The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-26
ANT|-M|L|TARY
SOCIETY STARTS
ON ITS CAMP Align
Committee Opens Headquarters tn
Oppose sweeping EnlargemcDts
uf Army aud Navy i'm Name
of Preparedness.

Washington. H. G.. De-. "a What
is announced as the beginning of Il
nation wide movement against the
huge war budget and the cult of
preparedness Which is sweeping
the country. was launched here Tues
day with tho formation of the anti
ujlitarism committee which has
opened local headquarters in tho
Mi4nseY building. and is said to be in
close conference with the apti-prc-
pa edness minority IN both the senate
and the House. The members Of the
committee are Miss Lillian ID. Waid,
Of the Nurses Settlement. New York
City, Paul t.. Kellogg. editor Of the
Survey; the Rev. John Haynes
Holmes and Rabbi Stephen s Wise,
" New York city. Mrs Florence KEEL
ley, Of the National Consumer Lea
que. Professor George L. kirchwey,
Of Columbia University, Mrs Crystal
Eastman Benedict, l.. HolliuEsworth
Wood, Louis + Loehncr. Miss Alice
Lewisohn, Max Eastman anu Allan
Benson.
/. Hollingswor,h Wood, ~ Cedar
Stree@ New York city IS treasurer
Of the committee Mrs Crystal East
man Benedict il executive secretary
in charge of the organization work,
and Charles T. Mailman, of Chicago.
is announced as editorial director.
The opening statement OF the com
mittee is in part as follows:
\ committee of Americans has
been formed TO protest against the at
teiEpts to stampede this nation into
the adoption Of dangerous pro-
gram of military and naval expansion.
We believe thar no danger OF inVa-
sion threatens this country, and that
there is no excuse for hasty, ill-Con-
sidered action. We protest against
the diversion Of the public from
those preparations for world peace
based on international agreement
which IL may De Americas privilege
TO initiate at the close of this war,
and we protest no Iess against the
effort being made 10 divert public
fH3 ds sorelN needed in constructive
programs for national We'll being
We are against the prepared aess
program, so called. because K is un-
necessary 5era use 1t endangers our
most precious institutions aud because
in the last and true analysis no one
+ can measure is cost. Believing that
( this statement represents the thought
/ ful conclusions al a large number Of
! patriotic Americans. We urge them 10
j join VS.,
/ After numerous conferences with
Z the anti preparedness leaders in
+ Congress, the committee announces
! its congressional program as follows:
! ~ Our immediate purpose is to
prevent. if possible. any unusual ex-
penditure for armament during the
present session Of Congress.
! ef2l That before any Increased de-
( Tense appropriations are made, we de.
/ mand public investigation OF our pres
/ ent huge war budget so that every
1 dollar now spent for the army anc
navy may bring 100 per cent, of eff
: AcSncy.
J "{a) Wa stand for n congressional
! inye stiRation of the sources of TIM
! demand for q large increase in tbs
| army and navy appropriations.
40 We stand for taking private
/ profit our o. armament manufacture
@'t51 We hold that the expense of
national defense should I've mot by in
: come and inheritance taxes, and not