Mountain advocate. (Barbourville, Ky.) 1904-1935, 1919-04-11

D
facture OF war munitions, and he
knew Roberts company was well
equipped for such work. II Roberts
had declared for war, Corwin would
have been able 20 throw of the dulling
influence OF Gary Miller's words.
There was a slight venom in Rob
erts' voice, and Corwin looked keenly
at him.
Il had an idea you'd be eager to par
ticipate in the war profits" suggested
Corwin.
That's the soul OF America"
snapped Roberts; Money - always
money. ] shan't turn out a piece Of
war Invertebrates | am forced.
This is England's war-let England
fight II. Germany is friendly TO Amer
lea. Then why should America an
tagonize Germany There are a great
many Germans in America. Their in.
fiuence is enormous, and | hope they
exert that influence to defeat the COM
mercial pirates who are forcing this
declaration upon Germany. Already
they are talking OF bond issue. The
country should not finance such a war,
and hope the first bond issue will be
failure. That would force a quick
peace and save thousands Of our boys
from being slaughtered for financial
gain"
Corwin did not argue with Roberts
he had no heart for argument. And
when he left Roberts and climbed the
stairs to his office tie weight that had
seemed to settle on his shoulders after
leaving Gary Miller bore upon him
more heavily than ever.
He began to wonder II Miller and
Roberts were not right, after all. II
did seem, now that he reflected over
the matter, that there was slight &C.
casion for the action Of the President
in plunging the country into war. A
former president of the republic had
warned his countrymen Of the danger
of making entangling alliances with
foreign powers; and here was the
present President disregarding that
sage advice.
A feeling Of resentment stole over
Corwin. The Presidents attitude
limited strongly of autocracy. II
seemed to Corwin that a declaration
of war might have been evaded Cor.
win began to pick flaws in the Presi.
dents diplomacy; he reflected Gym.
icallv that the President was not OF
his political faith, and that he might /
be bringing on the war at the behest
of powerful commercial interests that
thirsted for enormous profits. Then |
from this fabric q suspicion he began !
TO pluck strands-in the shape of ru. |
mored Irregularities in administration |
affairs in Washingt on-that he wove.
into plausible beliefs.
There were several members of the |
Presidents cabinet that Corwin did |
not like-he had always thought them |
incompetent. If there was to be a
war, why did not the President force |
the resignation of these men?
Within half an hour. medltating |
alone in his Office, Corwin became a |
narrow partisan-convinced that his |
political party was able to conduct a |
war more efficiently thaA the one |
headed by the President. Feeding his |
partisanship with incidents that |
seemed to prove the soundness of his |
conviction, Corwin became, within al |
hour a dissenter from all the princi
pies enunciated by the President in |
his war message-and in his public
utterances.
A hot rage seized Corwin; and he
laughed, scofiingly. War! The idea
was monstrous. Why declare war on
Germany? Why, indeed? Miller was
right; Roberts was right. The Presi,
dent was making a terrible blunder
The jingoes and war.prof1ers were
agitating this thing, and they had
won the President to their side. II
wasn't a question of patriotism. for
Germany had not threatened to invade
and the surest and quickest
way to convince the President and the
world that the great body of the Amer
lean people could not be fooled by
such buncombe was to refuse to
finance such war
When Molly King. Corwins stenog
rapher. came in a few minutes later
her face was flushed, her eyes were
bright and there vas an air OF sup.
pressed excitement in her manner.
She went Immediately to her desk;
but instantly wheeled in her chair an1
faced Corwin.
did you hear the news, Mr. Cor
win? America Will declare war o.
Germany"
Corwin grinned cynically at hei
'Bosh!" he said. why should Amer
ca interfere?"
The girl gasped and stared at Cor
win in amazement. Then, when she
saw Corwin was in earnest, she raised
Ter chin defiantly.
Because America is America, Mr.
she returned, coldly. "Ii
America did not go in, now! | should ,
lever he able to lcok another foreign ,
II in the eyes!"
She fiounced around in her chan 5
md began to bang the KEYS OF her