Arizona republican., 1916-03-31
What Is Militarjsm?

What ls Militarism?
 We condemn militarism without full understand ing of what it means. We apt to suppose that it the subordnation of civil to military author ity; that the wealth. energy and brains of nation cultivated only to support the army In a state that would be the and advocates of strict militarism may argue that it is essential that it should be the case in preparation for probable war
 Not long ago of the popular magazines print ed article condemning the efficiency of Germany which looks carefully after it's population, the health and well-beng of its people, not because it has any philanthropic interest in their well-bene and happ ness, but because such is essential the pro- duction of cannon fodder The who is badly fed who in the slums and in groveing pov- erty be a good soldier Neither those who densely ignorant be trained the highest eff ciency soldiers. Hence it is the policy of the Ger government to prevent pauperism and brutal ignorance
 Of course. but a blinded enemy of Germany could have written that. No civilized nation main tans army for the pure love of it but because it believes that strong army is necessary to the con- tinued tranquility of the nation. That is the aim of all civilized government But will suppose that Germany is such cold monster: that it keeps and daughters in good condition only that it's military strength may be maintained and increased
 
 beneficent results-no poverty and ignorance, greater happiness and prosperity?
 The military system of Germany which is only phase of what call mitarism is much different in principle from the military system of Switzerland and Argentina, both republics, and it may be very useful thing after all In article this subject. Frank Rooster, a consulting engineer of New said:
 The universal military service of Germany in mak- ipu ha tir,a who in the United States business life often with little ambition and of discipline. physically untrained and mentally unconcentrated is much less likely to make in life than the young man in Germany whose one, two three years in the army. the ease may be, has taught him the meaning of discipline which he is there after competent to enforce when he reaches posi- ton of authority and willing conform to in the meantime and has taught him selfreliance, respect for authority and the value of comradeshp. service in the army hardens him physically. gives him carriage and bearing which is unobtanable in other way and prepares him for proper living in after life In psychological sense it nstis of patriotism, makes, him feel that he is an essen- tial unit in vast national organism and makes him feel that he is man among men and not a slouch among loafers The rough and uncouth aborer of the farm and the factory and mill worker alike in the military system, and turned into finished human products in which both the nation and the individuals themselves may properly take pride.
 Our objection to such military system is based things: have believed for than a hundred years that universal peace hand and that, therefore. the money and the time spent for defensive preparation wasted three years any time taken out of the life of a young for military service is much valuable time lost. We have failed to see in this employment training, part his education Civic as we'll as a military life.
 It has been observed that have been unable to compete in Central and South America with German commerce; the Germans have outstripped and all
 
 appeared. Before the breaking of the war, Ger industries crowding out British industries German farmers and scientists had become the fore most in the world Back of it all German train ing and German discipline. It may be believed every German industrial commercial manager and every German clerk had served his time in the army. Theoretically, at least every German farmer and German scientist is army man. And believe that these who bringing Ger to the front in the commercial industrial and agricultural world patriotic for having spent part of their lives in the military service
 The essential difference between the Swiss system and the German system that one rests on the will of the people while the other rests the imperial will but the expression of the popular will of Switzerland with respect to preparedness is of the past as well as the present. It is tradition which no legislative body would o desecrate. The system IS not at the mercy of ckle congresses such The Swiss system holds itself ready to meet an emergency; the German system is readiness itself Both subordinate everything to the protection of their territories but the keeps every thing subordinate to military necessity in time of peace as well as in time of war The former is prepared to shift civil authority into the background only when threatens
 Thus, practically. the readiness of Switzerland is as complete as that of Germany and so complete is it that Switzerland has easily escaped the whirlpool that has engulfed all her neighbors France Ger many. Great Britain and Italy have resisted all temp tation to violate the neutrality of Switzerland No