The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-12

we know that with unspeakable pride
and courage they-the volunteers and
selected /men-haye come forward as
champions selected to do battle for
us. Having counted the cost ther
have pledged themselves to servic.
and, now they wait, watching eagerly
day after day for their orders to
proceed overseas" Day after day, in
small ships and large ships, in ships
taken from our enemies and in ships
built by us with urgent speed, our
soldiers and sailors go to form a vital
part of the mightiest army for the
greatest cause the world has ever
known. In our soldiers and those of
our allies lie the safety of the world
and the preservation of our ideals OF
freedom, liberty and Righteousness.
Theirs is the great adventure. theirs is
the supreme sacrifice, which are de-
MED to us by age, perhaps by infirmity
by lack of training, by civil position or
by circumstance. Yet these very rea-
sons make our obligation the strong
err and we, you and I, are bound to
increasing effort, to increasing thought
by words, boldly spoken and to in
creasing action by resolution and self
eracement We must see that they
are properly fed and equipped, and
hold up their hands to strengthen
their arms while they fight. We must
put their home thoughts at rest. It
Is for this and this only that we are
exempted. Permit me to say that I
am conscientious objector to any
other exemption.
The heavy task that confronts us
calls for the united strength of our
country and its enormous resources
that must go for the joint support of
the armies Of our allies and Of our
selves. But these resources, as we'll
as our modes of thought and living
have been developed through fifty
yeass of almost unbroken peace. We
are not "too fat to fight" and the bat
tie we are now fighting we will win
The immediate task before us. who
are the body corporate of the State
and before similar bodies in other
States, and before the national con.
gress. is to give this spirit definite
expression by converting these stores
Of great wealth from their accustom.
ed channels and turning them to mar.
tial purposes. Conflicting interest.
must be brought together and the
competitions. which we, once encour.
aged as the life Of peaceful trade mus
become friendly rivalries in order tina
the greatest good may come to the
cause OF America and her allies. The
necessity is absolute and vital; the
task is gigantic. but it is definite
There must not be moment lost il
taking steps towards it's fulfillment
and so we must start now and max,
10 halt until our goal is reached.
State Council Of Defense.
| Not long after the declaration o
state OF war those in charge Of tn,
governments affairs appealed to tn,
State governments for cooperation
and organization. They realized tina
without thorough organization ii
each State the work of preparatio,
for war would be severely handicap
ped.
AS q necessary adjunct to the worl
of the Council of National Defense
and at its direct request, Stats Coun
ellis Of Defense have been organize,
in every State in the Union. TIL
South Carolina Council was organize,
in June, 1917. and has accomplishe,
noteworthy results. AS appears II
communications from the Nationa
Council the South Carolina Council
ranks among the first six councils il
the country in excellence and eff
cheney Of organization. It's work as tn
leader in patriotic publicity has beel
most influential. Patriotic meeting
and rallies have been held in practi
caliy every school district in the State
The South Carolina Handbook Of tn
War. issued by the Council, has beel
declared by the National Council tn
finest issued by any State. b..
Besides this major matter of en-
tightening and informing public opin
ion, the Council has accomplishe
many things. Some Of the chief o
, these are: The Food Registrat to-
campaign in cooperation with the wo
men; listing and fling State ware
, houses; relieving soldiers of Nationa
Guard from duty at railway bridges