The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-03-11
When the War Bills are Paid

When the War Bills are Paid
1t was shockingly destructive war. But it is
While it lasted millions of people died. They eat
no more.
While it lasted, millions of people starved and
shivered and sickened. Many of them died; they eat
no MORE and many will be nvalids for years. till they
die and eat
While it lasted thousands of homes were de-
stroyed tens of thousands of bearing trees cut down.
thousands of mines and manufacturing plants wrecked
hundreds of villages razed-much of this unavoidably
given the war-but much of it, shame be it said to
Germany Lrnaliciously.
While it lasted millions of toys were left UNI
made, thousands of pianos left unn1ade thousands
of houses were left unbu thousands of miles of road
were left ungraded-in word, quantities of lux
uries and convenience and what are ordinarily
sidered necessities, made way for guns and ammun
ton and war material. These have either been used
up or are still available for destruction, to
extent transferable into thinge of use
But the war is over. Those who are dead,
dead Those who starved are beginning to eat those
who shivered find cover; many of those who sckened
are getting WELL Those who were destroying
have stopped destroying. Many of them already
planting and building, and manufacturing. Before
another year past of them will be helping to
support themselves and others.
Did you ever stop to think? All that was eaten
and worn and used up and destroyed by this terrible
war; was already in existence before the war ended.
None of the crops of 1920 consumed by the war,
though some will not be raised that might have been.
On the other hand, enormous crops being raised
order OF the Food Administration which would
have been raised without the war; And if there
seven million less help do the work, there
million less to up the products.
The world begins anew with 1920, so far as pro-
ducing the worlds necessities is concerned The crops
of 1920 are to feed the mouths of 1920. The wool
and cotton of 1920 are to clothe the naked of 1920
When the crops of 1920 all in, there is
why there should not be enough to make the whole
world comfortable.
Then why? Why do we all cover before the
gigantic specter of debt, which threatens make life
precarious for millions of us for generations to
as precarious as in itself? If year after year
the earth gives her ample frutage supply earth's
children, why should millions of them for fifty years
ahead sweat and tremble as if in bondage? A great
struggle has been waged A great gain has been won
we trust-a promise of peace for time to And
the millions who went to their death paid
large part of the If by sacrifices for the gen.
erations to come, could them, directly
for their dependents, should be glad to bend
to the task And for those who lost their homes and
their all in Belgium and Northern France and Serbia,
and elsewhere, for them too should gladly carry
the burden or put it on the shoulders of those who
caused it.
But these $175,OO ,OO0-before which we
tremble which demand that the guilty enemy pay,
yet know that he cannot pay since it is more than his
whole country is WORTH and know that he will not
work in practical slavery-it is not-not 1.-THE of it
needed the devastated regions and for
the invalid and dependant. 1t is needed to carry
on the war, for the war is over. All that it
sumed has been consumed.
Most of the need of the war; the actual consump-
ton and destruction of the war, met as it
The restoration and compensation for actual loss is but
a small item compared with the whole debt
The seven million who gave their lives will get
none of it. Their families and dependents will get,
should get, goody share. But what proportion will
it be of the enormous total?
The millions whose homes and factories were de-
stroyed will get, or should get, goodly share. But
these groups together will not get much compared
with the total.
Will some tell the world frankly, why, after
sacrificing so much, it much, and to whom?
Why should the larger part of the world be kept in
the galleys for the next fifty years to pay to the
smaller part of the world the cost of war in which
the larger part of the world sacrificed most?
When the bills are paid who gets the money?
" II. Caruth in Reedy,s Mirror.