AMERICA TO-DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13967, 28 September 1918, Page 1 (Supplement)

AMERICA TO-DAY.

UNITED DETERMINATION.

BY LANCE V. MOSES.

A change is coming over the American people: travellers from abroad freely comment upon it. The old strident note of solf-satisfaction is not so pronounced as o f yore. Uncle Sam is beginning, not to mistrust himself, but to doubt somo of his inherited opinions. Take the question of Domocracy. Always obsessed against the British monarchial system, he imagined it to bo incompatible with democratic progress. When Englishmen imp.ored him to look at us from another standpoint he placed his thumbs in his armpits, tossed hi- head and said it was unnecessary. But now Uncle Sam regards us with a curious wondering air, and as he scratches bib head one delects in his demeanour a suggestion almost of fear lest he has been outstripped by Great Britain in the democratic race. A prominent publicist, speaking in Chicago, said in my hearing, ''England to-day is almost sensitive to prove her democratic spirit. What can be fairer than her present attitude to Ireland. She has given this restless nation a clean sheet of paper and has said, 'Write down any mortal thing you want and you can have it—if you sign it.' "I tell you "he added," "domocracy is making such progress in the old Mother of Nations that our republics must look to their laurels or England will outpace thera." The head of a Public Department recently returned to Washington, D.C., and wrote these suggestive words, "In London I lunched with the British Premier and he and all his surroundings were just about as unaffected and democratic as might well be. I have never broken bread at the White House, but I wonder if the same sort of occasion there would be so comfortably plain and simple as it was at Downing Street. It reminded me of a comment I heard the other day 'Americans talk a lot about democracy, but Englishmen are really democratic.' " Her Full Realisation.

Perhaps this chango of viewpoint has come to America from a realisation of how near the nation came to "losing its soul." NoW that losses are multiplying and the full measure of German iniquity is admitted, the people realise how discouraging America's early "too proud to fi"ht" attitude was to the gallant French and British soldiers, engaged in What appeared to be a thankless task. There still persists, of course, a few of the old' materialistic typo—tuatara-like creatures who stagnate while the World moves on— but these are happily tho exception. We encountered one of this species soon after leaving Honolulu. A total stranger to that' self-conscious sense of being an intruder wl ich usually marks a newcomer on shipboard, he was immediately au fait With everybody: wearing a draughtboard outfit, a pair of big diamonds and a cigar like a smokostack, ho would rattle his poker-box in your face and drawl familiarly, " Waal, stranger, I guess you're not a verso to a hand at poker." Unfortunately for his guessing, there were too many "bridgo maniacs" from under the Southern Cross, and so he had forsooth to subside into a corner of the smoke-room where he began to "calklate concarning tho war." His philosophy was summed up in these fine words, " Wo Hurricane " said he, " are very proud that wo have lent the Allies so many billions of darlers; I guess we're very proud of that," The curled lip and contemptuous, look on the faces of his listeners required no thoughtroader to interpret, for some of these men had lost their only sons, and others were returning "after several lives" to the Minting arena. What should they think of but the impossibility of " calculating" sacrifice in dollars, or of measuring spiritual forces in material terms. Labour's Enthusiasm. *

But, fortunately, that is not America to day, and it is not a little satisfying to know that this genial, warm-hearted and efficient people is ranged with us and not against us. Of the'magnitude and enthusfara of America's war-work what need is there to write when even the "Potsdam gang " has expressed surprise and chagrin. "But," somebody asks, " we know what the Executive of the American people is doing and we'vo heard of Mr. Gomper's patriotism, but how does the average working man regard the war?" Well, here is a typical incident which will give the answer. A representative manual worker in the West, In reply to my question " How do American workingmen regard tho war?" said, " Two years ago my reply would be different from what it is to-day; then I knew that entry meant a divided nation, but, mister," he continued, " we've got a wonderful President, and we all reckon he chose the correct timo to get going, and now we're behind him lik" ono man. Why," added this oracle, "even the greybeards say "Waal, if I have to go, I'll go smiling." "But,' I I asked, wishing to draw more wisdom from this fountain "isn't there a small but united and determined labouring element opposed to the war?" " Well, yes, there are a few, but they are negligible. They count, of course, but they are more of art aggravation than a factor. The I.W.VV"s talk some, sure, but if they tried to get off any of their real goods, why, there are (hough people in one block to % fix the whole bunch of 'em, and," he added emphatically "they'd do it." This united front is doubtless largely duo to tho stringent measures taken at the outset to check disloyalty. _ For America does not dally with the disloyal alien—even when he is of a mild type. They believe in the essential wisdom of the great Lincoln's policy— "When I see a serpent's head I hit it, I don't argy with it."

The Airy Hyphenate, A German saloon-keeper on the West side of Chicago has just found this to his cost. An amiable and possibly loyal enough fellow, his chief fault was'apparently an inability to hold his tongue and cease from bravado. The authorities were apprised of this mental infirmity and decided to teach the man a lesson. Accordingly ono night two secret service agents joined tho gay company at his bar and when some stupid and mildly unpatrioti3 sentiment was expressed the airy one was requested "to come along with us." He was examined by a very patient officer who, considering that the man had been frightened sufficiently, gave him his liberty with a stern injunction to "emulate tho wise old owl in future." But did the matter rest thero? Not a bit of it. Before the hyphenated one arrived back at his bar, two other secret service officials had joined the waiting company, which was rather excitedly discussing what was happening to "Old Fritz." However, Fritz soon arrived, and with a wave of hauteur lie gave his own highly-coloured version of the examination, adding " Yes, boys, I told 'em where to stop off." "Well, then," called an officer stepping forward, "von had better put on your hat and tell 'em it again." This time Fritz got detention. "America," ssid a well-known Britisher who has been visiting the States, "is at present the most determined of all the Allies to see this war to a satisfactory conclusion." Every loss brings fresh dotermini,tion to Uncle Sam's cheek. Raiders upoa the coast or losses reported from the battlefield but nerve his arm afresh against the enemy. " Front to front," he cries, "Bring thou this German fiend and myself. Within my sword's length sot him. If he 'scape Heaven torsive him too.'-