Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-10-20
APPEAL TO AMERICAN MOTHERS.


APPEAL TO AMERICAN MOTHERS.
Editor Every Evening--As memory
recalls 10 mind, with fond reco!lections,
the dear old golden days of yesterday"
when To YOU, American Mother, was born
a son, babe of your heart, do you re-
member how proud you We're?
Do YOU remember, as the years passed
by, when he grew up to manhood, when
in your estimation and mothers instinct,
he was the greatest boy on earth?
Do YOU remember when the war clouds
were towering over America, and finally,
when war was declared with Germany, how
proud YOU were TO see him don his khaki
uniform and join the fight, side by side
with the Allies for the Civilization OF the
World?
Do YOU remember how noble and strong
he looked to mother. when he returned
home on his last furlough, just before
sailing for France?
Do YOU remember when the armistice
came, how happy the people of America
were. But to you IT was different; yes, so
different. His regiment was no longer
fighting machine he, your son, the pride
OF your heart, like 81, 900 other American
mothers sons, was the victim of the Hell
of War.
Yet an intangible something remains,
perhaps one can name it rightly only by
the phrase of our Allies, esprit de corps,
and this spirit lives and will live as long
rs men, regardless of nationality or politi-
cal creed, regard humanity and cIvilIza-
ton above everything else.
During the war, the American slogan
WAS: Fighting for the Democracy and
Civilization Of the World. Well, may ask
you question2What comprisesDemocracy
and Civilization? Isn't it Peace, Progress
and Prosperity?
/ can never forget the feeling which
crept over me as | stood before the power
full Fort of Nerdun, the Gibraltar, of
France, Just five days before my division
went INTO action at St Mihiel on whose
northeastern edge stood Fort du Regret.
As gazed upon the five hundred thousand
little white crosses standing upon ground
which was literally torn TO pieces by shell
FIRE to such an extent that YOU could not
place n pin for miles and miles without
touching shell hole-In fact, 1t reminded
me at a distance OF a sponge feeling OF
sadness crept over me. 1t was an mexpreS-
sible sadness; / could think things that
| never thought before, and at once |
realized that Sherman was right: War
Is Helli'' and / said to myself, what would
be say if he saw this sight?
Do you know that thirteen million
mothers sons were killed In the World
War, and several times that many wound
ed and dishgured for life? Just imagine
for a minute, that you are mother of a
son who died in action; add to your sad
ness the sadness and heart-throbbing
feelings of the thirteen million mothers
whose sons likewise died for humanity's
sake, and can assure you that there Is
not word In the English language that
could express the immense and intense
sadness. 1t would be the saddest story
ever told
American mothers: This is war in real
ity, as France and Belgium and the Gold
Star Mothers Of America know it. Do you
want u sec another awful conflict like
this? Your son might be the next victim,
and we.the American people As whole,
might have a chance to witness war IN
reality on American soil.
The next war, according TO the worlds
greatest prophets, II such ever occurs,
viii be ten times worse than the World
War which has just passed. The last war
has taught all nations of this earth thou
sands of new and effective ways to de
stroy the human body.
No, we dOnot want war again, and there
Is only one way to avoid 1T. Vote for the
League of Nations.
(D No one nation win break away from
the League, once it is admitted as men,
her. and declare war ON another nation,
when she knows that the rest of the world
viii blockade her morally and financially.
Germany would never have declared war
under such conditions.
(2) Isn't it better tofspend billions of
dollars reclaiming farm lands than 1T IS 10
build a big navy?
(3) Ii all Of the nations OF the world
abide by the terms Of the Treaty and re-
duce the size of their armies and navies
and ornaments to the smallest possible
figure, even 10 the event that war would
be declared, the reduction OF fighting men,
battleships, aeroplanes, cannons, rifles
and ammunition available for immediate
use would reduce the loss of life as well as
other damages at least one-haf and maybe
more. Isn't this worth voting for?
(4) Regardless of your political creed,
whether it be a Democrat, Republican,
or what, it is your duty for humanity's
kake TO vote for the League of Nations
AZ advocated by Governor Cox. 1t is your
duty TO think, and think seriously before
you leap.
for such strong moral issue, than not to
try at all.
America: Awake to the seriousness of
the situation. Mr.. Harding in his Des
Moines speech said: ~ want to turn my
back on the League of Nations" In plain
words, Mr.. Cox is In favor of going in
and Mr.. Harding is against it.
AS an ex-doughboy, j am in favor of
going in for humanity's sake and for the
development of International Friendship.
Americans: Think before you leap.
John L. Mcdaniel, Jr., 913 Tatnall
street, Wilmington, Del, formerly with
Go. G., 3lsth Inf. Eighth Division, A. Z. T.
Wilmington, October 10, 1920