Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1919-02-14
BREAKERS AHEAD.

There is no use in attempting to
longer disguise the fact that q serious
condition exists in this country and
the nation is menaced by the Bolshe-
Wiki element which has gained far
too firm foothold and is increasing
its membership every day. From eV-
cry industrial center comes notes OF
warning and from the government Isl
coming urgent appeals to every COM
munity to see that the returning sol
diers are given work promptly and
are thereby removed as far as posi-
Bile from the communicating influence
OF this vicious element.
SO far as these appeals go they are
ali rights and it behooves us TO do ev-
erything in our power to head on
this propaganda which has for Its
program the overthrown of our gov
eminent, the disorganization of soci-
ETY. and the obliteration OF Christian
citizenship, but this is not enough.
The organizations which are formed
TO throw their protecting wings over
the soldiers should flood the presi-
dent and congress with appeals for a
cessation Of profiteering and demands
that the special interests which are
plundering both the government and
the people be cut adrirt from their
anchor hold on the avenues of trade,
finance and politics. the Signal has
stated this before, but 1t cannot do
any harm to repeat It again.
We have no use for that class OF
laborers who want exhorbitant wages
and the minimum of work. The fell
lows who are demanding increases in
the face of a decline in the value OF
all other commodities are parasites
and we do not believe any great num-
Der Of soldiers will be- influenced by
them because they know good share
OF them were slackers during the wal
and rushed to the ship yards and
other industrial centers to escape
military duty, but the soldiers are
also aware that while they left their
business at great personal sacrifices
and were willing to sacrifice Their
lives for their country there were
those in position to get government
contracts, and those who handled wal
materials, our food supplies and the
necessaries OF life. who made millions
while they languished in training
camps or went to the trenches and
the battle line across the sea.
Ihwe want to gain the support Of
the soldiers In our fight against the
Bolshevista we must convince large
numbers Of them that we are to pre-
serve our government for the whole
people, including them, and not fol
the Morgans. the Rockefellers ant
lesser luminaries In the millionaire
armament. We must convince them
that when they return TO their farm
homes and TO sother avenues of life
there is to be a chance for them un
der the sun and that their future
years are not to be devoted entirel!
to paying for the clothes they wore
and the equipment faGnished then
and bought at exhorbItant price,
while they were enlisted at $4,000 Pc
month to fight kaiserism. We mus
convince them that those who ar
anxious to look after their welfare
and are solicitous about the preser
walton OF the government. have tn
courage to tackle the greatest prob
lem before the people, /. e.. the secur
ing OF a qsuare deal for all Of gu
citizenship and the curbing OF tn,
power OF big business.
The writer has talked to many o
the returned soldiers, and know
what they are thinking They ar
not in sympathy with Bolshevism
but so long as they see before then
only years of struggle against povert,
and taxation to pay the war deb
while the Idle rich are allowed 20 con
tinue their system Of reaping wher
they have not soWn, they are indiffeE
ent and are disposed to let the res
of US worry until such time as "
show manhood enough to take
stand for square deal. There il "a
disgusting the fact that they are dis
satisfied and nothing short of rev
olution in our economic system is go
ing to satisfy them. The more radica
may even encourage the Bolshevisti
but not because they believe in thei