The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-12-09
WORK AND NOT PROPAGANDA

occasionally there comes from me mnd OF an imaginative
writer a story OF German preparation for a resumption Of war
q story OF the unhroken spirit OF Prusslanism and OF I German
hatred OF everything American; a story of German duphcity and
cunning,
No person actually familiar with conditions in Germany has
given any indication OF such a spirit. The best-informed observers
tell US that the German is not crushed, but he certainly is beaten,
and, contrary to the general assumption, knows it; that he wants
no more war and that he is not in a position to become an i'm
mediate competitor OF this country in the markets of the world,
There is nothing to be feared from Germany as a warning
nation. II there is anything to be watched and met, it is Germany
as a working nation.
Germany has no munitions, no organized army and no trans
portation facilities,
Her navy is gone; her ships are in the hands OF the allies, and
she cannot be regarded as a competitor of the United States and
the allied nations in the commerce of the world, Her credit is
all but destroyed, and her money value has deteriorated until
it is negligible.
observe; The coal miners in Saxony have voted to work eight
hours a day, seven days a week, with no holiday of any kind
until the first of March.
Germany is down, and the sentiment OF the people is to keep
her down for several years, at least until she has completely dis
sipated whatever fever she has for war, and that can be done hv
concerted action on the part OF the nations with which she was
But if the Germans, as indicated by the action OF the Saxon
miners, resolve to go to work and do a full days work and pro
duce a full days result there is no sort OF combination that can
forestal or prevent her taking a foremost place in the industrial
world.
1t is possible to hinder any enterprise that seeks an unfair
advantage it is possible TO offset a campaign OF propaganda, but
il the Germans resolve to 60 to work and stay at work and do
an honest days work, there is only one way for the other coun-
tries to retain their precedence. and that is for them to likewise
60 to work and do a greater amount Of work and produce a greater
quantity in a given length of time.
II the Germans have honestly resolved to go to work and
retrieve their lost fortunes they will forge ahead unless other ma
tons, and especially the United States. make the same resolution.
and work to retain their emnence and standing that the result of
the war gave to them.
There is a LOT OF virtue in work. There is lot of evil in idle
ness. The opinion OF the man who works is usually wholesome.
The opinion OF the idle man is usually destructive. One pro,
duces and the other consumes one builds and the other DESTROYS
The most potent influence in this country is the man who
is lett, and not the man who is only heard. The country is look
ing to the man who does things, and less to the one who merely
says them.
The dangerous man is the one who lives without work. but
the hope Of the nation is in the man who lives without idlencss.
Fake gas inspectors try to rob woman" says a headline
But bow do they know they were fakes!