So it is in this hour that has come to us so grim with destiny.  We cannot stop now to discuss domestic party politics.  Our men are on the firing-line of France.  There will be no party designations in the casualty lists.  We cannot stop to glance at that alluring field of history that tells us of the past patriotic devotion of the men of our party to the cause of the Nation—­devotion without reserve.  We must think now only in terms of winning the war.

An election at this time is not of our choosing.  We are having one because it is necessary under the terms of our Constitution of Massachusetts.  We have not conducted the ordinary party canvass.  We have not flaunted party banners, we have not burned red fire, we have not rent the air with martial music, we have not held the usual party rallies.  We have addressed meetings, but such addresses have been to urge subscriptions to the Liberty Loan, to urge gifts to the great humanitarian work of the Red Cross, and for the efforts of charity, benevolence, and mercy that are represented by the Y.M.C.A. and by the Knights of Columbus, for the conservation of food, and for the other patriotic purposes.

But we are not to infer that this is not an important election.  It is too important to think of candidates, too important to think of party, too important to think of anything but our country at war.  No more important election has been held since the days of War Governor Andrew.  On Tuesday next the voters of Massachusetts will decide whether they will support the Government in its defence of America, and its defence of all that America means.  There is no room for domestic party issues here.  The only question for consideration is whether the Government of this Commonwealth, legislative and executive, has rendered and will render prompt and efficient support for the national defence.  Perhaps it would be enough to point out that Massachusetts troops were first at the Mexican border and first in France.  But that is only part of the story.

Wars are waged now with far more than merely the troops in the field.  Every resource of the people goes into the battle.  It is a matter of organizing the entire fabric of society.  No one has yet pointed out, no one can point out, any failure on the part of our State Government to take efficient measures for this purpose.  More than that, Massachusetts did not have to be asked; while Washington was yet dumb Massachusetts spoke.

Months before war was declared a Public Safety Committee was appointed and went to work; weeks before war a conference of New England Governors was called and a million dollars was given the Governor and Council to equip Massachusetts troops for which the National Treasury had no money.  By reason of this foresight our men went forth better supplied than any others, with ten dollars additional pay from their home State, and the assurance that their dependents could draw forty dollars monthly where needed for their support.