Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-03-12

lHe lOydI people Oh WISCONSIN are
worried. They are not interested in
the political ambitions of individual Is.
The one overshadowing issue and
need now is a conclusive demonstra-
tion of Loyalty. Such a demonstra-
ton now will do more for a successful
conclusion of the war than can any
one of the numerous candidates ap-
pealing for votes in this special cleo
tion for United States Senator to fill
one of the two vacancies now exist
ing from this state in the United
States Senate.
Wisconsin has been placed in an
unenviable position before this Coun-
try by some of its representatives,
aud there is danger now in this
special election-with numerous can
didates and lack of unity-for further
misconstruction and doubt of the
patriotic whoIehearted loyalty of the
people of this state.
1t is of greatest Importance that
personal political ambitions be sub
ordinated and that this state present
united front for Loyalty First. To
allow a minority, composed of those
who doubt, waver or oppose, to elect
because of political party difference
and personal ambitions is to give aid
and comfort to1the enemy, and impose
added difficulties upon the administra-
lion and prolong the war.
There could be but one result if
the question to be decided were only
whether the people of this state are
wholeheartedly Loyal or obstinately
Disloyal. But with fge candidates
confusing the issue and acrimonious
political chickering's of twenty years of
factional politics, it becomes a rather
difficult matter for the voter, who
wishes only to do the right and best
thing for hiss, Country to most effec-
lively cast his vote Let us lay aside
political prejudice and calmly analyze
if we can-the situation with which
this special election confronts us, and
make our decisiOn-not in the interest
OF this or that man, who wants the
office-but in extending to the Govern
ment the largest measure of helpful
ness in all. the things this critical hour
demands. Let US give to this term
Loyalty no exaggerated meaning,
but confine it closely to wholehearted
determination in doing the utmost in
winning this war at every cost, and
giving to the administration every
help at whatever sacrifice.
1t would throw the people of this
Country into internecfne turmoil not
to remember that the. United States
was not in this World war and a foe
of Germany until on and after April
9, 1917, and that no mans loyalty to
our Flag can be impugned for what
he may have felt or expressed as to
his sympathies for any of the coun-
tries in the struggle prior to our en-
tering this war. Then, to be pro-
anything was matter OF personal
opinion, and those opinions then, can
not now be made a test of loyalty
But from the minute that this United
States became a party to this war,
all questioning as to the necessity or
advisability of our entering the war,
and joining the Allies ceased; the only
division since then possible has been:
for the Government or against the
overnment-Loyalty or Disloyalty.
Before the United States became a
party in this war it was your privilege
and your right to be pro-Ally or pro-
German and to express your SYM
pathies and opinion, and to hold
against you now any such prior eX-
American. Your test of Americanism
and Loyalty now is: are you whole
heartedly for the United States and
are you doing your utmost in bring
ing this war to a successful conclu-
sion?
After war was declared, it was still
your privilege and your right to be-
lieve in wholly a Volunteer system,
Selected Draft, or Universal Service,
and to express your opinion as en-
phatically as you desired. But once
the Selected Draft law was enacted,
it became your bounden duty to give
to the law every support and encour-
agement. Then to oppose the law
became reasonable diSloyalty.
Loyalty to the Flag calls only for
whOlehearted support of the Govern
ment in honorably and conclusively
winning this war. 1t does not mean
or call for fetish worship of the in
dividual or favoring a third term for
the President or handing that Office
down as a dynastic heirloom to a SON.
in-law-of believing that everything
that is done by an official is right
that every measure enacted must be
given approval-that you have given
your proxy as a free-born American
citizen and became a mere marionette
whose hand is raised and mouth opens
only when the button loyalty" is
pressed You still retain all freedom
of thought and expression, provided
that those thoughts and expressions
have in them and are founded upon
a sincere patriotic spirit that makes
the interest and we'll being of this
United States the first and sole con-
sideration at all times.
Now, l have always been a republi-
can-by tradition and desire l still
am, tho for years factional differences
and fool primary laws shot party or
ganization so full of holes that it
looked more like a political sieve
squirting its contents of personal
ambitions in scattering directions
The democratic party too in this state
was not by any means a Damon and