind was
that which gave birth to this nation
and established the government OF the
United States of America
Then it was that Liberty-remember
then it was that Liberty, full grown,
first came into the world, and here
was builded a temple for its dwelling
place. Until then the equality and
rights of men had never been recog-
nized. Government was but the viii
of tyrants and name for despotism
And now today, the mission OF
America is about to be accomplished.
Sometime in the mind of the Al
mighty it was conceived that the
heroic spirit that could vision and
execute a governmental establishment
based on universal liberty and free
donf of the individual, should succeed,
that it should grow, that it should
struggle against heavy odds and save
itself. and grow again, and then go
out and save the world. And now.
all the holy truths and purposes that
brought together the Continental con-
gress are about fully to function.
This country is no accident. The
hand of God Almighty has been in the
making Dedicated to the proposition
that all men we're equal, consecrated
by the ears and the blood of loved
ones. it continued firm in the midst
of that desperate revolution, and
withstood the shocks of that awful
civil war, until today our shores have
become the stepping stones to free
dom, our laws the very offspring OF
justice and our flag an inspiration to
men of all climes.
It is not necessary to discuss the
causes or the issues of the war. They
are multitudinous, they are eternally
right and the future of humanity rests
on the outcome. There is nothing 1
can say in this distinguished presence
that will give you any more adequate
idea of why we are in the war, nor
impress you more deeply with the ne
cessities of a successful consumation.
What are we fighting for? There
has never been a moment since Au-
gust, 1914, when the entrance of this
country into this war was not inev-
table. And the duty of all of us is
as clear as the task is stupendous.
The trampling upon American rights
by the imperial German government
was an expected and necessary step
in the proceedings, and we have gone
to France to fight because the battle
90 I1
first, and if not fought there it will
have to be fought and won here. The
world had become too small for au-
tocracy and democracy to exist to-
gether and one had to die.
What are we fighting for? Say, men
and women, red-blooded. representa-
tive Americans, American men. yes
thank God. American men! What are
we fighting for?
A British army officer in Indianap-
oils the other day said to me. HIM
self a captain, whom many of you
would know, no doubt, twenty times
wounded. this man, the last time five
hundred yards behind the German
trenches when they were occupied by
Germans, on his way back now to the
front, been home getting well-that
much for the authority of the infor-
mation-this man said to me at In
dianapolis, that on certain day
naming the day, in a certain place
naming the place, in French territory
captured by the Germans and retaker
by the French, he stopped at Frencl
peasant womans house to get a drinl
of water as he marched by. He saiC
that by looking at the woman he coulC
tell she had been in trouble, and HI
said: Madam. the Huns have beer
here" She said: Yes. Do you SCI
that spot on the floor?" The captail
said: "I stepped back and saw th'
spot on the floor. which I knew wa
blood, which the poor woman coul'
not scour from the pine boards of he
floor with her brush, on her knees.
said: yes Madam. it is blood" Sh
said Yes, that is where a German
soldier stamped the head off my ~
months-old baby"
Huns Injure Innocent.
- Say. what are we fighting for, men
Fhe other day on a train from Chi
cago, rode a young woman, intelli
gent and sweet. sitting with her arm
folded Opposite in the Pullman
friend saw her get off at little tow
and heard much cheering. A man &c
on lue tram anu LOOK Jne seat WueI
the girl had been and my friend sal
to him: "Why the acclaim at tn
station? What is the occasion?" Thi
man said: Did you see the youn
woman who sat here?' "Yes" h
said. Red Cross nurse. just bac
from Belgium. Lives here, All oU
to meet her" Fine" Did you nc
tice her hands?" NO, did not nc
tice her hands. She sat with he
arms folded YES" said the maj
'she has no hands; a German soldie
cut off her hands"
What are we fighting for? In a
Indiana city tonight friends hav
taken to raise two little Belgian girl
IA and Is years old. understood, an
both of those children pregnant Jus
hooE from RaIoiup