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Show .rood8 11 JhoMgiht There is a front line to this war which is more important than many realize. That front line is the moral and spiritual fiber of the people and it, as much as the guns, may determine determ-ine the success of the war. Anything that interferes with, or breaks down this moral and spiritual force is an enemy to be reckoned with. Here are some of the factors that work for weakness in the national effort: i All people believe in the political wisdom of Washington and Franklin. Wonder if they will believe also in what thpy said about religious matters. They should. Hear thern. The great Father of our country said: "It is impossible to govern the world without God and religion." Benjamin Franklin said in the Constitutional Convention : "Our government can only end in despotism and corruption, if men lose sight of the great law of Jesus Christ." They spoke the truth. Givfi heed . "The marvel of the twentieth century is the quiet, unheralded unher-alded growth of the consumer cooperative movement. Hundreds Hund-reds of thousands of people of small means, without fanfare, have joined hands to serve themselves. They buy their day-to-day needs through their cooperatives, and through them they are getting title to the good things of life." "Make whatever test you please exclude a man if you like for his political sentiments, or his moral conduct, for his wealth or his poverty, for his youth or his age; make war upon him for the color of his hair; for the length of his legs or the shape of his nose, bat let him alone about his religion for that is consecrated ground; that is a point on which the Constitution has refused to trust you with one particle of power; and wisely too, for mortal men are not fit to be trusted with such power; they have never had it without abusing it." All the time, every minnte that the enemy nations were building up their war machines there were ghosts and specters standin ; by unseen, saying in subdued tones: "Ye build and build without knowing that ye are building for your own destruction. de-struction. The machines ye make for your fellow men's destruction de-struction will become your own destroyers. Ask the Kaiser." Cooperative support for the Voorhis-Wagner bill a cooperative coop-erative measure has compelled Democratic leaders of the House of Representatives to discuss, serously, the whole problem of post-war planning. Arid in all the discussions yet held, the ablest of the leaders have agreed that the Voorhis-Wagner bill presents the only sound planning programyet offered. It is all together too bad that the state has to lose so good and able a man as Mark Anderson of Provo, retiring head of the State Fish and Game Commission. A man like him should not be just a voice in a commission of three or more men, he should have full reign for his program, unhindered and un-hamperad. un-hamperad. After trying out the work for a few months, he knows more about politics than he ever did, and it is doubtful doubt-ful if he will want any more political experience. "Give me the mother love and the wealth that is lavished on poodle dogs and I will redeem all the waifs in the world and transform theminto noble men and women " "I see that all the stuff of heaven is always here and that a world united isjthe goal beyond the (physical f victory of those strong ones who fight for the right. I seethat we are already united in a common inheritance of divine possibilities The great cities of the country, Salt Lake and Ogden excepted, ex-cepted, are seething with vice and corruption. Underneath the thin surface veneer there are conditions that should shame our civilization, A story of appalling conditions has justcome out of Detroit where matters were thought to be about right. One man Judge Ferguson was appointed to make an investigation in-vestigation of graft and corruption. He examined thousands of witneesses. He brought to light a $20,000 000 a yearjgamb-ling yearjgamb-ling and prostitution racket) and various political graftj and j w- sflRSHOI corruption rackets. Hejindicted 500 men and and women, am-ong am-ong themthe mayorjand a dozen other jcity ((officials, and scores of polieernen, among them ijthe one sent to protect him. Of the ones he brought to trial 94 werejeonvicted. It can be done even by one able, honestman . SJJust suppose that the nations were put in a fposition to work for peace and spend for peace like they are working and spending for war. What'!a world men might make.? Imagine each country putting all their billions and all the'Jstrength of their manhood and womanhood into works that Jmade for human welfare, for beautifying the cities, for making real homes for the masses, for bettering the schools, for breeding better men and women, for more parks and playgrounds, for justioe, 1 equality and abundance, for making conditions in whichJnat-ions whichJnat-ions would compete in fighteosness, and vie with eachoTher in doing their utmost for human welfare.JMay God speed the day when war and poverty may not only be done away with, but when every last relic of these twin monsters 'fof in-sanity in-sanity and barbarism are buried forever from the view of the generations to follow. "I hear the throb of giant motors Jand know thatj airy battalions soar above, bearing not bombs but free-souled men to deeds of right and duties of peace. I hear a universal anguage spring from the lips of all the peoples of the earth. "I pause a moment in work I proudly do for my country and lift my heart in confidence and peace. I see a world united; a world healed of hate. I see the golden wealth of earth poured forth in abundant sustenance for all. I see men doing their work without fear, and hear a mother singing sing-ing a lullaby for a son who will never be called to war. I see little children laughing and playing and feel in my lungs the breath of their freedom; for they are free! In my humble opinion it would be well if we were a little more tolerant toward each other, not only in matters of religion reli-gion and politics but in many other ways along the pathway of life- James E. Hart 404 Wall Street, S . L. City |