Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1917 — FOOD FOR CONGRESSIONAL THOUGHT. [ARTICLE]

FOOD FOR CONGRESSIONAL THOUGHT.

The brilliant success of the liberty loan should caqse eppgress to ponder well the temper of the American people as-.to the ways and means for prosecuting the w?r It is significant that while thousands of meh; in the humbler walks of life \vere making sacrifices to subscribe to tlte loan, these same men and other thousands were at the same time protesting to the utmost against the action of congress in the' matter of war taxation. No graver mistake could be made than to saddle upon the people just at this time an oneraus schedule

of taxation. The country is how in the full swung of a campaign of Industry and, production that is going to require the use of every dollar that every industry can master. But wlyile this is true, there are not actively employed that Can be procured by the sale of bonds. The bond issue is the fair and equitable,, plan of financing the wur It affords the subsCrrber the opportunity to do his bit without feeling that his business is . being cramped and hindered by an oppressive burden of taxes, just ai the time when he most needs all of the resotfrees at his command. ’ The people of 'this generation must pay heavily enough, in casl) and; .bloody Those of the. coming generation should assume their share. J Bond issues will insure a fair andy equal distribution of the expenses of the war. is no 'safer or . saner method. ’

The billions of dollars that our government and foreign nations are borrowing from our people will be spent right pi this country for food stuffs and war supplies of all kinds. . The bulk of this money will find its way into the hands qf the millions of wage earners, and they in turn will spend most of it for the necessities of life. This community will get its share of those billions. The shrewd home merchant knows this, and is already mapping out an extensive advertising /campaign to offset the tremendous efforts of mail order Rouses and large city merchants. He will get his, for advertising will bring it to him. The local merchants who forget to advertise, who expects to increase his business without a proportionate increase legitimate publicity expense, may discover to his cost that he is decreasing it instead. \The public takes every man’s' number. —

With the actual draft upon us. there is much speculation as to who wilU be the first to go from our own community. But whoever it may be?we Who remain should See that thev are not forgotten by the “folks hack home." We should ascertain the camps to which each one is assigned, and then through a home committee see that each is generati sly supplied-' wi th magazi neshome papers, comfort bags, cheery letters, and anything that will ipake

■lifemore cheerful to them. \No single individual going forth from this community to. light for his country should be overlooked. and all should be shown equa.l courtesy and attention. When the good peopled this community organixe such' a committee' the editor will be the first to contribute by furnishing a copy of -this paper tw ice tach week to each soldier who goes from'" our midst. What will you do° The fact that the United States government has landed 25-QOO or more ' soldiers—th-e precise number has" not bet;n made public—in England and France, together with supplies for this advance army,* and without the loss of a single man or any of tire- supplies, and all. within the short period that has elapsed since war was declared, must be a staggering blow to the Teutons, 'who said it would be a year or more before Uncle Sam could get in shape to send an army across the. sea. In avery short time the Germans will be facing these advance 'forces and they will think h — has broke loose in dead earnest. In the meantime, many' thousands more men and ship-loads of munitions and supplies will be taken over and an army of no mean proportions will be actively assisting the allies in chasing the kaiser’s, troops off French soil.

Rensselaer should have a home market place for every single product of the farm, large or should be a place -where the farmer can dispose of his produce at market prices and for spot cash,Without the trouble and waiting incident to shipping to outside points. When, this is done much of the farmer's money that goes out of town now will in future be spent right at home, with our home business men. This World does not recognize the policy of “something for nothing.” hence, if we want the farmer to help us we must be equally willing to .aid him. Who has the brains and energy to make a start in this direction?’ It mean's much to future welfare of each of us.

Why are we fighting? The answer to this question is contained in the government’s red, white and blue book, just issued. The text of the book —or paper—has been published in all of the daily papers, and constitutes an unanswerable argument in favor of war to the hilt. Read it—study it —analyze it —and when, you have digested its contents you will be thoroughly convinced of the justice and the absolute necessity of the war the United States is waging against Germany.