The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1916-06-09

Want Voice In Methods to Be Pur-
sued-West Point Should Be Open to
Any Man Who Shows Ability.
John p. White, president of the Unit
ed Mine Workers OF America, in a re-
cent article has the following to say
regarding labor's attitude on military
preparedness:
To organized labor the question of
immediate Importance is this: What
constitutes common defenseW Labor
accepts nationalism as a fact and as
necessary expedient for the progress OF
the race. Labor is patriotic. 1t sees
these 100,0O0,000 people of ours as a
nation, bound together by our devotion
to certain ideals These ideals are lib
erty, justice, education and equality of
opportunity for every child. They are
the same for every American. But
whereas a part Of us have actually at
tanned these ideals the great ma ajority
Of us are still striving to attain them
For the great majority of wage earners
they are still only ideals
There are between 20000,000 and 3d.
100000 wage earners in America to-
day, and the United States public health
service tells us that hardly more than
half of these earn enough 10 maintain
healthful, decent existence. OF these
less than 100000 have freed them
selves from industrial tyranny and
feudalism SO far as to enjoy the right
to bargain collectively and to interpose
a strong organization between the in
dividual worker and the employer for
the workers full protection.
What does war mean to labor? 1t
means death to It's dearest hopes. 1t
means the re-establishment, where
they do not still exist, of feudallsm and
autocracy, in order that everything
may be subordinated to the success of
the war And when the war is over
the feudalism and autoeracy remain.
1t means the absolute suspension of
the struggle for more democracy and
Justice A strike becomes treason, and
in the passion of the moment any man
temporarily in command can work his
will by resorting to the sacred word
patriotism" 1t means establishing
the habit of obedience without thought
or question. 1t means the death and
manning of the workers In the proper
ton of about four to one of other
groups of the population.
And so labor cannot discuss with
much enthusiasm the methods of pre-
pairing for war. But labor must be
prepared for the worst. If war comes
the workers will respond.
/ realize that this nation cannot be
defenseless in a military sense. We
must be prepared just to the extent
that other nations will understand and
respect our strength without fearing It,
/ believe we are already prepared to
that extent and that any considerab Bile
addition to our armament would be
construed by other nations that we
have warlike and aggressive intentions,
that we fear and expect trouble.
Let us keep up our navy. Let US
keep alive among US the science of
arms through the maintenance of
small expert army. Let us have thor
ough overhauling of our military estab-
lishment to assure ourselves that our
expert military men are foresighted
and abreast of developments.
Above all, let us reorganiZe our
present military force on a basis that
will permit its enlargement, If ever the
need arises, without endangering demo
cratic ideals.
Give us an army in which any en-
listed man of intelligence and industry
can hope to attain commission. Abol-
ish the age limit after which enlisted
men are ineligible for examination for
commission Provide for West Point
training for any enlisted man who
shows ability and who passes certain
fair tests Diminish the number Of
offenses for which enlisted men can
be tried by court martial and impris-
oned for long terms without trial by
jury.
The proposal to establish compulsory
military service In this country Is the
saddest and most abiect surrender of
American ideals ever proposed in this
country. 1t is that because it is put
forward on the ground that only
through putting men in regiments, I'M
der martial law, and drilling them
with weapons of slaughter, can we
make our young men efficient and pa
triotic.
Labor knows better way. Establish
industrial freedom. Abolish privilege
Give the worker a voice in determin-
ing wages and conditions, and with
that voice a responsibility. Pay him
his just wage, so that he can provide
leisure and education for himself and
his children, so that he can afford the
services of a good doctor, so that he
can buy books and pictures and mag
aZines, so that he can bring up his
children happy, healthy, strong intelli-
gent and free; above all, SO that he can
raise his voice in the councils of this
country He win raise it, as the 2,000-
600 members of organized labor In
variably have raised it. in behalf OF
humanity and justice and liberty, in
behalf of the honor that means not
glory for handful of leaders. but life
and freedom for the millions.