Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1920-01-29

$w ~ of making the
'''Sszs>'s11AAN% world safe for
civilization is more serious IMAM
was the question of making IL
safe for democracy four years ago
If there was reason for sacrlhce
then, there is reason for it now.
IF there was cause for mill
tary morale then, there is need OF an
industrial morale today. Freedom
called men to fight and die that au-
tOcracy might not rule and ruin the
world. The issue now is not only
freedom, it is life-the chance to eat
to be warm-tO sleep, and urea,
wounded, worn and weary people face
the tomorrows with little faith and
much fear.
went TO Europe TO see for my
self. / was unattached, free agent.
/ was not a member Of a Mission
had no preconceived opinions.
sought facts-the human facts.
looked into the eyes Of the people,
walked the streets, talked with men,
women and children, rich and poor,
humble and powerful, Journalists,
bankers, lawyers, preachers, actors,
government officials, coal miners, team
sters, factory hands, labor leaders, rad
icals, conservatives children of the
street and women at their washtubs,
farmers and peasants, tenants ana
landlords. I cross-eXamined official
records and pursued official figures.
listened to opinions, heard speeches,
interviewed the streets, listened to the
conversations Of the cafes and the talk
of the cheap restaurants. [ knew that
few Americans would have the chance
to go to Europe to see and near Tor
themselves, that the millions of Amer
lea would be compelled to depend upon
the eyes and ears Of others for IN
formation concerning problem or
world Importance, q problem that is
bound to involve us-we are part OF
it. No country is Independent. Ma
tons are interdependent to the extent
and for the same reasons individuals
are.
Only Hope Is in America.
Europe looks to America for saliva
ton, as a dying man looks to God for
mercy. We are her only hope. Ii
the United States adopts the policy of
leaving Europe alone, on the theory
that we have done enough for her,
Europe will be plunged into the saw
agery of revolution. 1t is faith in
America. belief that America will sus-
tain her, help her carry the awful load
that is bending and almost breaking
the back of weak and crippled Europe,
that is keeping her from succumbing.
This faith is about the only thing Eu-
rope has left.
What is America? 1t isn't the build
ings and banks, the railroads, the
houses and the land, it is the one hun
dred and ten million people Of whom
you are one. So EurOpeS plea is adj
dressed to you. The prayers of her
hungry children are petitions to you.
Americas policy-the answer OF the
United States, will come from the
Judgment Of the people No man or
woman can escape the responsibility.
Each of us will contribute to the de-
cision. 1t isn't a hypothetical case
we are called upon to decide-it is
question involving tho life of human
beings, men, women and children who
are blood of our blood, part of he
great world family-the human race.
Shall we close down our shops, fac
tories, mills and mines, bolt the doors.
stop production at a time millions Of
human beings are crying to us for
help? Can we listen to the thin,
bony hands of children knocking at
our doors and sit in our comfortable
homes. leaving them to die on our
threshold? No call to arms ever had
so much right back of it, so much hui
manity as the call to work has to-
day.
The house Of Europe has been on
fire. 1t has been wrecked. 1t is SCARED
and charred-a ruin. The cupboards
are empty, the people demoralized and
sick. Winter is attacking them. Hun
ger has strange hold. They are in
rags. They must rebuild, and they
haven't the material for the work.
They turn to us. Their condition is
their plea, our condition, our obli=a-
ton. II the golden rule ever had any