Uncensored?

Mrs. Clem L. Shaver, wife of the National Campaign Manager of the Democratic Party, wrote a letter to the Fairmont West Virginian in which she said in part:

We notice in recent press reports that the Democratic Vice Presidential candidate, Charles W. Bryan, a well known pacifist, continues to pick at and harp upon the coming observance of National Defense Day, insisting upon designating it a "militaristic" program.

This is, naturally, a pacifist point of view; but, strange to say, in the days before "Charlie" Bryan became the amazed--no, gentle reader, we did not say "amazing"-- Vice Presidential nomine of his party, he set the seal of his approval as Governor upon the Defense Day plans, offering to call out the state militia and to invite all patriotic societies to participate.

Why has Mr. Bryan changed his point of view so quickly? Surely it can not be because he wishes to make a mere political issue of a patriotic demonstration that has the indorsement of every patriotic society in the country.

This is especially true of the women's organizations. The Daughters of the American Revolution, the Colonial Dames of America, the Daughters of 1812, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and many other women's clubs and organizations of all kinds--for all women are patriots--have indorsed Defense Day and will be found taking part in the program on September 12.

The women of America are not pacifists-- they never have been--from the days of Mollie Stark, Betty Zane and Margaret Lynn Lewis.

It is said that when the British, under General Tarleton, drove the Virginia Legislature from Charlottesville to Staunton, volunteers were called for to prevent the passage of the British through the mountains at Rockfish Gap. History tells us that Mrs. Lewis called to her side her three young sons, aged 17, 15 and 13 years, and made them fly to the defense of their country, their native land.

"Go my children," she said, "I spare not my youngest even, my fair-haired boy, the comfort of my declining years; I devote you all to my country. Keep, back the foot of the invader from the soil of Augusta, or see my face no more."

No, let not that hydra-headed monster raise its head among us, redblooded, fighting Americans, born and bred descendants of Colonial and Revolutionary pioneer ancestors. There is no pacifism in our patriotic hearts.

The objection to Defense Day is known to be propaganda, designed to make a political issue. Why? Does Charles W. Bryan feel that the real issues between the two great parties are so few that he attempts to set up a false one? This pacifist talk is not helping the Democratic party.