Show Fat Fatuous and H Helpless s By H Herbert erberi Kaufman SHOULD this war terminate presently rest assured far too many of us will be convinced that the mere entry of America stopped the row and another era of fatuous delusions and empty brag may mayi i e There are still millions hereabouts who haven't quite lost the that nolion-that were we're such natural warriors warriors such such world feared scrap scrap- p that the whole universe trembles at Uncle S Sam's Sams ms m's fist t. t 1 r The The- Store Stove club the Whittling society and Pompous B B. B Esq dont don't yet admit IQ local al vulnerability With them licking our weight in wildcats is a regular talent talent talent-an an exclusive i J. B Because cause of that obsession these United States were perilously to uphold ld national dignity at a very critical hour Events iove we were babes in the international woods provincial temptingly fat without claws short claws short sighted and ingenuous lon 1 long a helpless fold for any strong wolf pack i. i r We Ve were betting on t the Minute Man and discovered hardly iI time that hes he's tod t much of a last minute man for modern J Twelve months ago several foreign powers could have caught Off f guard and inflicted a prompt and thorough drubbing One shudders to contemplate what might have happened llad the challenge gone to a Germany free to at attack ack at the word go The call to arms not alone revealed military inefficiency but m industrial incompetence It has shown us in how many ways we could ha have v been Shrewder and thriftier it has sped our clocks and bred a conscience history 3 i 3 We behold public and private interests interest wearing the same yoke yielding priorities and privileges for the Flagie Flag I ie we Ve view voluntary economic reforms yes yesterday erday dared not farn forYe for selfishness and i We Ye have already won victories over tp to well requite s sacrifices Men Me 1 and millions faith fait fingers imd fend factories in common salute Old Glory If we can mobilize com community strength strength strength-i if we can bring ourselves our our- i selves to lend fortunes volunteer services and accept stint to defend i ur we can by continuing to be wor worthy hy citizens forever fur then v But it is quite in the cards should peace peace be concluded before Our T ur a actual st strength is required for a decision t demagogy ever ale t to play upon the unsophisticated ted the bigoted the ignorant and will coming elections demean the gravity of this moment assail asail the wi wisdom dom and magnitude of current cur rent expenditures declare that our weak condition was exaggerated fao fau the old fires of complacency to rescind bought blood 1 legislation flatter and rant itself back to control resurrect the pork barrel unleash the profiteer again hamstring army and na navy v and ands s gu e the republic for the ne t ready and rapacious foe Pray God we never lose present sanity Copyright 1918 by Herbert Kaufman Great Britain and all other rights reserved |