Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-03-25
One Hundred Percent Americanism

iltaTu ABOUT tnls subject, THAT per-
/ haps a little more will not be out of
! place.
Apparently all writer's and speakers
refer particularly to loyalty to Amer
lean principles Of government as re-
lated to war, when they talk or write
about Americanism, and that is the
reason of this article.
100 percent Americanism is more
than a mere spoken loyalty to our
/ principles of government. 1t is a
far-reaching thing that needs ex-
PLANTATION and analysis TO be under
stood and considered worth while.
Suppose we enumerate some of the
attributes of Americanism, so as to
1 have basis for discussions:
A 100 percent American is true to
the principles of government of the
people, by the people. for the people.
A 100 percent American takes an
active interest in the government "Of
the people" by keeping himself well
Informed about the ways and means
provided for this governments opera
ton.
A 100 percent American takes an
active part in the government "by
the people" by voting as his infor-
nation and conscience dictate, so as
to provide the best possible officials
/ to carry on the business of the govern
ment.
A 100 percent American abides by
! the laws that are enacted for this
government by his representatives in
/ Legislature and congress. When he
/ finds that incorrect or ineffective laws
have been enacted, he nevertheless
/ Obeys these laws while he uses the
proper means for their elimination
or replacement by other more suitable
! laws
A 100 percent American opposes
! those laws which he feels are wrong,
! but in doing so he does not repudiate
established authority or Institutions
| illegally. In other words, he fights
fair. He voices his opposition in the
manner provided by law for good
citizens, and not as a bolshevik.
A 100 percent American is a God
fearing citizen who believes the
principles of Christianity are INSOFAR
ably linked with the principles of
/ Americanism.
! Perhaps the foregoing covers all the
requirements of 100 per cent Ameri-
can, because there is little left to be
desired in good citizen who follows
these rules If we all followed them
America would be mighty near the
millennium.
/ There are many men who would
bitterly resent any questioning of
their Americanism on any ground,
who in private, and sometimes in
public violate and very emphat4cally
voice their disapproval of the pro-
hibitiOn law, commonly known as the
/ Nolstead Act.
They have the right as good Ameri-
can citizens to disapproye of this law.
or any law; they have right to use
their influence TO have it changed;
but they have not the right to break
the law, simply because others are
doing it without being punished.
The more prominent man is; the
more influence he has; the more ex-
perience he has, the more serious is
his otfense against the law. Many of
/ our wealthy men violate the Volstead
Act and are not punished, not because
they can't be reached by the law; but
because the legal machinery is oc-
cupied in reaching other and more
fragrant offenders.
These men overlook the influence
of their example. They are as a rule
good citizens and their crime is one
of thOughtlessness and seliishness
more than anything else, They con-
tinue to break this law because of the
tang there is in defeating a regula-
ton. When you discuss it seriously
with one of them he admits it is
wrong; but he feels that "others do
it, why shouldn't II"
( There are at least four good reasons
why they should not do it, even If
others do.
1 /. 1t is breaking an American law.
+ ,. 1t leads others TO break the law.
/ 3. Break ng this particular law fire.
quently leads to more serious crimes
1, 1t is n-American to be lawbreak-
er.
In other words. lawbreaker can
not be a 100 per cent American.
(rhe above is taken from the March
number of The Slug published by
The Linograph Co, Davenport, Iowa.
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