The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1918-10-04


tain and supply them. Willingly we
submit. for their sakes, to inconyeni-
ence, deprivation and interference in
various forms. We have resolved,
with our comrade nations, to WIN
this war, not half win it, but fully
win it. Prussianism must be utterly
overthrown.
The task is tremendous, but there
will be no shrinking. The cost will
be enormous. but it will be paid But
there must be no back firing and no
Sinking anywhere by anybody.
Now, in the midst of all this, the
people are to choose agents for ma
ton and state to conduct for them
this momentous undertaking.
Safe In Washington.
Fortunately, there is no chance for
q mistake about a president. We have
one whose term will cover the end of
the war, as it did the beginning. He
has Justly come to be the personifi-
cation of the cause, not only to our
selves but to all the people embat-
tied for liberty, and to the enemy as
Well America is now giving other
lmperishable names to history, and
chief among them is Woodrow Viii
SON.
But he must have a congress that
will uphold his hands. Almost with
out exception members of the present
congress who have failed and faltered
have already been rejected. These
have been few, because Democrats
and Republicans alike have shed their
party coats and given the president
prompt and loyal support. So, ordi-
narily, it is safer to choose a tried
man than a new one, unless there are
special reasons, as no doubt there
are in sonse cases.
The same is true of our state Off
GERS Why risk change at such
time as this unless some strong rea-
son clearly appears?
Naturally the goyernorshfp carries
the chief interest. That officer is to
Ohio what the president is to the
Union, really his state aide.
Now do we want this year a war
governor or a pacifist governor? That
IS the all-controlling question. l know
OF no other state where It is true.
but in Ohio exactly that choice is pre-
sented and there is no escape from it.
Each of the candidates has been
my successor. Each did many things
which | approved and some Gov
IN, ],
did not approve. For neither, per-
sonally have | any unkind feeling.
But on the subject which now dwarfs
all others, the proper choice is too
clear for anybody to make mistake
whose heart and head work true.
An Excellent War Governor.
Governor Cox has certainly made
an excellent war governor. Ably
guided by the attorney general, Jo-
seph McGhee, in the many legal ques-
tions which have arisen, he has been
diligent, resourceful and efficient in
behalf of the thousands who repre-
sent Ohio under arms and also in
behalf of the more numerous citizens
who carry ON the varied industries
which enable US to feed, clothe and
maintain our soldiers. BY word, con
duct and hearty support OF the presi.
dent he has put Ohio proudly and
stanchly behind the government from
the first day of his term If you want
war governor, there he is.
Mr.. Willis was governor during
1876 All through his term the
country was profoundly affected by
the war, which it entered shortly
after his term expired. What he said
and did and what he failed to say and
do, with respect to it, give his meas
ure for the position of Ohio's leader
in this war.
He publicly declared, time and
again, that the government ought to
forbid our citizens to sell munitions
to the warning countries. This, he
claimed, would be strict neutrality
That is just what Bernstorff paid
large amounts to have preached and
published by others. The governor
of Ohio did it for nothing OF course
he said all the nations at war, but
the Germans had fully provided
themselves in advance and the only
sales were to the allies, who were in
need To forbid sales TO them would
be a distinct and direct help to the
Germans, who could not get across
the sea if they had wished to buy. If
the course he proposed had been
a. \
the war in Europe by a victory for
the Germans and left us to meet their
vastly increased power and swollen
ambition as best we could alone.
1t was daily becoming more likely
that this country would be forced to
take up arms, and the exercise of
the unquestioned right of our citi-
zens to enlarge and build factories for
munitions was a public benefit 1t
was about the only preparation we
had, as we found when the time for
action came.
Sticks to Pacitism.
When Professor Johnson made this
plain to Governor Willis and expos
tulated with him about his attitude
he simply stuck to it.
Among other occasions, he repeated
this in speech in st. Louis, after
the president had sent Bernstorff
packing, with his gang of spies and
scoundrels, and war was certain as
sunrise. He then also declared him.
self on the murders on the high seas,
beginning with the sinking of the
Lusitania. confess that If he had
| not himself furnished his sneech TO