The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-04-08
ALL ASSISTING
 GOVERNMENT IN
 PRESENT CRISIS

tlOnS lhVolVed ana to see the rela- tions of those issues to our own country. They did not, as a whole, have any understanding of the Prus- sian mind nor of Germany's attitude toward the world. Day by day as time went on they came slowly ot a realization of the fact that it was Germany that struck and not Eng land nor France. Slowly public opinion shaped itself until 1t was pretty generally acknowledged that the United States was sympathetic with the allies. This sympathy was not very outspoken on account of the fact that we were supposed to be neutral and as neutrals 1t was our duty to keep our mouths shut"
 With the sinking of the "Lusi. tania" and other merchant vessels, public opinion burst forth from a smouldering coal of dislike to a rag ing fire of hate and condemnation. AS Germany continued her unre- stricted submarine warfare public sentiment grew more and more an. tagonistic toward Germany and more sympathetic with the allies. Upon our declaration of war with Ger many there was preponderance of public sentiment in favor of that course. There remained, however, a minority of no small importance which was opposed to war and which refused to give the government its support.
 We have been in the war for al. most a year now, and the country is united in its attitude as it has never before been united on any one ques- tion. Hardly day passes that we do not read of some man or party of men who have swung in line and become staunch supporters of the government.
 Some time back the Socialist party. in convention assembled, came very near complete split-up when resolutions were adopted which were not in accord with the views of con gress and the country at large. Such men as Charles Edward Russell, Nor. ris Hillquit and Allen Benson, some of the broadest and most intellectual men in the party, withdrew upon the adoption of these resolutions.
 Now comes the Appeal to Rea- son." one of the bitterest critics of our government, and aligns itself with those who are giving the gov ernment their support. A change of policy did not seem to be sufficient for the Appeal" so the name was also changed to the New Appeal" and from all indications we may ex- pect it to support the government with as much diligence as it has op- posed it for the last ten years.
 But the most unexpected of all is the recent attitude of the l. w. w., who are beginning to show signs of remorse that some of the German tricks" should be laid at their door It is devoutly to be wished that they, too, will see the error of their ways and come to the support of our country.
 This unanimity of our people, re- gardless of all political differences, has a significance which is not ap- parent on its face and which is, to say the least. very encouraging. It signifies the absolute failure of Ger. many in the use of her strongest weapon-political offensive-which she has used to such good advantage in other countries, very noticeably in Russia.
 Germany has spent millions of dol lars in the United States in an at. tempt to stir up labor disputes and other internal disturbances which could be made advantageous to her. She has always considered us a stupid people," and possibly we are. but it seems evident that the com mon people in the United States have just a little too much intelli- gence to be led astray by her under. handed tactics.
 Slowly all classes and conditions of men are growing more closely as. sociated and arriving at a better un. of each other. but a far more important change coming over the country is the attitude of differ. ent factions in seeking out and ad- justing the differences between each other on the basis of the common 
 Let us hope that the present wal will at least benefit us in that it has drawn capital and labor to a nearer of the rights of each and a desire of each to do all in its power to advance the cause of justice to all.
 FILES HIS PETITION
 FOR NATURALIZATION