The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1940-06-27

to enlist in the French Foreign
Legion in order to practice what
they preach without involving the
American people who are 90 per
cent in favor of keeping out of
foreign wars.
II know of nothing in the exist
ing law that would prevent Doro-
thy Thompson from driving an
ambulance in the war zones as Is
now being done by many brave
young Americans who have al
ready volunteered.
ct would be interesting to know
what some of these war-monger-
ing columnists, editors, college
professors. and International bank
ers did in the last war, and to
observe how many intervention
lists who want to go to war are
beyond the draft age"
1t does not require a great deal
of courage for those who are be-
yond the draft age to advocate
Americas participation in the war.
To my mind the best patriot is he
who thinks Of Americas welfare
first, last and all the time. With
Americans there cannot be divided
allegiance.
Skilled Help Needed
Machinists, toolmakers, welders,
sheet-metal workers. ship filters,
coppersmiths, boat builders, drill
ers, clippers and caulkers, pipe
coverers, aircraft mechanics and
blacksmiths are listed for employ
ment at navy yards and naval air
stations.
The maximum age limit Is 4S
years, except for veterans, in
which case the age limit is 62
years. At the present time the age
DO Not Want Them
From time to time someone
comes forward with a proposal
that we acquire British and
French possessions in the Western
Hemisphere in settlement Of
World War debts. Some even go
so far as to suggest that we seize
these possessions if necessary.
That, of course, would be an act
of war. It may be desirable to Sc
cure two or three West Indian is
lands for the protection Of the
Panama Canal, but the proposal
to take over all the possessions
held by the Allies is just plain
foolish.
Several years ago Great Britain
created the Royal West Commits
sion to study the problems of over
population, depressed agricultural
prices and the need for broader
social service. After an exhaustive
study the commission recommend
ed that Britain spend five million
dollars annually for the next twen-
ty years to improve the lot Of the
unfortunates who occupy these
possessions.
I have visited several Of these
possessions and I wouldn't swap a
good section of Minnesota land
for all that have seen. The people
live in squalor and are afflicted
with all the diseases known to
science. Why should we take on an
additional burden Of this character
when we have so many people at
home whose lot should be better
ed?
We have been in the Philippine
Islands since 1862 years. and
it is admitted that we have given
the Filipines a good and honest
administration. In doing SO we
have spent hundreds of millions in
building schools, colleges, roads
and improving sanitation. 1t has
cost us thousands of lives to carry
on the program and all the thanks
we get is abuse.
Were we to get into the West
Indies we would get the same re-
ward. Sir Gilbert Parker may not
have been so far wrong when he
said, "the Americans, next to the
Chinese, are the most gullible
people in the world" Being given
an intelligence quotient that places
us just above the Chinese is dis
couraging to say the least.