The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1942-03-12
Straight From
Washington
BY STEPHEN NJ. YOUNG
Congressman at Large, Ohio

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Congressman at Large, Ohio
WashingtOn.-With dictatOrs waging
war against us on two fronts, the
American people present unity and
solidarity without precedent in the
annals of this nation. In 1912. the
House of Representatives declared war
on England by vote of 20 to 40. In
1899, Il declaration of war against
France was defeated by five votes.
Preceding and during the war between
the States, there We're bitter differ
enceS of opinion. Scores of Congress
men left Washington to engage in war
to destroy the Union. In 1917, the
declaration of war against Germany
was opposed by so congressman On
December s, 1941. President Roosevelt
in an eight minute address, asked for
an acknowledgement that war existed
with the Japanese Empire. Congress.
with only one dissenting vote declared
that Il state of war existed, and few
days later we unanimously voted a
similar declaration of war against
Germany and Italy. Such unity of
spirit and solidarity for the defense of
our institutions has never been dis
played since the founding of this ma
ton. Every American has task in
this great struggle. Whether serving
in the armed forces, on the farms
raising necessary food supplies, or
working in shops and ShipyardS, or
buying Defense Ronds-we all serve.
On the war front, the industrial front,
the farm front, and the home front,
the lines must he held if we are to
achieve total victory. In fact, if we
are to avoid being licked
American Heroes
Private Robert H. Brooks, killed
near Fort Stotsenburg, Philippine
Islands, early on December Z, was
probably the first American soldier
killed in this war. He was the son Of
Negro sharecroppers living near Sadie
vile, Kentucky. Crispus Attucks, a
Negro, who fell on Boston Common,
was the first colonist killed in the
American Revolution. In the American
drive for total victory, let no loyal
American be Disseminated against.
The loyalty of Negroes to this Govern
ment and its institutions has never
been questioned. The parade ground at
Fort Knox has been named Brooks
| Field. Nine generals of our Army stood
at attention in tribute to Private
Brooks when the Stars and Stripes
We're lowered to half staff in an inn
member Crispus Attucks and Private
Robert Brooks, men of color-Ameri-
can heroes.
Some folks around Washington seem
a bit jittery. Anti-aircraft guns are
atop the House office buildings. Red
ways leading to the basement and tun-
mel between the office buildings and
the Capitol. Sand boxes clutter the
lower Railways. These preparations
like the three or four million men
under arms in England, are measures
against an invasion that will never
take place--probably has not ever
been planned England better get some
of those men to Australia-prOntO-
and in Hawaii and the Philippines
they need anti-aircraft guns more thar
we do in Washington.
Chinese Wall
Republican isOlatiOnistS who vOtet
against the lend-leaSe bill, against re
peal of the arms embargo and agains
amending the neutrality act to permi
American merchant vessels to sail int
war zones, were set back on their heel
by their recent candidate for PreSi
dent, Wendell Willkie. Mr. Willki
said, Far more was destroyed a
Pearl Harbor than ships and plane
and human lives. Obsolete ideas, an,
the habits of thinking which made tn
destruction possible went down witt
the Arizona. Never again can w
cherish the blind illusion that dis
turbanceS in other parts of the wOrl'
are no concern of ours. Never agail
can we place our trust in a Chimes
wall of national aloofness."