The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1918-05-02
CURRENT COMMENT.

espionage cases over to military court
martials Is beyond our understanding.
Because of his opposition the bill has
been abandoned. Senator Borah has
also opposed the bill strongly. In his
letter the president says:
| think in character it would put US
nearly upon the level of the very peo-
pie we are fighting and affecting to
despisc. 1t would be altogether in
consistent with the spirit and practice
of America and in view of the recent
legislation. the espionage bill, the sab
otage bill and the woman spy bill,
think il is unnecessary and uncalled
for.
President Wilson's position on this
question is too idealistc and is sadly
out of line with most of the parents
who have their sons in France. The
country is overrun with spies and yet
when they are arrested they are treat
ed like guests of honor. The Huns
started this war; they have inaugural
ed all the new horrors and there isn't
anything they won't do to win. To
fight them fair when they are hitting
below the belt is carrying idealism too
far. In Germany there are practically
no spies. Why? Because they shoot
them and it doesn't make any differ
ence whether they wear trousers or
petticoats. In America they blow up
houses, tamper with our airplanes and
machine guns, puncture holes in our
gas masks and when we catch them
we pet them. We take our own boys,
those who are nearest and dearest to
us and send them away across the wa
ters to Europe. There they are being
Shot down by the Germans; are dying
by the hundreds. And here at home
the country is overrun with spies who
stab these boys in the back. And be-
cause of sentiment we refuse TO trot
out the firing squad. 1t is perfectly
all right to send our own boys for
ward across No Mans Land to be inn
paled on German bayonets; it is alto
gether inconsistent with the dreams of ,
our dreamers to introduce our cap (
tured spies TO the firing squad. To the
writer, blood is thicker than water or
ideals. Let's fight the devil with his
own fire; let's go him one better in any
frightfulness he may attempt. We
have our own necks to save and we
must have no conscience in fighting an
enemy who has no conscience. This
is no time for the chicken hearted.
THE man who buys Liberty bond
with money it hurts him to save
is doing more for his country than he
who buys a bond with money that is
merely awaiting investment. The pa
triotism that pinches is the kind that [
counts. The man who goes into debt {
TO buy bond, mortgaging his future [
income, is showing the spirit of real |
Americanism. So, too. the farmer
who goes the limit in increasing the
nations food supply. even to the ex- I
tent Of going in debt in order to buy 4
seed and hire help to bring the crop |
to harvest, is exhibiting spirit of [
patriotism that ranks with the boys
who have gone across.
A PINE spirit Of patriotism is shown /
in this letter recently received c
from farmer; Ii
As long az men 90 TO the front at n
the risk Of being shot, it is clearly my %
duty TO risk all possess. 1t is my
duty to take q full risk in planting as
many extra acres as my means will
permit. This ] arm doing in 1918 Z
propose u make this year the su- q
prsme effort Of my life. II | make .
good profit, it will be fully earned II
but make expenses and produce four :
times as much food as last year, it a
viii be my opportunity TO give b
strength, TO give courage 70 help win. a
i am planning TO farm 70 the extreme :
limit Il
IF you have -four stored away
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