Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-20
What Will Our Grandchildren Say?

AT luncheon a short time ago Judge
Fred Emery Beane Of Kenncbec Su-
perior court. remarked that he would
like to live 80 years, in order to reao
the history Of today as viewed from
that distance in time.
The above suggestion by man OF in
,ellect, a thinking man Of today. is
worthy of contemplation: How shall
our acts Of today be viewed by those
who come after u.s."
over America in the past five years, has
grown up an organization OF young
men and women, pledged to a moral
service to themselves, their generation
and TO posterity that has reached tre-
mcndous proportions and importance.
This movement. known as the Inter
collegiate Prohibition Association, is
already spreading from our higher in
stitutions OF learning TO high schools,
academies. and other preparatory in
stitutions. II is destined to embody
them all Not even the amazing power
which we see exercised by the business
and industries of the devil, can halt or
check the progress of this splendid
moral movement which has found place
in the minds Of the generation Of
Americans just stepping upon the ac-
tive stage of life.
Now let us ask ourselves: How will
the grandchildren Of the active forces
Of the present / +. 4. look upon the
bald facts of history recorded OF US to-
day, Can these students Of American
read that in 1918. a year when this
country was engaged in the greatest
international conflict of history; when
20 100000 men were at each others
'hroats with all the means Of bloody
warfare that science could provide up
10 that time: when at least l00,000.000
people OF the worlds 1900, 000, 900, were
engaged in the industries of destruc-
ton: when the very fate OF this nation
depended upon the speed and efficiency
with which its people could provide
men ana arms and ship them across
the ocean To- Europe-what Will the
grandchildren Of today's active ]. +. A.
crusaders say to themselves and to
each other. OF the recorded passage
that in such time as this international
crisis. every industry was stopped by
that shipping facilities might catch
up and transport fuel to American
homes to prevent the citizens from
freezing"
What will these children OF three
generations hence say among them
selves. aud what will they ask of their
instructors concerning the cold state
ment in history that in such time as
above described, churches were closed.
schools shut up their heating plants
lifcless. week after week; war in
dustries were entirely halted day
after daN: mills making cloth to
provide uniforms for the million
and a half soldiers called closed
down; shoe shops, working on govern
ment hurry" orders for footwear for
American soldiers. silent: shipyards.
building tonnage to carry food to our
allies that they might not starve be-
fore our soldiers could conquer the
enemy. closed down for lack OF fuel
what will these children say when they
read that with this critical need of
men. and munitions, and food. and fuel.
everything in the way OF industry was
halted in this country except those in
the business Of making worse than use
less intoxicating slop?
And what viii these children OF the
children 81 the present l. l.. 4. forces,
ask of their teachers when they read
hat the food shortage in America had