The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1942-03-12

49,
tinguished:
AT long last perhaps sooner
than we dare to hope he says.
the democratic forces of the world
will thrust Japan back on her
islands and peace will reign in the
Pacific. In that day. Korea will re-
join the ranks of the free and again
become known as the Land of the
Morning Calm"
Buy Defense Bonds
Is the u. S. Complacent
About War?
Is America complacent about the
war?
That is the great question which
is agltating the various agencies Of
government which consider it their
function to stir America to the high
pitch necessary for maximum war
effort.
The letters which I receive fairly
bristle on that subject. Complacent?
We aren't complacent. they say. it's
you people in Washington who are
the complacent ones.
Recently I was in a gathering
where three speakers told in great
detail what the movie industry was
doing as a part Of the war effort.
1t is doing a lot-donating its time
and its facilities. Many members Of
the industry are in Washington with
army Or navy commissions or on
civilian salaries far less than they
earn at their regular jobs-like the
dollar-a-year men. Some are patri-
otto. They are too old to join the
fighting forces and they want to do
their bit. Some. I daresay, like many
parasites" who have swarmed to
Washington are here for less altruis-
tic purposes.
War. like patriotism as DR.. John
SON defined it, can be 1.-The last
refuge of scoundrels" as we'll as
the medium of the supreme sacri-
fee.
Whether or not the nation as a
whole is complacent is a question
which nobody can answer. The real
problem which we have before us is
to turn a nation, naturally attuned
to peace, a nation whose military
tradition is limited compared to
the countries of Europe. These peo-
pies of different language, race and
customs are crowded within narrow
Notwithstanding lines which have
been drawn and redrawn in the
blood of thousands who were taught
from childhood that the word for
eigner" was almost synonymous
with the word enemy"
We have lived and worked and
had our being, between two unforti-
fed borders and with two once
friendly oceans to guard us. Sud-
denly we are being forced to play
a part in a world which has accept
ed might is right" We know we
are mighty. So mighty that it has
never been a question in the hearts
Of even the most arrogant war lords
of whether we could defeat them.
Only a question of whether we would
make the effort. Whether, in other
words, we would be complacent
while they strut and trot their hour
upon the stage" History proves that
only a short space of time is granted
for tyrants to Cypress freemen.
Longer than that no tyrant has ever
existed. And America, once awak-
ened, will number their days.
Conservatives Disagree
There are plenty of conservatives
who will contest this statement.
They will tell you that SOMEBODY
has to foot the bill, that even if
and Japan and Italy man.
age to struggle on with no major
military defeats. that unless they
are totally victorious they will total
ly collapse financially.
This viewpoint is expressed by
those who believe that eventually
the thing will happen that many Of
were told would happen long ago.
How often did you hear before Pearl
Harbor. Japan is almost broke
now. she can't afford to 60 to war
with a major power" Or. Ger
many is on the verge Of absolute
and financial collapse"
Perhaps these orthodox econo-
mists are correct. Perhaps it is
money that makes the machine gun
go as well as the mare. and when
the money stops the nations which
are on the verge Of bankruptcy now
will fall like a house Of cards. But
the new-school thinkers are able to
marshal a lot Of evidence to support
their theory that there are a lot Of
things that money won't buy and
that there are a lot of things which,
if you love 'em you don't need money.