davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-20
Preparedness by Universal
Service Would Be Best School

10 see that health and well-being OF
the workers, their standard OF wages
and of living and Of the education
of their children are held up 10 the
level that will insure the greatest ma
tional efficiency, not only for the pres
ent. hut for the future. The first step
toward this is unequiyocal declaration
in favor Of the preparedness pro-
gramme, which is the essential step for
national organization In matters lndus-
trial as much as in matters military.
There must be readiness 10 develop
TO the utmost and Immediately, Dust
ness efficiency in time of war. Az pres
ent we are as unprepared IN INDUSTRY
as in military matters. II would take as
long to organize our industries TOT war
as TO organize an army for war. IN
stead of adopting and adapting Ger.
many's admirably successful method OF
dealing with her industries so as TO IN
sure their efficiency in time OF war, our
governmental agents at washington
have taken no step whatever except the
thoroughly mischievous step OF en-
deavoring TO cripple great private IN -
dustry by the creation OF government
armor plant-whereas of course, they
should encourage and at the same time
efficiently regulate and control the pri-
vate industry in question.
To "list" plants is useless when there
are no efficient plants to list and when
the efficient plant is promptly selected
by the government for destruction. We
need big government munitions plant
for regulatory purposes. We do not
need government armor plant, pc
cause we can do better by controlling
and regulating and aiding in the de-
velopment Of the great and efficient
plant which already exists. To destroy
such an industry is sheer folly. In the
event of war it is as impossible 10 i'm
provise a great industry as to I'M
nroyise a great army.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-20

Remember that pacifsts OF to-day. tho
peace at-any-price men. however well
meaning, are the spiritual and moral
heirs OF the men who denounced and
opposed Washington, Of the men who
denounced and voted against Abraham
Lincoln. We can only be loyal to the
souls Of Washington and Lincoln and
TO the soul OF the great people that
caught flame from their teachings II
we set our face like flint against tho
unworthy spirit which to-day would
teach US that peace stands above
righteousness and that this upright
eous peace can be secured by the re-
fusal TO prepare to defend our just
rights.
Either we must surrender our rights
and at the same time our self-respect,
or else we must he ready TO defend
our rights with a hand trained TO eN-
ercise the weapons of free men ana
with heart steeled to that stern
courage for the lack Of which the
possession Of the softer virtues can
ppVor afOrp
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-20
Must Abolish Pork Barrel.

We must abolish pork-barrel methods
in the army-as regards army posts
navy yards, as regards everything
else. Remember that after prepared
ness has been accepted by the country
and the necessary funds voted the real
work will have only begun. Engand's
navy represents over three centuries
and Germany's army over two CEN
turtles Of development along an IN
broken line Of tradition and progress
70 the present stage OF efficiency. The
first and all-important essential IS TO
divorce the army and navy organlza-
tions absolutely from politics.
Policy must be correlated to arma-
ment. To appoint the Secretary Of
State. the Secretary of War and the
Secretary of the Navy for political
reasons only, without regard TO the
efficiency of the men for the tasks,
should be accepted by this country as
being even more iniquitous than 70
appoint as Secretary of the Treasury
a man who knows nothing Of banking
or currency. and as Secretary of La
Dor a man who had never heard or a
labor union or of the minimum wage.
Pork barrel graft is a crime against
the nation when the army and navy
are involved. But honesty and eff
ficiency in managing the army and
navy only represent the beginning Of
military preparedness.
We can have no effective army un-
less business is modified and especial
ly unless our transportation system is
nationalized. The railroads, whose
business is directly or indirectly in
terstate, must, in all their relations,
be regulated by the national govern
ment and not by forty-eight conflicting
state governments.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-20
like the Tories and Copperheads, Says Roosevelt

an army Of 100000 men, with proper
reserve. This would give US a moDile
army of $4,000 men. But back OF tne
regular army and navy must STAND inc
strength Of the people themselves, ana
this strength must be prepared IN "d-
vance or IL will be utterly useless III
time of trial.
I believe in universal service based
on universal training. believe IN TINS
because | think il would be not only
Of incalculable benefit 10 the nation ~
the event Of war, but Of incslculaoIe
benefit TO the individuals undergoing
it, and, therefore, to the nation as re, re-,
CARDS the work of peace. | believe Inat
Tho dog-tent would prove most eifec-
tive agent for democratizing and ma
tionalizing our life; quite as much so
as the public school, and far more so
than the American factory ana the
American city as they are to-day.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-20

had shown that we meant what we
said. the Lusitania would never nave
been sunk; no power would have IN
fringed on our rights; and we should
to-day be absolutely free from all
danger Of war.
The pacihsts have had their way as
regards Mexico and az regards our
behavior in the great war. Their policy
has been practically applied. II has
resulted in the loss of thousands OF
lives and in immessurable national
humiliation. Il has rendered war more
likely instead Of less likely.
Let my pacifist friends understand
that am advocating preparedness so
as to avoid war, and ] am advocating
preparedness in the work OF peace as in
military matters. believe in thor
oughly efficient navy. the second in
size in the world believe in a small
but thoroughly efficient regular army
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-20
Let Pacifists Ponder on Mexico;
United States Unprepared There

note which is not ultimate, but an in
vitation to further correspondence, and
is on no account to be translated into
actiJn.)
We have suffered as a nation from
prolonged and excessive indulgence in
writing; and incidentally we have
made the discovery that underwriting
is not an antidote to murder. The
pacifists assured US that underwriting
and similar intellectual exercises would
avert all difficulties and keep foreign
nations feeling friendly toward US. As
matter of fact, while we have been
writing these notes the loss Of life
among non-combatant men, women and
children on the ships which were tor
pedoed and about which we wrote notes
has exceeded the total number of lives
lost in both the Union and Confed-
crate navies during the entire Civil
War Think of that, friends!
Net Result OF Note-Writing.
Such has been the net result of our
note-writing; and incidentally we have
incurred the contemptuous dislike of
all the great powers engaged in the
war. As regards the loss of American
lives and the sinking of these ships,
hold Germany less responsible than
hold this nation. Germany is engaged
in life-and-death struggle; and we
need not expect that she will forego
any advantage which the weakness or
timidity OF our nation, of this Republic.
offers her.
| firmly believe that il at the outset
we had clearly made it evident that
our words would be translated into
deeds. that our first ultimatum sixteen
months ago was really an ultimatum
Germany would have yielded, the Lusi-
tania and the other ships would not
have been sunk, and all the lsmentable
loss of life would have been avoided.
IL is our own attitude of culpable
weakness and timidity-an attitude as
sumed under the pressure of the ultra
pacifists-which Is primarily RESPONSE
BILE for this dreadful loss of life and
for cur national humiliation.
We have suffered loss of friendly
feeling with each Of the countries at
war, and we have been within grave
danger of trouble that would event
ually lead 70 our being dragged into
war with one or more OF them.
would rather go TO war than permit
our women and children TO be killed.
But IL is a crime against this nation
that our own supine folly, our weak
ness and vacillation, our utter failure
TO prepare. should expose US TO the
possibility of war without having made
US ready for war.
If, as soon as the great war broke
out, our navy had been modified, and
a competent man put at the head Of
the Navy Department appointed for
national and service reasons, instead
of purely political reasons). and If we
had begun vigorously to prepare, and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-20

Now as to the pacifists. They have
told us that if we remain helpless we
shall escape all difficulties with other
nations and earn their good Will. Let
them ponder on what has happened IN
Mexico to-day Let them ponder our
relations at this moment with Germany
and the other great powers engaged IN
the world war They will then realize
the utter futility of their hopes.
For nearly five years we have foI-
lowed the principles of the pacihsts as
regards Mexico. We have not our
selves prepared but we have helped the
Mexicans to prepare by furnishing them
arms and munitions. We have tamely
submitted TO the murder OF our men
and the raDe of our women. we nave
permitted foreigners TO be plundered IN
Mexico and our own people 10 De pun
dered in Mexico, and murder has beeh
added TO plumber. Many of our troops
have been shot.
While we have been nominally at
neace with Mexico the Mexicans have
killed more American citizens than the
Spaniards killed in the entire Spanish
war. Moreover, when the Spanish war
was through, il was through; and Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines were
started on a career of peace and pros
,perity such as had never been known IN
all their history But in Mexico, after
all the bloodshed, the trouble has only
begun. and we are no nearer solution
than we were three years and quar-
ter ago.
| call the attention Of the paciiists
10 the fact that we have not avoided
trouble in Mexico. On the contrary, al
though we are assured that we are at
peace with Mexico, we have killed ana
wounded nearly as many Mexlcans as
we're killed and wounded among the
Standards when our armies IN the
Spanish war took Santiago and Manila:
We have not gained the good VIII OF
the Mexicans. They hate US and de-
spise us infinitely more than they hated
US five years ago-at which time they
did not despise US at all.
Result of Pacifism in Mexico.
The policy of pacifism has been prac-
tically applied IN Mexico, and II has re
suited in incalculable loss OF life and
property. IL has gained US the utter
contempt of the people with whom we
dealt, and it has brought US TO the
verge Of war with them.
Exactly the same thing is true as re-
CARDS Germany. For sixteen months
we have been employed in sending Ger
many ultimatum after ultmatum IN
monotonous succession, while Germany
in equally monotonous succession sank
ship after ship. drowning our men,
women and children by the hundreds.
Il use the word "ultmatum" in the
sense that it has been given by our
practice with both Mexico and Ger
many during the last three years for
under this condition an uftimatum is
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-20

There Is only one way TO oppose q
policy that is inherently wrong and
that is by opposing il with every ounce
of earnestness, every ounce of energy
the man possesses. The only kind of
faith to have in any policy is 100 per
cent faith; if the opposition is SO per
cent wrong, very little is to be gained
by trying to persuade people that we
are only SO per cent wrong. The diff
ference between being 4 per cent right
and per cent right is not enough to
arouse much fervor. II we believe
that the most certain way for us to
insure peace is 10 be prepared for war,
and 10 have il known that We are pre-
pared for war, then let US whole-heart-
eddy advocate such a policy, not a lit
tie, not with tremors and gaspings,
but fully and absolutely.
The old Wing party was beaten by
the pro-slavery Democracy, and finally
went out of existence. because it en-
deavored TO be both for slavery and
against IL, and not too much of either.
The party that won was the party that
dared feaTlessly to say that II was
against slavery and for the Union and
that stood aggressively by its princi-
pies. The party that has full confidence
in its own policies and conceded pur-
pose 10 put these policies into effect
will sooner or later get the people 70
back provided the policies are
sound.
A party that shutters and stammers
and that tries TO be both for and
against its own utterances has no
right 70 complain If the people prove
hesitant about giving it power. Why
give it power when II does not say
fearlessly' what use II expects to make
of the power?
Two Great Issues Before Us.
There are at this time two great is
sues bsfoJs US. both inseparably bound
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-20
lacks the power to maintain them
against opposition.
Strong Convictions Needed.

lacks the power 10 ihe'h'""
against opposition.
Strong Convictions Needed.
Therefore, II we are TO win at home
against those of our fellow-citlZens
who believe in the policy of unprepared,
ness-that is, Of national weakness ah1
inefficiency must have strong and
we'll reasoned convictions and express
them with strength and sincerity. A
considerable part of the strength OF
Mr.. Ford in the primaries and OF the
strength of the advocates of half-pre-
paredness at Washington comes from
The fact that no real alternative OF
policy is offered with sincerity ana
fearlessness.
Mr.. Ford's supporters in the pri-
maries seemingly come chiefly from
three classes-the workingmen, who
believe that he represents the desire
10 do Justice TO them; the paciiists,
who think that a policy Of helpless
moss in the face of other nations will
insure our national safety, and the
German-Americans some of them In
an honest and sincere mood OF pro-
test. and the others under the inhu-
ence of that portion of the pro1es-
sional COMMUNICATIONS. who have
permitted their devotion to Germany
finally 10 make them antagonlstic to
the welfare of the United States.
Az for the wage-workers who sup
mort Mr.. Ford, ! understand entirely
their desire to support any man who'
in their belief, stands for a more
substantial measure of social and IN
dustrial Justice. But | wish, with all
the emphasis in my power, 10 call
their attention 10 the fact that, IN
order for US TO work within our own
borders for social and industrial JUS
tice. Il is necessary to secure to our
selves the power 10 determine these
questions for ourselves.
DefenceIess Fall Victims.
II a nation cannot defend itself then
we NAV rest assured that sooner or
later some stronger outside power will
impose an alien will upon it and will
deprive it Of the say as to how 1t Will
determine its own destinies. It is OF
not the slightest consequence at this
moment what the business men or
the wage workers or the farmers OF
BELGIUM think should be done in the
way Of industrial and agricultural de-
velopment and justice, because they
have to do whatever the Germans tell
them to do; and they work and live
as they are told by their conquerors.
In the same way il IS Of no conse-
ouence what the native Koreans at the
moment think should be done 70 raise
themselves upward toward civiliza-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-20

ton, because the determining factor
in their future Is the japanese atti-
tude. | believe that the Japanese have
done well in Korea. | know that the
German invasion has wrought incredi-
BILE woe in Belgium. But | am not, at
the moment. concerned with either fact.
| am concerned only with the fact that
because Korea did not prepare itself
in advance for defence il is now abso-
lutely under the dominion of Japan,
and that largely for the same rea-
son Belgium is now under the abso-
Lutte control Of the Germans.
wish the wage workers and the
farmers, even more than the business
men, Of this country TO realize that If
we tread the steps of Belgium and
Korea in pacifism and unpreparedness,
sooner or later the Germans or the Jap
anese or some other men Of virile
race will wholly or partially control our
destinies and deprive US of the right
TO control them wholly for ourselves.
Workingman Must Be Patriot.
The workingman, like the farmer and
the business man, must be a patriot
first or he is unfit to live in America;
and the first duty of all true patriots is
to see that we are able to prevent alien
conquerors from debating our home
policies. Until this right 20 decide our
home policies for ourselves has been
guaranteed 10 us by our own fore
thought and exertion, it is idle to talk
of the particular methods by which the
right shall be exercised.
Let me take a concrete illustration:
Mr. Ford in his business has, to his
great credit, endeavored in his own way
to secure the welfare Of those who
work for him. He also advocates our
being helpless as a nation TO protect
him and his workingmen, and he works
TO keep himself and themselves helpless
70 aid in such protection. This is pre-
cisely the attitude that was taken in
Belgium BY many business men of the
stamp of Mr.. Ford. They were success
full business men who tried to do JUS
tice TO their work people. But they
were pacifsts who did not believe in
thoroughgoing preparedness in military
matters.
In Consequence these Belgian ana
logues of Mr. Ford now see their bust
ness at standstill; and their work
people are in the direst misery, and do
only such work, under such conditions,
as their conquerors dictate. Let the
business men and workingmen of Amer
lea who tend to be misled by Mr.. Ford's
pacifist teachings take warning from
what has befallen the business men and
workingmen of Belgium because they
actually reduced such teachings TO
practice.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-20
COLONEL TELLS MICHIGAN
WHATFORD MEANS

and suffering for their children and
their children's children, not merely
unto the third and fourth but unto the
ninth and tenth generations that were
to come after them.
Like Tories of Old.
This is what these good. we'll mean
ing pacifists of those days would have
done if they had achieved their pur-
pose. This Is what the pacifjsts Of
our day. the neo-Tories, the neo-Cop-
perhesds. will do if they achieve their
purpose.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-20

The merchant marine must be de-
veloped not only for our own purposes
of peace, but as a basis for the navy.
It must be proportionate to the trans
portation needs and to the navy OF this
country. Our merchant fleet must build
up a naval reserve. We must safe
guard the rights of our sailors, but
we can only do so If we upbuild the
lines of ships on which they are to
serve.
The employer of labor must feel that
the government is his friend and Will
help him in every way, especially In
international matters, and wishes him
to make an ample profit; but at the
same time that the government CO.
operates with him to secure his proit
and his wellbeing it must also so reg
ulate his activities as to secure the
wellbeing of those who work for him
and of the public which he serves.
As part of the work of preparedness,
as part Of the work of Americanism,
and of naturalization, we must set
our faces like flint against any effort
to divide our people along the lines
of creed or of national origin. The
poltco-racal hyphen is the breeder
of moral treason.
One Of the most sinister develop
ments OF the last twenty-five months
has been the fact that section or
the professional Commandments
has Joined the pacifsts in the effort
TO keep America helpless, while tins
same section of COMMUNICATIONS is
lauding German militarism TO the
skies and apologizing for every mani
festation of that militarism, even
when it ia ruthlessly used against the
welfare of the weak.
One of the great German news
papers OF this country cannot call
il a German-American newspaper-the
Illinois "Staats Zeitung," has been en-
gagged in active propaganda on behalf
Of both German militarism and Amer
lean pacifsm. 1t spplauds and adyo-
Gates GeImany's embarking upon
career of military strength uncondi-
toned By any other consideration, and
az the same time backs the movement
Of the extreme pacitists TO keep the
United States impotent for self-de-
fence
Preaching Moral Treason.
The men who take such a position
are preaching moral treason TO the
American commonwealth. What they
teach tends TO keep our people divided.
Il tends TO make our politicians sub
servient TO the agents of an alien
militarism. II tends to keep our own
country helpless so that when the
opportunity offers it may be larger
Belgium and offer a rich prey to Ger
many or to Japan or TO any other
great military power which thinks i.
worth while TO make war upon US.
wish TO say a special word to my
fellow Americans who are in whole or
in part Of German blood. | very heart
ily admire them. believe in them.
understand the difficulties under which
they have labored during the last TWEEN
ty-two months. | sympathize with, l
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-20

Continued on page D, eeluma L
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-20

Should BE Regulated.
! very earnestly wish that some "ay
could be found for repudiating the men
whose actions have made IL possible ios
foreigners like Professor Rohroacn "
write with the insolent belief thst tnes
can use our fellow citizens OF Oerihag1
birth and descent so that their politS"
influence may be eXerted m sucn iasn,
ion as 10 make this country helpless ~
defend itself against foreign agstes
sion. whether from Japan, from "''
many or from any other power.
/ should Just as strongly denouhe.
any men Of English birth or descent
or of any other birth or descent WV,
in the interest Of their fatherland OF o.
the country from which their ANCESTOR
sprang. advocated such action again.
the interest of America by American
as is advocated in Professor Ronroaeh
letter. We must all act as America, !,
end we cannot afford 20 accept as our
leaders either Germans or Englisnmen'
or men of any other foreign nation
atty. c-,.,
ask my fellow citizens Of German.
birth TO remember that whateVe1
calamity befalls this country VIII mar
its effects felt on their children no iesS
than on mine. II Professor Rohr-
bach's disciples here succeeded IN snap
ing our action so that Japan, IN the ihI,
terest Of Germany. beats the Oniea,
States. the shame and the disgrace ana
the loss will be felt by your children
my fellow citizens Of German orign'
no less than BY mine.
All Alike Would BE Oppressed.
The conquerors who overcome Us III
Continued on page o. esluma L