Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1918-01-25
GRANGE TRULY LOYAL.

We lately saw letter from one
who had been member OF the
Grange in which we find the follow
ing: Since our Worthy Master died
the pro-German Bolsheviki element,
with Bouck as leader, are in control
and it is no place for self-respect-
ing American. Bouck's let
ter published in the Grange News of
March last is an example of what the
present organization stands for"
1t may be unwise to pay any at
tention to such remarks, but fearing
that there are some Patrons who
would take seriously such talk as the
above, we deemed it best to answer
the thoughts expressed in the letter.
First, as explained in the last is
sue, the Grange is peace-loving or
ganization regardless of the fact that
there may be few fire-eaters among
the membership, and it hoped and
believed that the people of the world
were so far on the road to civiliza-
ton that it would not be necessary
that this country should ever be
drawn into the present war, nor, in
that the article referred to, written
by Brother Bouck, was written long
before this country had entered in
to the conflict, and before there was
any serious thought, among the peo-
pie, that we should really have to
get into it, and the sentiments there
expressed met with the approval of
the larger part of the membership,
as shown at the Burlington session
of the State Grange. We had in
view, in our minds eye, the militar-
ism of Germany, which has proven
itself to be SO terrible, and that we
had no design upon any other part
of the world and could not think
that Germany or any other nation
had any serious idea of aggression
against us, so no reason was recog-
nized for any great scheme of mill
tary training.
Later events, and a more thorough
knowledge of what has actually
been done by the German ruling
class against us showed us that it
was not possible to longer refrain
from engaging in this war, and early
In April, over a month after the ar
ticle appeared, we, as a nation, de-
clared that considering the acts of
Germany against civilization and
be our duty to do all in our power
to overcome this German power that
had apparently lost all sense of right
and justice and which was proving
itself terror to democracy and JUS
tice.
From that time on, the Grange, al
ways peace-loviny organization,
convinced that peacs could be had
only through the determination of
the German ruling class, entered
heart and soul into the work OF pre-
pairing for the conflict and its mem
bers have without a doubt done their
full part In the work Of the Red
Cross, the WarsY. m. C. "A. and the
other many ways we have been call
ed upon to help.
Many Of US, as father and mothers,
have given up our boys. no small
part Of them not waiting for the Sc
lective draft, for the cause Of hui
mainly and democracy, realizing
that we were in error when we de-
clared against military preparation
for this nation. We see, now, that q
military preparation by one nation
means . preparation for an attack
upon innocent nations and therefore
that It 10 wise to be in such q shape
that It can be met successfully, for
self-preservation
Little did we conceive that Ger
many. that little country Of central
Europe, could for 30 long q time