The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-04-10

e~ES ~! |Ial l| !II
you wouldn't want America to repudIate
| her debts 2"
to move so fast, and be so ready for
everything. that we had to buy things
before we had the money. And this
Victory Liberty Loan mean the
amount Of money we shall raise
through it-was almost all spent be-
fore the armistice was signed. Bust
ness was loyal to the Government, and
you would not want the Government
to cheat the manufacturers out of
their money. would your You wouldn't
want America to repudiate its debts?"
Corwin had thought If all those
things, but he had not thought clearly,
because of his prejudices. He knew,
Of course, that a war could not be
prosecuted without war material, and
he knew that in order to win the Gov
eminent had to close contracts for
material in enormous quantities far
enough in advance Of its needs to make
the future certain
And BESIDES" Molly went on. I'VE
are not absolutely certain the war is
over. We can't bring all the boys
back home right away-we shall have
to keep some Of them over there for
long time, to watch and wait until
we are sure Germany is really sincere.
And our boys over there must be fed
and clothed. And there are thousands
of odds and ends Of expenses which
must be met. We simply can't-we
must not leave our lob unfinished"
Corwin looked at her with a reluct-
ant smile.
There is a great deal Of logic in
your presentation OF the Governments
case" he said. But that doesn't alter
the fact that the Government was ex-
travagant. Look what the war is 60
ing to cost u.s."
What would it have cost US IL Ger
many had won?" asked Molly. -Instead
of buying Liberty Bonds or Notes to
store away in some safe place, mean
while drawing interest on them, we
would now be getting ready TO pay
billions Of dollars Of tribute money to
Germany"
$50 you think we ought to make this
last Liberty Loan a SUGGEST" said
Corwin.
ben is over there" declared the
girl. -He went over at the behest OF
the Government-which is all of US.
He went for a definite purpose-to
fight for his country. and to win. He
was prepared to give his life for us.
And" here Molly's voice quavered-
''he may have done so by this time. for
have not heard from him for several
months. Our boys have done their
part; they have given their limbs.
their sight, their lives. And we, back
here. enjoying peace are-some Of us
reluctant TO back them up with our
dollars. Money! Why, Mr.. Corwin.
how much per capita has this war
really cost US, in direct outlay1 Here
are one hundred million people. That
means that II each and every one Of
the hundred million advances the Gov
eminent ten dollars the Government
has one billion. Ten dollars! Multi
ply that-by twenty. That would
mean that IL each Of the hundred mil
lion gave the Government two humid
bred dollars. the total amount would
be twenty billion. II you could buy
liberty for two hundred dollars IL
you could buy immunity from attack
for that amount, would you hesitate!
Many men pay that amount to their
lawyers-and much more-to defend
them in a lawsuits
$50 you see. Mr.. Corwin, though the
amount Of money expended seems TO
be enormous, II really isn't so much
for each OF US TO bear. Why" she
added. her eyes cleaning with a lu-
minous moisture; II would give a
thousand times that sum. IL had II.
10 be sure that Ben would come back
10 me. would give everything !
possess TO bring any giris brother
back"
A thrill of sympathy ran over Cor
whit was perhaps the first unselfish
emotion he had experienced since the
day when Gary Miller. In his private