When the speaker had emptied his reservoir the chairman invited discussion, and more than one well-fed man of business arose to place his O. K. on the splendid sentiments which had drenched them.... Potter sat on the edge of his chair.
"Our duty lies in production," a gentleman stood up to remark. "Production will win this war, and that is our part. We must see to it that business goes on as usual. We must raise food for Europe and manufacture supplies for Europe. There is America's great opportunity, and, as I look about me at the character of this gathering, I see that Detroit can be depended upon to do her part. The country must not be disturbed...." And five minutes of such clarion words. The speaker subsided and Potter leaped to his feet and glared about him.
"Mr. Chairman," he said, intensely, "I've sat through an hour of this twaddle, and, by Heaven! I'm sick!" He paused, careless of a hostile movement, of scowls, of whispers. "As I understand these men, we are not going to war beside England and France; we are invited to a comfortable, cozy opportunity to play we're at war and to milk our allies for our own enrichment. That seems to be the idea expressed here to-day. I've even heard the word patriotism mentioned. Why, you fellows don't know whether you're living in America or in China, and you don't care so long as the money keeps coming in. You have the idea America has gone to war as a salesmanship campaign for your merchandise.... You're ducking and dodging war; you're side-stepping. You're talking nonsense about labor.... Do you know what's going to become of labor--and capital, too. It's going to Europe with guns in its hands and it's going to fight. You want a war without fighting. You're asleep; you've drugged yourselves; but you're in for a waking up. There are men in this room who will lie dead under French soil before another year is gone, men here whose sons and brothers will lie dead or come home ghastly wrecks ... and you'll be proud and glad it is so. That's what's coming. You'll learn to know America, and you'll learn what it is to love your country.... If you want to know what war is, let yourselves think about the murdered children, the raped women, the butchered men of Belgium and France.... That's war, and America is sending her men to give their lives so the children and women at home may not be murdered and violated.... It isn't a smug, comfortable thought. America is going out to kill a wild beast, and America will be torn by that beast.... Business as usual! Great Heaven! but you should be ashamed of yourselves!... Go home and _think_. Go home and shake yourselves awake, and then go to work--for your country. And for God's sake quit making public spectacles of yourselves by talking the kind of nonsense you've talked to-day...."
