Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 134, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 June 1919 — TO MAKE AMERICA SAFE for DEMOCRACY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TO MAKE AMERICA SAFE for DEMOCRACY

by James B. Wootan

H EARLY two million peculiar people have just enlisted in a special campaign to make America safe for democracy. Having discovered the needs of various groups of unusual inhabitants in the United States, they have put their hands into their own pockets and subscribed nearly $13,000,000 to aid these people and combat bolshevism and kindred evils. This 'peaceful army is enlisted under the title of “Comrades of the New Era” and the allegiance they avow =ls to the United States and the Presbyterian church in the U. S. A. Lumbermen of the Northwest, Indians West and South, Mexicans stirring up strife on both sides of the Texas border, negroes and poor whites In the mountain districts’, immigrants newly come to our shores, the poverty stricken of the cities, eager youths too poor to pay for their 'own education, underpaid ministers of the gospel—these are some of the unusual people which the Presbyterian “Comrades of the New Era” will seek to benefit by this crusade. The forests of America helped win the war. The lumberjacks of these forests, if left alone in the primeval timberland, have a tendency toward lawlessness. Presbyterians determined to bring the benefits of civilization to these men deep in the woods and are planning to spend a fortune in saving them from themselves. “You may do all th# preaching in my camp you please,” said a foreman of a lumber camp when the Presbyterian “Sky Pilot” asked permission to work among the men. This is the rough welcome that is given the missionaries in most camps. The Presbyterian church was the first to take up this work and it is almost alone in Its ministry to over 600,000 men ip the woods. The I. W. W. has many recruits among these men. Bolshevism has found a welcome and it is to combat the growth of the spirit of unrest and lawlessness that the Presbyterian church has just doubled its budget for lumber camp work. The Sky Pilots tramp long distances to work among the lumberjacks. Out over trails and by-paths, a heavy pack filled with song books, Bibles and magazines on tfieir backs, they go, frequently -on snow shoes and almost always alone. They battle with storms and wild animals, but when they reach camp they , throw off their weariness and do practical evangelical work among the lumberjacks, combating the vicious ideas that have gained such headway, and urging the men to become patriotic Christian citizens. Work in the Southwest. Loyal work for Americanizing the great Southwest is especially directed by the Presbyterians against hordes of Mexicans. The Mexican never hyphenates. There is no such thing as a Mexican-American. He is bitterly a Mexican, unadulterated. No more serious national problem confronts the American people today than the Mexican situation in the Southwest, and there is no problem about which the American people know so little. The Presbyterian Missionaries in the Southwest state that the German aliens have

been more loyal to America and American ideas than have Mexican aliens within our borders. The principle Inspiring the thousands of Mexicans in the. Southwest United States Is to profit by all that Is best in America, but upon no occasion to take out citizenship papers in this .country. Mexican free thought, ‘crossed with bolshevism “made in Germany,” has become a dangerous menace which the Presbyterians are preparing large special funds to combat. The American Indian is not dying out. On the contrary the red men are Increasing in numbers and are taking their place In the advancement of the country as never before. The Indians are giving the white men less trouble than are some of the aliens within our borders, but the Presbyterians claim that this is the result of missionary effort, and they are renewing their plans to Christianize and civilize the entire Indian race. The tremendous fishing, mining and agricultural possibilities of Alaska are resulting in a rush of men to that country who must be kept in leash by some civilizing power. The Presbyterians have begun pioneer work in Alaska an«P are striving to exert a vast i moral force over that country where the strong right arm has been the chief form of government. Americanizing the People. In many isolated communities of the great West, “Comrades of the New Era" find their efforts necessary to create a healthful morale among the people, and this is just as true among the congested immigrant populations of the large cities. The Presbyterians plan to lift the people out of their sordid and depressing conditions and to administer relief work as a part

of their great Americanization plan. Presbyterian women are raising among themselves nearly $2,000,000 for educational and social work In this country. Half a million more will be spent for educational and religious work among the negroes. More than $1,000.000 also will be spent for general, religious education, Sunday school work, special men's work and general evangelism. Taking Care of Their Own. While the Presbyterian “Comrades of the New Era” are doubling their efforts and their contributions toward uplifting humanity at large In the United States, -they are not neglecting their own people. They are-increas-ing underpaid ministers’ salaries $1,000,000 and are devoting another million to the care of disabled preachers. They are spending another million dollars for soldiers and sailors returning from the war and for stricken churches in the war zone of Europe. They are spending $4,000,000 for work overseas. Including the operation of 175 hospitals and dispensaries. Altogether the Presbyterian church has just appropriate# not only $13,000.000 for benevolence* and educational purposes, but also $42,000,000 additional for their own local expenses throughout the United States. The “Comrades of the New Era" hope thus to combat In this country the wave of radicalism that is sweeping over the world. They claim that no force of civilization except the church can save the world in its present crisis and they take pride in being peculiar enough to spend their Own millions for this achievement rather than appeal to the people at large outside their own ranks for funds to erect a bulwark against bolshevism.