The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-12-03
THE ARMY.


No Ground For Demagogic Defamation
Against Militarism.
I think 1t is only lack Of foresight
that troubles us, not any hostility to
the army. There are. Of course, fool
ish people who denounce any care of
the army or navy as "militarism," but
do not think that these people are
numerous. This country has to con-
tend now and has had to contend in
the past with many evils, and there is
for reform. But there is not one evil
that now exists or that ever has exist
ed in this country which is or ever
has been owing in the smallest part
to militarism. Defamation against
militarism has no more serious place
in an earnest and intelligent move
ment for righteousness in this country
than defamation against the worship
Of Baal or Astaroth. It is ldeclama-
ton against a nonexistent evil, one
which never has existed in this coun-
try and which has not the slightest
chance Of appearing here. We are
glad to help in any movement for in
ternational peace. but this is because
we sincerely believe that it is our duty
to help all such movements provided
they are sane and rational, and not be-
cause there is any tendency toward
mflitarism on our part which needs
to be cured The evils we have to
fight are those in connection with in
dustrialism, not militarism. Industry
is always necessary, just as war is
sometimes necessary. Each has its
price, and industry in the United
States now exacts and has always ex-
acted far heavier toll of death than
all our wars put together The statis-
tics Of the rallroads Of this country
for the year ended June 80. 1906 the
last contained in the annual statistical
report of the interstate commerce com
mission, show in that one year Il total
Of 1CS.324 casualties to persons. Of
which 10.G1S represent the numher OF
persons killed. In that wonderful hive
of human activity Pittsburg. the
deaths due to industrial accidents iii
1906 were SD. all the result of acct
dents in mills. mines or on RAILROAD s
For the entire country. therefore. il is
safe to say that the deaths due 10 III,
dustrial accidents aggregate n u,
neighborhool Of 10000 year. Sssc,
4 record makes the death rate III al
our foreign wars utterly trivial Dy
comparison. The number of deaths III
battle in all the foreign wars 1yat to-
gether for the last century and Il rva,
ter aggregate considerably less t,la,,
one years death record for our indus
tries. a mere glance at these G:ss,a..e
is sufficient to show the absurj.it.v q
the cutlery against E!ilisaris.n.
But again and again in the past or
little regular army has rendered serv
ice literally vital to the country. ;:n<: ii
may at any time have to do so III I'll
future. Its standard Of efficiency u.l.
instruction is higher VOW thar c..e,,.
in the past, bit it is too small. There,
are not, enough officers. ans, It +; i'm
possible 70 secure enough eniste! sea
We should maintain in peace Il fsirl
complete skeleton Of Il la"gs. :,l.,,.....
great ;,n>! long continued war would
have to be fought hy volunteers. but
months would pass before any l,,,gt
body OF efficient volunteer; COLI be
put IN The fell. ana our regular arm,
should be large enough to meet an,
immediate need. In particular ii *; O.
senti;;l that we s.cs-ll possess Il ,..-,.G,
Der OF ext", ctfice"s t...inel Ia -r,.,
to performs esscicrt!y the dates i"
gently required upon the breaSil.. O.,
Of war
The medical corps shou.,! be .mvc'
larger than the needs of orr rn,.rnl,,.
army in war. Yet 1T piesen. i. il
smaller than the needs OF the service
demand even in peace The Spanish
war occurred less than ten years ;.,,o
The chief loss we suffered in it was
by disease among the regiments wa..c,,
never let the county. At the no.
ment the nation seemed Gceply Impress
ed by this fact. vet seemingly it has.
already been forgotten. for 10. tho
slightest effort has been maze to pre-
pare medical corps OF sufficient sire
to prevent the repetition OF the same
disaster Gu 4 much larger scale il We
should ever be engaged in a serious
conflict. The trouble i'll the Spanish
war was not With the then existing
officials of the war departments: it WAS
with the representative of the people
as whole who for the preceding thir-
ty years had declined to make the
necessary provision for the army. I'm
less ample provision is now made by
congress to put the medical corps
where it should be put disaster in the
next war is inevitable. and the respon-
sibility will not lie with those then III
charge of the war department, but