Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-12-16
Il I We n! MUST RAk ARMY
NE MUST DEkOCRATlsE Il.

- HtOVl DhlMUUIlnIIUA III
g WASHINGTON, Dec Without
participating in discussion regarding
stne size OF the army and navy, liberal
anu rau1ca1 forces brOngut together
IN Inc Committee ON Industrial kela-
slons by Eranhs p WaIsu are prepar-
lAs to conduct q VIGOROUS ca114paisi.
pet0Ee congress during the coming
0e0Akes on national delense.
BESIDES urging government manu-
lacture OF all munitions, anu asking
that taxes be levied on innerltances
ana incomes to smeetsth6 cost, Walsh
andAnls associates will urge that any
aooltIonal military forces be organ
lzed on a democratic basis. They
Will insist that the undelnocratic mil
harlst1c conception concerning the
common man shRlp not be rOisted On
the country through tile increased
prestige o. the military profession
tnat IS threatened by The defense pro-
paganda. 81. ~ h =.
TO this end Congress- will be asked
to provide quick and easy avenues of
pr0mOt10l for deserving men IN the
ranks OF both the army and navy.
Inc spirit OF fraternity and equality
an1mating officers and men in certain
r. eign al. les win be cited as an
illustration of what can be accom-.
pllsned through democratic means If
Congress should decide that men
must be- diverted from useful pur.
ful pursuits to soldierine
Under present regulations a. few en-
: 4sted men in the armv and navy can
become commissioned othcers, but the
lumber is very limited and many OBJ.
stacles are thrown in the way of such
promotion. Chairman Walsh of the
COMMITTEES. on Industrial Relations in
! statement issued from the Commit
tees headquarters in the Southern
: Building. said s.<t
One OF the many evil results of
m1litarism is The degrading caste sys-
tenn WHICH has been accepted even in
this Tree democracy as a necessary
feature OF military efficiency. II the
tlme comes when we must submit to
the organization of large armies in
| this country in. times OF peace, the
4 spirit OF democracy will. be weaken.
FED OF destroyed unless we carry our
democracy into these armies. 2 ~
Absolutism has heretofore been &C
cepted as necessary to discipline,
NOW we know that this is not true.
The Great War has taught US that q
dennocratically organized army, u
which oiilcers and men eat the same
rare al the same tables, and in which
the spirit Of brotherhood reigns, car
be as efficient, If not more efficient
In the bloody business of human
slaugter, than an army organized on
an autocratic basis. yr.
Disastrous as are the economic ef.
fects of militarism. these effects are
nothing compared with the destruc
ton OF the spirit of democracy, and
there is a very real danger that this
spirit will be gradually and insidious.
~ destroyedzi II the big. army and navy
men. succeed in putting over Their
program. 3,t> ttt's
'|The voice Of the Z common man
must be heard in Washington in clear;
ringing tones Powerful agencies are
at work to dazzle Congressman with
the glamour Of world power and
american supremacy In foreign trade
Those congressman who refuse thus
to be daZzled may he called tlnpHt
triotic and provincial when they In
sist that American supremacy abroad
must not be founded on Industrial i'm
Justice and economic exploitation Of
home. We must let these men Maw
that the heart of America, the Amarii
ca Of workers and producers, beats
with them, ri.
'aThe Committee on Industrial Re-
lations IS militant. 1t does nat con.
denim struggle and sacrifice. 1T rather
demands struggle and sacrifice. But
we Insist that the common people OF
America shall not make sacrifices to
enable their exploitation to conquer
foreign markets; that they shall no.
build huge ornaments to protect for
eign interests purchased with wealth
that belongs and is fsorely needed al
homo. ..:.=.
| "We need all the spirit and couraga
and sacrifice Of which we are possess
ed to conquer America for its people
We can do this only by winning for
the workers and producers the rieShI
OF self government in the work shop
the mine, the store and the farm. In
cluding the right of determining no
the products OF their toll shall be dis
| tributed. 60 ~
Dazzling figures showing the vol
ume OF our exports must be regarded
as reproach SO long as one-third O
our wage earners receive less thai
enough to maintain decent existence
and the, babies Of the poor who arr
also the Industrious, die for lack O
adequate food and air:
What we fear, is : an insidiou.
growth in the power OF those whose
slogan Is Property First" These art
the men who see America In terms O.
Etrade statistics, Such men are tru'
to their interests when they glorify
military power and pbelligerent, nation
Eal pride. While we insist that Ameri
a. shah b. defended, II defended !;
must bH. nj the name Of freedom and
Justice. they Insist that it shall b.
defended In the name Of property and
worloiy pr tlp sa9e1 , is o.