Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1918-09-20
DISTRIBUTING THE WAR BURDEN

Vi'IAeu 10 give 10 the Army Y. NJ. c,
A. or the Red Cross, or which would
compel him to lend to the govern
ment by buying bonds or war savings
stamps. But this money must be
raised, and the American people are
going about it in their usual COM
nonsense way. They are organizing
voluntary associations, like the War
Service Councils, and propose to ere
ate public sentiment which will
have all OF the effect of law. and in
some ways even more powerful eff
feet.
These War Savings Councils are
being organized in every county and
IN every township, by representative
citizens Their purpose is not to inn
pose an unfair burden upon anyone,
not to do any injustice, but to see to
1t that every man in the township
and the county bears his fair share
OF the war burden, and to expose him
to public scorn if he does not
Therefore, it is necessary for them
to look into the financial condition
of every citizen How else can they
determine what is his fair share of
the burden? 1t is fair to assume that
every good citizen will want to do the
right thing, and to give just as much
as he can give and just as much in
proportion as his patriotic neighbor
gives. Therefore, the good citizen
viii not object to the inquiries made
by the War Service Council On the
contrary he will welcome its aetiy-
tiles and support them.
The portion of the forthcoming
Liberty Loan which ought to be sub
scribed for by each county is est-
mated very carefully according to the
wealth of the people in that county.
The Liberty Loan committee or the
War Service Council Of each particu-
ar county, when they learn what the
portion OF the county will be, en-
deayor to distribute this portion fair
ly over the various townships Of the
county; and the War Service Coun-
ell in each township will try to dis
tribute the portion of that township
fairly among the individuals of the
township, according TO their ability
to give, as indicated by their wealth.
The same plan is followed in raising
money for the Y. NJ. c. A. and the
Red Cross. This seems to us to be
the fairest possible way to handle the
matter, and We do not see why any
good citizen should complain. If he
is asked to tell the committee just
about how he is fixed financially,
why should he not do it? How can
the committee work intelligently
without this information from the
various citizens?
Naturally the man who wishes to
shirk will complain. He viii say he
is being imposed upon; that some
people are trying to set up a reign
of terror" Whenever a citizen COM
plains in this way, he exposes him
self at once to the suspicion that he
does not want to do his fair share,
and he must expect that his neigh
bors viii look upon him with sus-
picion and disfayor.
1t would be surprising, indeed, if
in their enthusiasm and their anxiety
to make good showing for their
community and for their state, some
committees do not occasionally over
estimate the ability of some indi-
yidual to give, or oyer-urge him. In
such cases the individual should eX-
plain the matter fully and frankly to
the committee, and in 80 cases out Of
a hundred, when this is done, that
will settle the matter. Public senti-
ment will insist upon each citizen
giving according to his means; but
public sentiment will also demand
that no citizen be Obliged to do more
than his fair share or be subjected
to any unfair criticism
We must always keep in mind the
fact that we are in war, a very
serious war, which is taxing all Of
our resources. Already three million
Of our men are in France or in train
ing in this country, These men have
left their business left their families
and have gone to offer their lives in
the common cause. How, then can
any of those who remain at home
Justify themselves if they bubble
about lending or giving money which
is absolutely necessary to support
these fighting forces? Money is
about the cheapest thing we have
nowadays, and the lending or giving
of it is a very little thing to do.
The longer the war lasts, the more
money we will have to pay in taxes,
tie more we will have to lend to the
/ ..x.,+ tb, mara wa will