It’s an age-old argument: In his March 9, 1935 “Dottings”
column, Ebenezer wrote about legislation forwarded by Wisconsin
Democratic Congressman Thomas O’Malley, calling for the wealthy
to be drafted for the U.S. military first. “Individuals with the
highest income must be sent to the point of hostilities before
any other individuals called to service,” the bill read.
Ebenezer wrote: “It has long been conceded that munition makers,
financers, and all those who hope to profit by war do more to
incite such outbreaks than all the assassinations of archdukes
put together. But fortunately for them, and unfortunately for
others, these men generally stay at home lounging in soft-
cushioned chairs and otherwise enjoying themselves while so-
called patriots, who have nothing to gain, wallow in mire and
are exposed to all hardships, making cannon fodder for ‘the
enemy,’ while defending ‘their country.’” In the latter half of
the column Ebenezer offers a counter argument to fellow West
Indian writer Donald Moore, whom my