The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1919-11-21
NOW OUR OWN


NOW OUR OWN
For four years we have been Civ
ing our money for the overseas peo-
pies who suffered most in the war. We
didn't perhaps give all that we should
or could. But that was because we
didn't know how to give. We had to
learn. But we learned; and once we
learned the lesson, then we gave, and,
all told, we have given a tidy sum.
Pride in what we did is out of place.
By the same token, however, we need
not be ashamed of the giving.
But while we were giving to others,
our own uplift agencies, our own hos
pitfalls, our own institutions of all kinds
suffered, and we are now beginning to
see how deeply they did suffer. We
should not have withdrawn the hand
from them, but we did; and here again
| it was because we had not learned how
to give. We should have given with
both hands Instead, we gave with
one hand, and that palm was pointed
overseas. The time has now come for
re-allocation of our giving, not that
| the need overseas has ceased or is not
great. We all know that it is. But it
will be great for years to come; far
greater than we can possibly relieve,
even if we give all that we have. That
help will come from national sources.
We must unquestionably help with
money and food, and we will. But
both of these will come through gov
Iy.,, ny,t Nf 10 hA
full governments and the supply of
food through national and world
agencies. We each and all share in
the maintenance of those relief agen-
cies through the payment of our ma
tional taxes.
The day has come, however, when
the hand of individual giving should
turn nearer home. Our cities, towns,
villages, every community, large and
small, have their immediate needs
needs that we have neglected while we
gave of our means toward the more
immediate job Of winning the war. We
are not selfish if now we turn to those
home needs and see to it not only that
they are restored to their effective
financial basis, but that, with our
awakened sense of larger giving, we
expand them and give more than we
did before. Our vision has grown,
with that larger vision should come
larger giving.
Life has got to be one "drive" after
another, and will be for some time.
That is right, and as it should be. Hav-
ing learned how to give, we should
continue to give-but now to our own.
1t is all very we'll to talk Of recon-
scruction work abroad, but we have
some reconstructing of our own to do.
If an organization puts on a "drive"
it should be for our own national
needs. Let US give America an in
ming. This is not a narrow vision;
it is needful, immediate, broad and
iustifable. A few can give to all
needs, American and foreign. But
rot the majority. The person Of av-
erage means can give once, and only
in one direction. And that direction
should now be for season American.
1t is time for US to go back and pick
up the loose threads that we dropped
before the war and bring the ends to-
gether, and see that our own agencies
for the benefit of our own people have
the means wherewith to function to
their fullest ability.
This is not saying one word in de-
probation of any drives" or campaign
for needful works outside Of our OWE
land. That they are worthy no one
questions. That each should have the
/, money wherewith to do it's work stands
to reason. But America cannot do ev.
, crything; it cannot clean up or re.
build all of Europe. although the
world has come to think that it can
, Let need exist in the remotest part
of the world today, and Immediately
the mind for it's relief turns to Amer
: lea! But we have obligations Of oul
own:'w we have the needful at our owl
doors. We have our own babies, Goo
= bless them, the dearest babies on eartl
because they are American babies: WI
have our own children: we have oul
own unfortunately orphaned; we, have
cur own slums that need cleaning up
our own little homes, yes by the ten!
of thousands, that should be built: We
have our own blind spots that arc
crushing thousands and thousands: W.
have our own needful that cannot gel
, adequate food and clothing and fresl
: air and decent surroundings and whc
, cannot lead happy and healthy lives
All the unfortunate are not across thu
. ocean.
Let US begin to clean up our owr
doorstep: let US prove to the worlt
q that we are, in the truest and rea
sense, a democracy of the people, by
the people, and for the people.
Let US give rein to sturdy, red
blooded American sentiment that does
FOR Americans, present and future, sc
that this wonderful land of ours may
be prepared to hold the present com
handing position that we have as
sumed before the world.