The Redwood gazette., 1937-04-08
What Price Glory


before the declaration. A handful of earn
est senators fighting in congress against the
growing pressure of public sentiment.
newly reelected president, deeply sincere,
forsaking the campaign slogan "he kept us
out of war; for the newer phrase, "to make
the world safe for democracy"
At last news came. Not by radio as it
would today but in the newspapers that
the following morning to those
of us who lived on rural routes. We were
at war. 1t was exciting news If you were
lad still in the teens. Not so musty as the
Revolutionary and Civil wars of our his
tory books: 1t was sad news to thoughtful
parents. Many brave mother shed quiet
tears as she read the bold headlines
THEN the enlistment period. Even our
tiny community must contribute manpower.
A recruiting officer came on the morning
train. When it returned we school kids
marched to the depot, carrying flags, to
wave goodbye to eight boys, two of whom
never returned.
Draft registrations followed, first for
men of Fl to 35, then for younger and older
men. sores left, many of them farm boys
needed TO harvest the bumper crop which
would bring nigh prices-to be- invested in
liberty loan bonus, issue after issue as the
tions and profteers.
Meanwhile we had meatless, wheatless,
sweetless days. Sugar was three pounds for
a dollar. Having over three pounds gave
you the community rating of spy Thrift
stamps were more to be desired by young
sters, than candy. Your card full, you ex-
changed it for war saving stamp. There
should be a bonus for boys and girls who
grew up without bikes, marbles, dolls that
a war might be financed.
THERE was the war hysteria too. The
silent fear that because your name had
more able to buy liberty bonds than you
knew yourself to be, you might be branded
p~o-German, your house or barn or business
place daubed with bright yellow
Training camp epidemics, the Stacker
era, war brides. Minutemen melting crowds
at street corners. Bands blaring. Without
brass horns there could be no wars. Head
lines telling of safe arrivals of troop ships.
Word that our boys are moving up" Re-
ports of victories, glorious victories, with
the sad addenda listing the casualties. Gold
stars in the windows Of homes which knew
the full price of war.
THE FALSE armistice- greatest news
Armistice. A one-word headline that told
News of troops released
from training camps. Boys of the AEF
landing in New York, marching down Broad
way before crowds crazy with joy. In the
background, the lads who would never
march again. In France, whole fields OF
white crosses, some to be visited later by
sad-eyed gold star mothers.
Getting back to normal. Soldiers COM
ing home to find their jobs filled. Former
students trying to quiet down to studies.
Rocky farm tracts for the disabled. The
Jazz age At Versailles, first inkling of pre-
war agreements. Fourteen points. A pro-
fessor- president lonely among the wolves.
ONE COULD go farther Blame the
boom, the stock gambling craze, the gang
ster decade, the crash and the depression on
the wild ambition 'to end all wars"
We were the victors. But what did we
win. Not territory. We learned the fallacy
of such spoils when we got the Philippines.
World peace? Read today's daily news
papers. What we won was white crosses,
disabled veterans, war debts, the after ef-
fects. $780,.
What price glory?
DOES crime like the murder of Laura
KruSe, Minneapolis girl, just happen or is
society warned in advance? Chances are
that the guilty fiend has been picked up for
molesting others. Possibly he has served
short terms in the workhouse or he may
have got off with lecture and warning. 1t
is quite probable he has been paroled after
a brief sojourn in the penitentiary for per-
haps an equally vicious crime. Blame the
police? Naturally, but remember they only
make the arrests. The light sentences and
easy paroles do not belong at their door.
THERE are arguments in favor of a
one house legislature as adopted by Nebras-
ka but Minnesota's legislative situation to-
day gives cause to doubt the advisability of
the step. Suppose the house today was not
forced to compromise with the saner senate.
Both bodies are too large, but the constitu-
tion trainers appear to have been smart
when they decided there should be two
branches of the legislature.
WHATEVER one may think of some of
the finished products, the Minnesota house of
representatives has disposed of a surprising
amount of legislation for this stage of the
session. Apparently Speaker Harold Bark
e., newspaper man who knows what it
means to make the deadline, deserves con-
siderable credit for his efforts to avoid the