The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-03-26
THE ARMY AND POLITICS.

After the Cival war the returning
soldiers were great political force
for many years IN both North and
South. They constituted the most
powerful of any organized group in
the country and few politicians dared
defy them. A large part of the
prominent statesmen were soldiers.
1t was hard to beat man with a
good war record at the polls.
Fcur million soldiers are now re
turning to civil life. They will come
back with soldier ideals, with COM
mon experience and disposed TO some
extent-to act as a unit in public af-
fairs Experienced politicians eA-
rect them co be a great force and arc
trying to forecast what tha'r inflr-
ence will be.
For one thing the soldiers are going
to be strong on efficiency and disci-
pline. They have learned what grand
things can be accomplished by system
and organization and scientific abil-
ity.
These qualities have net counted
as high in home politics as they
should. The best talker is usually
the one who wins at the polls. He
may have no business head or orga-
nizing ability. But if he can make
an eloquent and plausible speech he
Is pretty sure to get by. Meanwhile
the quiet man of achievement in bus-
mess, of capacity for scientific cr-
ganization and expert efficiency does
not usually fare well at the polls be-
cause he cannot express himself VOL
ublv enough.
The soldiers will feel keenlv the
lack of efficiency. In some casas
they suffered from it very Seriously
and they will be very hostile 70 II II
clvlI ne. They are not going to be
eontenc Whiie mere takers get into
power. 1t is a safe prediction that
they VIII constitute force for action
and expert ability rather than for
tax. Let the politicians hink about
5.
Some cases Of the sleeping sickness
reported among the merchants who
won't advertise.
The small boy has no objection to
the women's hobble skirts at the time
he is endeavoring to escape after de.
predations in the back yard.
Now if the Germans want food tc
be delivered to them faster, all they
have to do is to raise some of those
many grain carrying ships that they
sunk to the bottom of the ocean.
After starting strikes that tend e
disorganize industry and throw peo
pie out of work all over the country
some folks complain that the demand
for the things they make is falling off
The people who are planning "n,
beer, no work" strike may succeed II
it, but it's scope is quite likely to b.
enlarged so as to become "no beer
no work. no eat"
Some pessimists think that tn,
cditcr who put IL .st of soldiers en-
gagged to be married under the aead
IL: on "Wouiiei. Degree Undeferm
med" didn't make so bad a mistake
after all.
The intense Indignation felt b,
some people because their name wa
put in the paper, is only equalled b,
the speed with which they grab tn
paper to see how it looks.
These Bolsheviks that are goinl
to overturn the government of tn
United States may be perfectly do
cile at home when their wives orde
them around.
When women's hats are big, price
are high because of the large amour
of material used; and when hats ar
small, prices are high because Of tn
delicacy Of the work.
II However, some generous men alloy
their wives to look at the spring nil
| linery in the store windows, provide
they agree not to go inside.
II We are speedy--Give us your print
| ing order in the mornsg and you ca
J get it at night.