Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-17
ORGANIZED DEFENSE
FAVORED BY LABOR
Samuel Gompers Says Unpre-
paredness Invites Attack
and Injustice. +
MAKES CLEAR Statement
TO ARMY LEAGUE QUERIES
Federation Head Opposes Militarism.
But Thinks Nation Should Train
Citizens a. Soldiers.

Citizens a. Soldiers.
''Under present conditions It wou1d
be suicidal for any one nation to begin
disarmament" said Samuel Gompers.
president of the American Federation
Of Labor. in a statement obtained from
him by representatives Of the Army
League OF this city.
Three questions were asked Of Mr..
Gompers. and in reply the head Of Or
ganized labor OF this country answer
ed that labor realizes the millennium
has not been reached and that expert
ence in industrial affairs has taught
workers that absence of means Of de-
Tense invites attack and injustice.
question was asked OF Mr.. Com
pers as to militarfsm, and his reply was
that naturalization does not involve
the theory of relinquishing the right
to national defense.
The first question put to Mr.. Com
pers was: "Is organized labor opposed
to the maintenance Of any army and
an organized militia for the purpose
of national defense:"
He answered: ''Organized labor has
every reason TO realize tnal we nave
not yet reached the millennium. Expe-
rience in industrial affairs has taught
the workers that absence of the means
for defense and self-protection invites
attack and injustice.
National Defense Not Militarism.
National defense. however, must not
be confused with militarism. Extensive
and competitive ornaments and prepa-
rations for war have not stopped war.
but have furnished the means and
causes for bringing a bout war. Nations
must be able to make effective their
best conceptions of what will promote
the welfare of nations and continued
progress OF civilization. The power to
enforce the right is n tremendous ele-
ment in establishing justice. Under
present conditions it would be suicidal
for any one nation to begin disarma-
ment The power of self-defense, even
though not exercised. is the greatest
force for the maintenance of justice and
national rights. Naturalization does
not mean to give up the right of ma
tional defense"
The second question: DO you recog-
nize the fact that the present strength
of our land forces is totally inadequate
for the defense of the nation, and that
some policy should be adopted by the
government by which there would be
available a large force of trained men
who could be called out in the event
of war? Do you think that this could
be done without creating militarism in
this country?'
Should Be Prepared for Defense.
President Gompers' reply to this was
as follows:
Preparedness for national defense
must keep pace with the increased
growth and the increasing interests of
nations. Some governmental policy
must be adopted that will provide the
necessary means for this defense. Ma
tional defense can be provided for with
out creating militarism if the organize
tons for defense are democratic, and
are under democratic control. In our
country control over the army and
navy is placed in the hands of tho
President of the United States, who 10
elected by the people. The commanders
governors of the states who are elected
by the people. Thus control over ma
tional defense is finally vested in the
citfzenshtp-a provision which is in
harmony with democratic ideas. 1t may
be true that the people of our country
do not fully realize the political power
that they have in their own hands, and
have not always been alert to their
own political interests in using that
power to the fullest extent neyerthe-
less. the fact remains that ultimate
control is vested in the people who can
use it when necessity arises. 1t Is also
true that the functions of the state
militia have frequently been perverted
and that the working people have SUI
fered through such perversions. Abuses
of military power can be remedied by
the people themselves when the mill
tary is democratically organized ana
controlled citizen soldiery.
The more democracy that is infused
into the military. the less will be the
danger OF developing the pernicious
characteristics of militarism. The hu-
man element in all of us makes
want to follow the trade or profession
which we have acquired. The lawyer
wishes to practice his profession; they
banker wants to give his mind and
ability to financial problems, and il IS
only re:AInable to suppose that a SOL
dier trained for his profession hopes
some day to have an opportunity to
practice that profession. 1t is neces-
sary to provide curb for this jingoism
which frequently has led nations into
conflicts with other nations"
The last question was: what do-you
think of adopting policy something
like that of Switzerland Or Australia.
as has been suggested by NAL Gen
Leonard Wood and number of othe;'
regular army officers" In this connec-
ton do you not think that the regular
army should be used for a school 10
train men for a reserve army rather
than the maintenance of a compare
lively small number of highly trained
professional soldiers
Favors Regular Army Training.
The answer: ITO make the regular
army training school to prepare men
for possible service in national de-
tense would remove some OF the dam
gers inherent in the maintenance of a
small number of highly
trained professional soldiers. When
ever any one group becomes exclusive
and isolated from the general interests
and life of the nation there Is created
a condition out of which may come an
insidious danger to democracy. How
ever, any policy for general military