The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1940-11-06
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quite. indeed. Not everybody
can get in there. To do ~ i
10 wear the hall mark Of quail
ity. The fact that Viola Vas
terlain. who began studying
the violin when she was at
tending school in Tacoma. has
had two Town Hall presenta-
tions establishes her among
the unsteady elect.
Il has happened here. and no
matter how the election goes.
Viola Wasterlain VIII go on
making sweet music. The home
town greeting when she comes
back some time after the first
Of the year ought to be some
thing.
Now that its al over but
counting the votes. candidates
who have been shouting that the
United States is disorganized
and democracy shot to pieces
can take time to feel sorry for
some Of their mistakes. How
terribly mistaken they were
or II they were not mistaken
how deliberately and boldly they
misrepresented the faets-is in
dicated by reports of draft
boards and recruiting offices.
Unanimity that could mean
nothing but a nation united.
marked the response to the
call 10 register Tor eonscrip-
tion-the first peace time con-
scription in the United States.
Then the ink was hardly dry
on the registration cards be-
fore registrants began offer
ing their services in greater
numbers than the government
could provide for.
In sharp contrast is the pic
ture of the United States entry
into the first World war Jails
and penitentiaries were filled
with those who directly opposed
the draft or attempted in other
ways To interfere with the
preparations to join the fight
with the allies against Germany.
There was the preparedness day
bombing in San Francisco with
its killed and injured and peni-
tertiary sentences and repercus-
sions which continue till this
day.
William Jennings Bryan, who
resigned from President Will
sons cabinet because he was op-
posed to involving meri a
directly IN the European war.
said million men would rise
up overnight voluntarily to de-
fend America should this coun-
try be attacked. Some of us
laughed at him. Now, looking
down from the Elysian fields,
it's Bryans turn to laugh. A
million men did rise up over
night to defend America.
And Mr.. Bryan, If he were
so disposed. might have a few
more laughs. Some of his pre-
dictions about the futility of
the last World war have come
true. In 1876 nobody be-
lieved him. Today many wish
they had believed him.
One of the "reminiscences OF
Tacomas participation in the
first World war relates to the
Home Guard. one of he organ
izations which performed a great
volunteer service for the govern
ment.
President of the organization
was James McNeely James A.
Hays was vice president; Philip
'. Caesar. recorder: the Rev.
Charles s Revelle. chaplain. and
Nina Brotton, sergeant-at-arms.
The board of councillors in
Guided William H. Dickson,
chairman, Charles E. Cutter,
secretary; Eugene T Wilson,
treasurer. and Maurice A. Lang
horne, Toreer Peterson, Frank
lin 3. Gault, Elmer NJ. Hayden,
Thomas Higgins. Nicholas Klo-
berg. Harry J. Dutton. Ira S.
DAWSON. Beverly Conner, Swan
Samson. John Snyder, Louis F.
Hart, George E. Whitney. B. o.
Skewis. Meyer Jacob, Andrew
Foss. Harry D. Cowles, the Rev.
H. r. McGinnis, Thomas II. Bel
bingham. s. r. Fraser. William
F. Grass, William Sumner.
One of the most valuable
services of the group was CO.
operation with the federal gov
eminent in increasing produce
ton and conserving natural re-
sources, particularly the food
supply of Pierce county. Many
an extra hill of corn or pota-
toes was planted and other re-
sources of the county increased
because the Home Guard sup
piled the spark
Twenty-three years later an
other home guard is being or
gained for the same job.
NiICCTiNkIC tn TCcY