American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-07-16
MORALE At HOME AND ABROAD.

cut i0nu9 anu 6hnRAAh'f th0 w
low their pleasures and pastimes much
as OF yOre; and Mr.. McRae. back
from France. is grieyed at what he
sees. II Is natural that one who has
seer with his eyes, and o merely
heard with not too attentive or un-
Outstanding ears the colossal measure
OF the French sacrifices and hardships
in the war is inclined to offer m
trasts. But It must not be forgotten
that not a drop of gasoline Is with
held from France or England because
many gallons are used in America
and not a pound of sugar will be used
for candy in America If its diversion
to France or England will ave the
allies. The candy manufacturers are
being given Onehalf their former sup
ply. and the housewife is on r%ations.
Except for Americas self denial in
the one product of sugar there would
be very little for the French or British
or Italians in their homes and much
less In the trenches.
The United States government is i'm
control of gasoline and automo-
bile production and disposition. SO
far as is known there is no shortage
of gasoline for military or CONNER
cial uses, and there is no available
transportation to carry supplies for
pleasure uses. The oil companies have
sought to spread the propaganda that
there is a growing deficit in the pc
troleum output, but the fuel admins
traitor says in effect that there is
lenty.
NFN.4... A.. .aIr.l 81 tho A ptarfaun
people they will do to win the war.
They have responded to every call,
and they will respond TO every future
call. They are i'm the wal to the end
And they will stop az nothing. They
have given up much in the way Of
comfort. more in the way of money,
and millions in the way of men.
Whenever a dollar spent for an auto
mobile or the theatre, or for table
Injuries. Is a dollar taken from the
great cause. either actually or poten-
TALLY. they will change their practices.
France is in the war TO the eNclu-
sion Of all else and SO are Great Brit
ain and Italy aud Belgium and others.
America is wholly in the war and its
principal business is war. but war is
NWl IT'S NOlt WunAAANoH AN ANNH 'AN
when the end may the SOONER be
achieved by eliminating all other IN
dustry and cutting out all nonessen-
tails and foregoing pastimes, pleasures
and Injuries. war will be Il sole bus
mess, too.
Ii rs not easy to convert & peace
loving and peace observing nation into
a war creating and val making ma
ton In a day or a year. It is impossi-
BILE. The whole national, CONNER
cial and social structure would merely
be torn down and the process of build
ing up would be far moro costly and
far slower that step by step methods.
But long steps may be taken and they
have been taken. Meanwhile, the in
dustrial foundation is intact and the
financial and industrial resources OF
the country are unimpaired and are
being heavily utilized.
The allies are suffering from finan-
cial and economic overstrain. The
United States proposes to keep the in
dustrial home fires burning. to the
end that there may be always a great
physical reserve, without which the
war may be lost. For 1t is a war of
resources, Just as much as a war Of
uniformed armies.
No other plan of creating an army
and eQuipping il and providing for its
present and future maintenance
would have been wise or practi-
cable In America. and no other
would yield better or quicker results.
Il is not prudent or necessary to drop
all pastimes or amusements, nor to
adopt radically new ways of living. 1t
is necessary to preserve the national
balance in order TO maintain the ma
tional existence through adequate and
rational Ways of national subsistence.
The soldier is not deprived OF his sport
nor even Of the luXuries because he is
at war. On the contrary he is furnish
ed the latter. with certain limitations.
and he is Systematically encouraged to
pursue the former. There is an indefin-
able something called morale which
is vital both at the front and az home
Its vital spark may be best kept alive
II the American citizen in the trenches
can still live in the social. religious
and educational atmosphere Of Amer
lean citizenship. and If the American
citizen at home may continue to be
an American citizen.
Withal. there are some pursuits of
eNtravagance. w~astefulness. triviality
idleness and self-indulgence by certain
groups of the American people which
are offensive at all times and are par
l~ticularly shocking and i~nexcusable in
war time. The war may make il
possible to reduce and perhaps elimin-
ate displays of profligacy and vulgar
tay by the idle rich. the wastrels and
he NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. O%regonian.
Flour is reported to be selling for 81