Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1919 — “IP’ OR “SUPPOSING” [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

“IP’ OR “SUPPOSING”

By GEORGE ADE.

On October 1, 1918, yon. being a wise man and having read with car* the oplnlona of military experts, knew: 1. That the great war was going to last until far Into the summer of 1919. 2. That the casualties among the American soldiers would be increasingly heavy up to the final moment of fighting. 3. That, as a result of the growing magnitude of the world struggle, th government of the United States would cull upon us for at leasl three huge l»ond subscriptions during 1919. If you believed otherwise you were in the minority, for the cabinets‘of sll the nations united against Germany, nnd the bank**, and the shipbuilders.

and the masters of food supplies thought they ' knew that Germany would stand out for many months. Now’ then, to suppose a case. If some one had come to you on October 1 v%’ltli a proposition to end the war within six weeks by n complete and overwhelming victory on condition that you would subscribe liberally for Victory bonds in the spring of 1919, you would have replied as follow s: “Say, end the war this fall and stop the killing and maiming of our boys, and put the kaiser out of business and compel Germany to accept our terms and let the American soldiers begin to head for home, and I’ll pledge my last dollar for the loun that Is needed to clean up expenses.” That’s how you felt on October 1, 1918, and now that all the miracles have come to pass, are you going to be grateful or forgetful? You are now* asked to help finance (by merely lending on favorable terms and not giving) the final and gigantic expenditures which brought victory months ahead of the schedule. If we had lost the war, what would yon be paying this spring and to whom? How’s your memory? Did you feel certain, Just a year ago today, that Germany could be prevented from dictating terms to the whole world? How about a loyal parent who refuses to pay a doctor bill because the child gets well instead of dying?

IV heli you tackle a big job do you stick to the finish, or do you go fishing and permit some more dependable man to come In and put on the roof ami chimney? Do you experience symptoms ol morality only when the doctor is seated at the bedside? When you start to go somewhere, do you travel four-fifths of the way and then flop by the wayside? Can you be patriotic when the band Is not playing? We are settling <jip a big job. so don’t queer your wur record at th* eleventh hour by being n quitter. HELP "FINISH THE JOB." No better job work produced In this section of Indiana than that turned out by The Democrat. Read The Democrat for live news.

“Can You Be Patriotic When the Band's Not Playing?"—George Ade.