Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-03

port Of the cause Of the nation, &C
companied by continual and Sue
cessful striving for group advantage
but without proof of sincere desire
to speed UP work that is necessary to
the proper support Of the men we
have sent to the front to fight in de-
tense of American rights and ideals
There is no particular patriotism
about carrying On ones business and
employment at profiteering pay and
profits, especially when accompanied
by a continual demand for greater
special advantage, unusual privilege,
and sacrifice Of the peoples money.
1t is evident that some Of the people
see in the war only chance to put
something over on the rest Of the
people: an opportunity to exploit
some particular economic theory, or
partisan scheme or group demand.
The loyalty that has to be bought is
worse than worthless. Alongside the
devotion of the men and women who
are offering their all upon the altar
of the republic, without thought eth
er Of consequences or Of reward, such
sinister grasping for advantage seems
especially contemplate.
There Is going to be a show down,
one of these days. when the time
comes for full and frank discussion,
about the use which has been made
of the present emergency by certain
politicians and groups. The elements
which have been fattening themselves
at home while the real fighting men
Of the republic have been giving their
all at the front, and the designing or
cowardly politicians who have been
trucking to them at the sacrifice of
the national welfare, will have a day
in the court of public opinion, and
when that day comes they will regret
that they did not at such time as
this catch the spirit Of asgreat cause
which would lift them above their
own petty selfishness and greed and
desire for domination.
The men who have gone to the fir
ing line are not working. on an eight
hour schedule Cor a THUR schedule
in the exhausting Service" of gov
| eminent clerk. They are not re-
ceiving war time wages. They are
not, above all, demanding that no sol .
der or sailor be permitted to march
moro than SO many miles or fire more
than so many shots per day. Why
their interests should be sacrificed
in behalf of those who hold well paid
jobs in places of comfort and safety
| at home, is not clear. But this much
is clear: that there can be no yield
ing to such demands as this to men
in the rear, without a sacrifice of the
welfare and safety Of the men at the
front, which these men at the front
are going to take into account when
they come home to participate in
elections. The whole thing, of course
is matter of votes bat even in the
matter of votes it is doubtful if anti
! efficiency legislation under such cir
cumstances as are now prevailing
will in the long run prove to be
profitable.
II the farmers Of the country were
to send to Congress threat that they
would cease raising wheat if the price
limitation is not prohibited, or if il
were not provided by law that as
much money must be paid to the
farmer who produces one busheI Of
wheat as to the one who produced
two, the act would be denounced as
treason. But in this instance not
only is such a threat by government
employees tolerated, but the demand
which accompanied the threat is
granted.