Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 September 1917 — EXEMPTIONS [ARTICLE]

EXEMPTIONS

The enormous number of claims for exemption from army service constitute a shame to American manhood and a disgrace to our country. It is proof positive as holy writ of one of two propositions: Either our young men are entirely lacking in patriotism or they are pitiful cowards. We refer with contempt to the slacker who eluded the registration. But what of the infinitely more contemptible slacker who, while seemingly acquiescing in the draft, put up a pitiful plea for exemption —plea that shows false and hypocritical on its face? All honor to that numerous contingent who, when war was assured, promptly tendered their services. All honor to another group who, while not so quick to volunteer, yet when the call came, stepped forward like men and took their medicine with smiling faces. Such as they both have made this the proud country it is today. ' Of course'there are some perfectly legitimate claims for exemption. They will and should be granted. But the ‘ exemption’’ slacker —ugh! Words are powerless to describe him. During the second week in October the country will be able to correctly guage the patriotism of its women. E very woman in the country is asked to register, during that week- for whatever service she feels she can render her country in this greatest crisis of its history. We have been used to boasting of the splendid loyalty of our women, and we have always had whereof to boast. Thus far in the present conflict their response to the calls made on them has been spontaneous and most gratifying. But greater demands yet will be made. Their work is in no sense inferior to that of the men. although it may differ very materially from it in the element of “thrill.”"" They will 7>e called on to take up and bear woman's age-old burden — patient endurance and helpful ministration. That their response will be even more, enthusiastic than it has ever been, there are none who doubt. It would be interesting to know just how much of that large Russian loan will find its way into the pockets of the men in the trenches. We look with pride on the magnificent personnel of our army, but we are too apt to forget or overlook the fact that an adequate wage goes a long way towards securing that personnel. The difference between 1 cent a day and $1 a day may account for considerably enthusiasm or its absence. We venture the assertion that an American guarantee of sls or S2O a month to every Russian soldier who to stand and fight would materially change the moral, of the Russian armies. It is worth a trial. The only way to secure a lasting peace after this war is to lick the enemy so everlastingly hard he’ll be glad to crawl into his hole and stay there until the hole caves in on him.