The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-01-20
Good Bet
Warning for High Stakes
It's Your Ante.
~ GEORGE z. BOWEN
Of The vioiiantes.

Without sacrilege, let us consider
this war as a game OF chance.
Most wars have been-some OF them
with nothing but a gamblers chance
and the love Of ito justify their in
itiation and performance,
This war is different.
This war is for the spiritual life or
death Of the world.
This war is to put humanity above
the power to plumber and enslave-or
to abandon the world and democracy
to the barbarsm of the Beast.
Every soldier, true to type, instinc-
lively thrills to the spirit OF adventure.
For good or glory. as he sees 1t.
His personal sacrifice is a wager with
death on the triumph Of his principles.
Even raw. unchastened youth has its
uniformed dream.
But most Of although that dream
shines the prize of victory full
armed youth valiantly sets out to win.
so the dice are thrown or the cards
drawn as surely as the soldiers aim
counts its game.
Let us say, then, war is a bet
Which way are you betting on this
war?
You American. in your bank or on
your farm, or directing your factory or
store--counting your profits, wherever
you may be--what are you betting on?
For once, we cannot say we are living
just for today.
This war is a thing OF Destiny--and
Destiny settles her affairs and sets up
her business Tomorrow.
A good many Americans OF great
wealth have whole -heartedly given both
themselves and their fortunes to the
holy cause.
They made this double gift because
what they are fighting for is what first
made them Americans-gave them the
right to serve the right and to save it
for the oppressed and exiled Of earth.
Some OF these young men were city
bred. knowing luxury, fame. social ad-
vantage and the uses Of unlimited in
come. Some we're from the Great Out
doors, champions Of the soil or the for
est or OF the hidden wealth Of the
mountains.
They had made opportunity and
cashed in on the high values Of their
own creation.
II any one had a right to bet life or
fortune on the outcome Of this war,
these men had.
But they took this chance: They
could not fail, they must not fail. they
dare not fail
Which way are you betting on this
war?
II is said no man takes his gold or his
estates with him beyond this life. 1t is
equally true that no man will retain his
gold or his estates--or the freedom
to gain more-if the Hun wins the bet
he has made with humanity.
You are, perhaps. too old for military
service, but you are not past the age of
mathematical sense.
What will your millions do against
the will of Wilhelm, on the day he reck-
ons indemnities and gives out the new
rules of trade, taxes and obedience. to
conquered America?
| Would you bet with the devil on the
sanctity of n moral treaty?
Remember Belgium.
Remember the Lusitania.
Remember the Kaiser Credo-"Me
und Gott."
The betting man loves fair play and
an open board.
These dice are all loaded these cards
all marked; every promising horse in
the race is drugged.
The German dopesters have one rule
II win. you lose-I win. anyhow"
This Is the last call to the sporting
blood of America. To the good sporting
blood; bad blood has no sport in 1t.
And you can't bet alone.
You must bet with all the world
against the one man not of 1t.
1t isn't just the safety Of your real
estate. or your Investments, or your
vast properties and prospects.
| 1t is the manhood and womanhood OF
America that make all things worth
having and protecting.
| Imagine going to your office some
fine morning. being roughly iostled into
the gutter by an insolcnt Prussian Off
Ger. then to find your letters opened.
your safe looted, your business an
neXcd by German military necessity
| Imagine going home, to find your
housc occupied by registering German
officers, your art treasurers appropri-
atcd or destroyed by German kuitnr.
Iyour wife and daughters outraged by
these brothers OF the Beast. who must
have relaxation
| Are YOU a good sport?
You are always open to Il bet on the
bali game, the weather. the speed of a
boat, auto. horse or train, or the turn
of a card.
Come, now
Do family, fortune, faith in the flag.
mean anything to you?
Is today's market more than to-
lmorrow's security?
! Ii is your ante.
There's no, limit to patriotism or
what you want to put behind 1t.
How are you going to bet?