The Washington herald., 1915-04-25
LAUDS GOMPERS. !
FOR ARMY TALK
Gen. Johnston Says Interview
Against Disarmament
Has Done Good.
SENTIMENT OF PEOPLE
Constitution Protects U. S. Against
Militarism by Making Army Sub
ordinate to Civil Power.

That the sentiment of the country il
rapidly crystallizing into a demand fol
military policy which will prepare the
country to defend itself is indicated by
| letter from Gen. John A. Johnston
president of the Army League. to Presi.
dent Samuel Gompers. of the American
| Federation of Labor. Gen. Johnston
expresses his admiration Of the patriotic
interview of President Gompers on the
question of national defense, and ex.
presses the belief that Congress will
take some action at its next session.
In his letter Gen. Johnston declares
the benefits of military PREPAREDNESS
We're never better expressed than when
Mr.. Gompers said: The power to en-
force right is tremendous element in
esta blishing Justice" and that under
present conditions lit would be suicidal
for any one nation to begin disarma-
ment-" Gen. Johnston agrees with Mr..
Gompers in declaring that the subordi-
nation of the military to the civil power
is made effective by our Constitution
and guarantees us against militarism.
Compliments Gompers.
The following is the text of Gen. John
ston's letter:
My dear Mr. Gompers: Permit me to
express my admiration of the patriotic
and comprehensive interview on the uues-
uon OF national defense which has re-
Gently appeared in the papers. Your
utterances indicate that you have a true
conception of the relations that exist be-
tween the government, the army and he
people. Evidently while you have been
leading the organized labor movement
you have had in mind the welfare ana
the narnefufv NJ
now at time when our awakened peo-
pie are seriously demanding at the hands
OF our constituted authorities a correct
solution of the question of national de-
fense. are ready to support a policy
which will give the nation adequate
means toward that end.
Your interview will appeal to every
patriotic citizen, and your statement that
nations must be able to make effective
their best conceptions of what will pro-
mote the welfare of nations and con-
tinCed progress of civilization, shows
clearly that You have been a close stu
dent of the history of the world. The
benefits of military preparedness were
never better expressed than when you
said the power to enforce the right is
a tremendous element in establishing JUS
tice' and that under present conditions
it would he suicidal for any one nation
Voiced Sentiment of People.
I'm this nation. the principle that the
civil must ever remain supreme over mill
itarv power. to the exclusion of so-called
militarism. is ground into the mental
fiber of all graduates of West Point and
as doubtless it is or should be
in all other institutions of learning, in
harmony with the inborn understanding
Of the people. and it is indeed timely that
YOU should invite attention to the fact
that the subordination of the military to
the civil power is made effective by our
which gives command of
our military forces to the President, and
their existence. through appropriations,
to the peoples representatives in Con-
gress-
The policy Of the civil authorities. un-
der the Constitution, has always dictated
the use of the army or National Guard
whenever and wherever employed.
Their best interest. and that of the
people. in my judgment. demand that
the army. or National Guard, be freed to
the utmost practicable under the require
ments of our fundamental law. from use
for police purposes.
1T is, indeed, gratifying to know that
such a distinguished labor leader enter
tans the same general ideas on the ques-
ton of national defense as the advocates
of military preparedness both in civil
life and in the army. I am firmly con-
WINGED that you voiced the sentiments of
the country at large in your interview
and under such conditions Congress with |
the military authorities at the next ses-
sion will be able to work out a military |
policy which will prepare the nation to |
defend ITSELF