Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-06-28
NATIONAL PLEDGE DAY

T HIS is National Pledge Day. It
has been especially set apart
by President Wilson as a time
upon which we shall testify to. our
loyalty in terms of dollars and cents;
in short, that we shall show our de-
votion by investing in Thrift and
War Stamps TO the extent OF our
ability and pledging ourselves TO
buy more during the remainder of
the year.
Loyalty in peace times and loyalty
in war times are two distinct things.
Not much is required to pass the 10y
atty test when ones country is not
at war; a simple compliance with
the law is all that is required,
But loyalty in war times is not q
passive quality. At such time one
may be without loyalty and still not
he disloyal. 4 person OF this type
will DO nothing either 10 assist or TO
harm his country. He will not give
himself TO his country's service and
he will not contribute financial sup
port Neither will he discourage
others from doing this. He will do
or say nothing reasonable, and
neither will he 10 or say anything TO
put heart in the lighting forces or TO
uphold the Nation in its struggie-
He will be simply n passive onlook-
er. And that is not being loyal
Our country is lighting in the most
desperate struggle of history. 1t is
q struggle so vast and momentous as
TO demand the most complete sup
port OF every one OF its citizens.
Passive loyalty-the loyalty OF peace
times-is not sufficient The brand
OF loyalty now demanded is the
kind that impels one 10 offer himself
and his all, il necessary. that his
country may be victorious in the I
great conflict
Most OF US can not so into the
forces; most of us can not
enter into those industries directly !
connected with the war, but all of
US can show our neighbors that we
have the right brand OF patriotism.
Our Government is urging upon us
the necessity OF saving as an essen
,ial 10 victory. We are told that
there is not enough man power and
not sufficient materials in the coun-
try TO win a quick victory If We con-
,inue 10 use this man power and
these materials as we did before the
war. It is pointed out that there are
now more than 1000. 900 men in the
Army and Navy, and that by August
! this number will be increased to
.0O0, 600, with a steady addition to
that number from then on. These
men not only cease TO be producers.
but they become consumers on q
vast scale.
Thus it is that we are urged TO
buy only thase things which we
need in order that We shall not use
up labor and waste materials and
transportation. so vitality necessary
to the Government in its war work
and so much needed in the manu-
facture OF things essential to the
health and efficiency of our citizens.
BY following the Governments
request TO produce to our maximum
capacity and 10 consume as little as
possible, We shall give practical ex-
preston 10 our loyalty-a militant
loyalty. the brand which stamps US
as being willing TO do our part al
home by sacrificing, by getting down
to a war basis, by backing up our
with all our strength.
With our money savings we can then
buy War Savings Stamps and per-
form a double service by giving the
Government current funds with
which to buy the labor and materials
so much needed for war purposes
which we have refrained from US
ing. That is loyalty.
And so, when you go to your
school house, or wherever your
community meeting is to be held
this evening, be prepared TO take
your stand among those who fight
with their dollars as well as with
their hearts. The bullet that will
lay the Kaiser low will be a silver
bullet.