Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-04-10
WHY WE ARE
AT WAR WITH
GERMANY
BY
EPHRAIM DOUGLASS ADAMS
Executive Head, History Depart
ment
Leland Stanford Junior University

1.-THE object Of this war Is to deliver
the free peoples of the world from the
menace and the actual power of a vast
military establishment controlled by an
irresponsible government, which, having
secretly planned to dominate the world
proceeded to carry out the plan without
regard either to the sacred obligations
Of treaty or the long established prac-
tlces and long cherished principles Of In
ternationai action and honor; This
power Is not the German people. It Is
Pile. 1t Is our business to- see to
1t that the history Of the rest Of the
world Is no longer left to its handling
President Wilson, August ~, 1917.
DOLLARS OR BOYS.
The three great needs constantly
put forth from Washington are: I'd
food conservation to aid our Allies;
(2) men; (S) money. The first, the
Food Administration Bureau is at
tempting to c largely by volun.
tary efforts. The second has been
placed by law on a compulsory basis
in the draft. The third will be com
pulsory by laws increasing present
taxation to the extent Of about one
quarter of the annual expenditures in
llC wal DQL IAlCC-4udll Ol0 h1uOI NC
provided not by voluntary gift, but by
voluntary loans.
The ease with which the draft of
men was carried through, the quiet
acquiescence of America in it, when
advised by Americas self-chosen lead.
ers, was a magnificent proof of the
essential patriotism of our people and
of our confidence that we are a truly
democratic nation. We trusted our
advisers because we had ourselves
elected them. Now we must trust
them with u money and we must
be ready for sacrifices. This oGT can
not eoen be begun to be won until
the people Of America fully realize
that sacrifices of all sorts, but espe-
ciGHy of men and money, are In.
eVitdble.
Popular opinion seems to think we
have already given much. Let us be
honest. What have we given? True,
we are preparing to give men and ma
chimes, and are spending money in
that preparation, but our spending is
as yet but a drop in the bucket com
pared to achdt our Allies hGOe been
spending for three gears in defense Of
as. For that is what they have been
notwithstanding the world, and sc
defending us. We have been lending
them money, at a good rate Of inter
est. They do not ask us to giVe, eve
now. All that they expect is that we
also shall bear our burdens, as they
are bearing theirs, in this war for the
future of humanity and for safety.
Look at a few facts of Great Brit.
aims effort-not at grand totals, but
at facts applied to the individual. In
the last British War Loan there was
a total of $4,350, 000, 900 in cash sub
scriptions, which means about $10C
per person-men, women, and chill
dren. (The best that Germany was
able to do in her last loan vas $50
per person.) TO equal Britain's ef-
fort America, after she had been three
gears at qodr, would have to subscribe
$780, 00, 900, 900 in a single loan.
Through taxation, interest on loans.
and higher cost of living, it is es-
,timated that every Englishman with
an annual income of $500 gives $3.50
to support the war. One reason for
this high cost is that Britain began
the war without properly appreciat-
ing it's financial burdens. 1t was the
Business as Usual cry that pre-
vented the pouring out Of money at
first which, if then given, might have
meant q saving for England later, and
especially a saving Of English lives.
This war can not be won without
sacrifice. Let no one think it. If
Germany wins, or even makes a draw
of it, our future sacrifices will be
many times greater. Let no de-
ceive himself as to that. Rights now
we are pouring out boys-getting them
ready. We must pour out dollars to
equip them, but most of all, to furnish
them with the instruments of war that
their HVeS may not be lost by being
put up as nan power against machin.
cry. Many of our boys will die; but
some we may save if we are ready
to spend the last dollar of u re-
sources in giving them the tools with
which to make a fair fight.
Right now it is dollars and boys"
In some ways it is a question of dol
lars or boys" This is no abstract
generalization. 1t is a question for
YOU to answer personally, with seri-
GUS thought Of what money YOU have
available. Every dollar held back for
mere luxury, for non-essentials dur
ing this war, means a greater chance
of the loss Of a boy-it may be of your
boy.
If you haze no boy in S%erviee, and
hold back your dollars, can you look
your neighbor IN the face aohen he
loses his boyg If gou do hold back,
where do you think you dre going to
stand in your aeighbor's estimation
;ehen this Udr eBds9
This is the tenth of a series Of ten
articles by Professor Adams.
4 X + y i = = i 4 = y 4 \
x X
( LEGITIMATE pRnETT :