Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-12-13
oEnosAllzInG THE DEFENSE COUNCIL

DEnoBAllZING THE DEFENSE COUNCIL
The Marshall county defense coun-
ell with its normal and characteristic
good sense adjourned sine die We'd
nesday to meet no more unless upon
call Of its chairman In all probability
it was the final meeting Of the coun-
Gil unless it should meet for complete
rehabilitation after the peace terms
arc signed or some unforeseen event
should make a called meeting neces-
sary.
The sense Of relief was upon every
face and on practically every tongue.
The duties of the council have been
onerous in many respects. They called
for a straight path forward whoever
might stand in the line Of march which
set directly toward winning the var. It
was not a pleasant task in many re-
spects. But theirs was . very plain
duty and veil it was performed Mar
shall win have nothing to blush over
when the history Of her var activities
Is written. Good hard sense and strong
II sometimes stern patriotism guided
It's deliberations and it, acrs- But 1t
wss . great RELIEF 10 Be able TO feed
that it's duty vas done and that normal
relationships are to be established De-
tween friends and neighbor and COM
mon citizens.
Ono thing the council decided to
finish. something that could not in
common justice be left undone-those
who denied or evaded the common duty
and obligations Of citizenship are to
write their own records; the Stacker
who persists tn contumacious refusal
to bear his just part Is to choose
whether or not his war record shall
be written among the names Of those
who shared the burden Of q common
patriotism or upon the yellow sheet in
the permanent records Of the war work
Of Marshall county. That is fair and
Just. It would be both unfair to true
men and unjust to Marshall county
history were it to be otherwise. 50
those accused Of slacker,sm viii come
before the tribunal created for the
purpose OF investigation and the result
rests with them.
| Il - a dne thing to be able to say
Of Marshall county citizenship and pa
triotsm that not one name 50 far Is
written upon the yellow sheet Of In
fanny, q splendid and a prideful state
me1t So tar the record is white and
fair for the eyes Of our returning SOL
diers. And it Is not q Wild or unsafe
prediction that It shall, In tho end re-
main so. There are 1rv men, hovsvsz
recalcttrant Of mind and purpose, who
viii deliberately choose such unenvi-
able pre-ezninence.
We have all learned much IN the
past two years. For the f1st time In
the memories Oh OlOSI o. 10 ~o Law
been under discipline. Not alone those
who held no official position but those
who did bold them. For no man could
serve as an officer without clean skirts
upon his own record. The obligation
rested Arst upon himself. The coun'
ell Of defense member had to step W
and take his own medicine and take
it with smile however bitter it may
have tasted. And he did 1t. And prac.
ticauy all Marshall county marched
shoulder to shoulder in this war witt
few Iaggards or conee-coolerA 1t VA
united front
So We may dismiss the defense coun-
eli with the verdict OF well done. It wa
sincere and useful band Of soldier,
In the war. and with the hope tina
never, in the lifetime Of IT. younges
member, shall the occasion arise agar
when a council Of defense and a VA
service league shah be necessary sup
plementaries Of public opinion ant
. purpose.