The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-01-27
PREPAREDNESS PLANS
W. II. NJ, MaysvilIe's Traveller, Gives
His Views Upon the AlI-AbsOrb-
ing Questions As He Finds
Them In His Travels
Cleveland, o., Jan. %, 1916.

Editor EuDlC LeuBef.
This morning all the prominent
newspapers of Cleveland proclaimed
in loud headlines that President Will
son would start his campaign tour in
| the interest of preparedness, and
would open said campaign in his first
speech in this city January 20 or 30.
| The diversity of opinion in regard to
preparedness is so great at the present
time it seems a thing impossible to
ever arrive at any unity of opinion or
action on this much discussed quest
ion One thing in regard to this ques-
ton we have all learned. that it is not
political question. Party utilization
| has nothing to do with the question,
and Mr.. Wilson will find strong OPP
position to this measure in his own
party.
Congressman Sherwood of Toledo,
| is bitterly opposed to II, and ii is said
he will reply to Mr.. Wilson, should
the President speak in Toledo. Va
rious reports are current regarding
what Mr.. Bryan will do. Some news
paper reports say Mr.. Bryan has been
interviewed by leading pacificists and
he with other prominent speakers, will
| follow the trail of the President, and
address the people in every city in the
| interest of peace where Mr., Wilson
speaks.
However, this report has not been
confirmed, but there is not the least
doubt but that the preparedness meas
ure will be launched on rough sea.
Tonights papers bring an unconfirm-
ed report that Secretary of War Gar
rison will resign and rumor says he
is disappointed because he fOresees
| the failure of his plans for his con-
| tinental army. We make no pretense
whatever in regard to military affairs,
but from our humble viewpoint, Mr..
Garrisons plans for a continental ar
my are so impracticable that almost
anybody might see its weakness. Mr..
| Garrisons plans meet the opposition
OF the military men who simply laugh
al the proposal of a continental army.
1t meets the opposition of the State
| National Guards, who have long felt
they should be under regular pay.
| This being the case, General SCOTS
plan is the only feasible plan, vOlun-
teer enlistment or conscription. How
/ ever there Is ltdlult W lulo
question even more perplexing to the
advocates of preparedness than where
the men are to come from, and this is
where is the money to come from?
Armies and navies are today the most
costly products of the world, and the
returns they make for the money In
vested to the masses of the people is
the lowest percentage conceivable.
However, there is a class, and not nu-
merically large either, that always
profits by war and preparedness for
war. Is it not a fair proposition that
those who profit most by prepared
ness should be the ones who in all
| justice should pay the bills? The
ablebodied man who enlists could GER
tainly from a monied standpoint do
better, besides the moment he en-
lists he becomes a consumer and not
producer. So the man who produces
the wealth must not only produce
enough for himself but also enough
to keep the enlisted man who has be-
come a non-producer.
| Just what measure will be formu-
lated into law for the enlargement Of
the army and navy no one as yet
/ bNtiilb W hlOMs MANY DlAAO ult Dfhu-
| ing before Congress and other bills
are being formulated. the author Of
each bill declaring his bill is the one
that should be adopted.
Charles Edward Russell is writing
a series of articles on the military eff
ficiency of Switzerland. In these ar
ticles he points out that Switzerland
has a large and capable army, but no
military class or social distinction.
The training of the Swiss soldier, Mr.
Russell claims, develops him physic-
ally, mentally and morally, A bill is
now pending in Congress 10 adopt the
military system of Switzerland. The
arming, equipping and maintaining Of
the Swiss soldier is better and chaper
than In any other country in the
world. III Mr.. Russell is correct, and
II we must have preparedness, should
not the Swiss method appeal 70 us?
IL we who favor preparedness from a
purely patriotic standpoint want TO
really give our country the best with
the least burden to the people then we
should not hesitate to adopt the Swiss
plan. Will we adopt this plan? No,
by heck; not ON your life.
There is no profit taking for the
munition manufacturer. The govern
ment furnishes and equips the army
owns their own plans and this ao-
counts for the low cost OF coupling
and keeping up their army
Colonel Roosevelt paid Germany a
high compliment In recent speech on
preparedness when he praised their
efficiency az surprising anything the