Evening star., 1915-09-12
0RPREPAREDNESS
|NRAT|ONAL DEGREE
Mr.. Burton Sees in Present
War Danger to Popular
Form of Government.
U. S. SHOULD BE READY
TO DEFEND DEMOCRACY
Believes European Conflict Ought to
Cause Americans to Be on
Their Guard.

ioolHS large upon the pOntlCal screen
i in connection with the republican nom
i ination for the presidency. made the
announcement last night that he is in
favor of an adequate national defense,
necessarily larger than the present ar
mament. The senator had an interview
with a Star reporter just before he left
this city for Cleveland, Ohio, and aside
from the interest attaching to a broad
minded discussion of world events con-
nected with the present war, what he
had to say is doubly interesting to stu
dents of political events. The an
nouncement is the first heard in the
east that Senator Burton has changed
some of his views on the defense ques-
tion and will undoubtedly create in
terest throughout the country.
In brief form the Ohio senator calls
attention:
Ito the vast Importance of the
present war, which he believes this
country does not at present compre-
hend.
ITO the possibility that the out
come of the war may turn the world
| into an armed camp
3.-To the alternative possibility that
| the war may result in an era of uni
versal disarmament and peace.
Under these three headings the sena-
tor talked with great freedom as to the
present situation and volunteered the
statement:
NO man should be deferred by any
opinion as to national defense held be-
l. fore the war befell the world. All con-
ditions have changed and will continue
to change. "A new condition confronts
u.s.
Popular Government Endangered.
In connection with the subject of pre-
paredness Senator Burton said that
high up in his mind is the question Of
| what the world war will do to popular
forms Of government. He believes that,
willy nilly. the world may find itself in
a position where the power of mill
tarism will crush the recent great de-
velopments which the world has seen
toward complete democracy. This, he
said, he has discussed with many per-
sons throughout the country and has
always found audiences which have
listened with great interest.
In approaching the great question of
national defense and adequate pre-
must first realize the great importance
to the world of the European war We
must realize that out of the -waE.-aany
come an era of nilitarfsm. and every
nation may be bristling with arma-
ment. II this is to come true, then we
must be ready.
'On the other hand. the conflict in
Europe may be decisive, and the world
will be thoroughly sick of it, and an
era Of great peace may prevail and
nations may decide that justice instead
of arms should make decisions. This,
of course. would be best of all. After
the thirty years war the beginnings of
international law came. After Ma
poleon there was peace for long term
Of years
other wars it is seen that there may
be period of peace, and / accent the
word may, but the possibilities are
serious Reluctant as l am to say SO.
1t may be better for the present war to
be fought to finish. II there is no
decisive result the armies may go home
and prepare all over again for the f1n-
ish fight, and the world will see heavier
armaments than ever.
Must Have Front.
"And then world conditions may be
such that we might be drawn into the
maelstrom against our will, and with
all the other nations armed to the
teeth We must not be weak. In the
language of the man on the street, we
other fellow from daring to tread on
our toes
so / say that steps must be taken
for an adequate defense. for whatever
defense is proper to protect our nation
We are not justified in presunins that
there will be period of militarism:
nor are we safe in conjecturing an era
of peace. The probabilities are for
peace, but the dangers for something
else are great and should he given
due weight.
We have millions of men, and should
not be scared. What should be the ex-
act program for armies and nayies I
would not attempt to say offhand, but
do believe in a well balanced nayy Our
country is rich prize. What would be
more foolish than to allow its coasts to
be so weakly guarded as to attract the
possible armed hordes that would seek
for brighter fields after the European
countries have been devastated?
No particular interest in our national
life should have the control of the ques-
ton OF preparedness. The general patri-
otic character of the people should decide
this. The appeal should be to the patriot
ism OF the PEOPLE. and in making the de-
cision as to what constitutes ADEQUATE de-
fense we should cast aside all considera-
tions except those required by the new
| world conditions. No opinions we have
cherished in the past should deter us from
protecting our national honor
Rational Degree of Preparedness.
I'VE ought not to be Influenced or
alarmed SO as to put ourselves on a
AiAAAsA1s ASo'''e <o'iPdi aplc 10 lne
countries Of Europe. but a rational de-
gree of preparedness is necessary"
Senator Burton was asked whether
he had given any thought to the details
of preparedness. He said that he could
not discuss them at present, but sa
he believed some day 1t might be found
necessary in this country to adopt
something like the Swiss system.
where all men are given military train i
| ing He said he did not advocate this
at all, but merely mentioned it as a
possibility in case the whole world
ran amuck after this war.
| Speaking of the possible effect of the
war on popular government, Senator
| Burton said:
Since the beginning of this century
| there have been the greatest stems in
history in the way of advances toward
| democracy. Take the esta blishment OF
| the Russian duma, the Young Turk
| movement, the republic in China-then
on comes this war. and the result NAV
| be reaction toward absolute mon
archy. There may be a wave of feel
ing that popular forms of government
are not capable Of handling great mill
tary problems, and ii may be that pre-
paredness for war may be an answer
I Perhaps IL we can show ourselves pre-
pared for war this danger would be
Iessened.
These are all interesting questions
| l do not predict. I merely mention
them as part of the possibilities
] against which We should be prepared