Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-19
GOMPERS WOULD
DEFEND FREEDOM
Labor Leader Says Preparedness
Necessary to Preserve Ideals Of
American Democracy.
LABOR DENAsns RECOGNITION

WASHINGTON. Jan. 1S-Adequate
preparedness for national defense
vas advocated here today by Samuel
Gompers, president OF the American
Federation OF Labor. in a speech be-
fore a session OF the National Civic
federation, devoted to that subject.
While he insisted that all military or
carnations must be democratic and
the nation must be safe-guarded
against the evils Of militarism, Mr..
Gompers declared that America q
freedom had been achieved by re-
sis.ance to tyranny and that pacifists
failed TO understand that quality Of
the human race which made men
willing to risk their all for an ideal.
Men worthy OF the name" he said,
will fight even for scrap Of paper
when that psPer represents ideals Of
human justice and freedom. There Is
little progress made in the affairs OF the
world In which resistance OF others is
not involved. The progress OF all
the ages has come as the result Of pro-
tests against wrongs and existing condi-
tons and through assertions OF rights
and effective demands for justice. our
own freedom and republican form Of gov
eminent have been achieved by resis-
lance to tyranny and insistence upon
rights Freedom and democracy dare
not he synonymous with weakness.
Preparedness Means Coordination.
National preparedness involves power
TO coordinate and TO utilize national
forces and national resources. War as It
IL wagcd today Is not determined merely
b. tho mon on the battlefield. but also
by the mobilization of the national re-
sources, national industries and CONF
morce Tho real problem Ia the organl-
"a ION OF the material forces and re-
sources Of tho country and the co-or-
dInation of these In the furtheTRnce OF
a definite defensive military policy
Whatever plan may NC adopted said
Mr. Gompers. explaining the attitude OF
labor. the organized labor movement OF
America demands that certain funda-
mental principles must be regarded. All
policies and plans for national defense
must be determined by representatives OF
all the people The organized labor
movement asserts It's rights 10 represent
tation IN all committees. commissions or
bodies that decide upon military detense'
Army Must ne Democratic
THE labor movement demands defnoc-
racy in all things. including military on
CARNATIONS and institutions OF the coun
try. Not only must entrance to all IN
stltutions be freely and equally ACCORDED
to ALL but the military must be demo-
cratIcally organized. Economically Of
ficered and under the control of heads
who are responsible to the citizens OF the
land.
THE labor movement has never advo-
Gated the abolition OF agencies for right
and Justice, or for abolition OF the mill
tary arm OF the government, but u docs
demand that those shall be so organized
as 10 prevent their misuse and abuse as
means of tyranny against the workers
and to prevent the development OF per-
nicious results that have grown out oil
mllitarism, the building UP of separate
military caste and the subversie-: OF civil
life TO military g0Yerrnof1t and military
standards"
Action Imperative, says Hammond
I'VE are forced TO the conclusion, how
nver opposed we may be to the proflig-
ate expenditure Of the nations wealth.
that military and naval defense, even
in the face OF a peace-loving nation, IL
imperative In the present status Of In
ternational relations" declared MIR.
Hammond. lie declared that only two
objections could be urged against pre-
paredness, first by the peace at any
price" class, because they fear the de-
Nelopment OF militaristic mania. Sec
ond the question OF cost Mr. Ham
mond urged that the proposed eXpendi-
-ture OF one billion beyong the country =
present naval and military budget he
looked upon as "a business investment
an insurance-not always effectlell
against war-but which will at least
minimize the distress incidentto war.
In conclusion. Mr.. Hammond expressed
the belief that Panama canal bond
issue 10 meet the cost OF national do
Tense would be less Objectionable thar
any system of direct taxation.
Peace Doctrine DemOraltsinE.
Former Governor O'Neu declared Il
was difficult 10 believe that the peace
nj any price" advocates realize the de.
basing and demoralizing doctrine theS
preach.
The paramount duty OF America Il
preparedness" he said The most 50,
rious objection I'm congress to the pre-
paredness program" he continued, lis 4
be expected from those members whit
bitterly oppose any reduction In IN,
size or capacity OF the pork barrel Il
u true" he said. that II preparedness
meant the establishment OF more useles
army posts and navy yards i'm thei
congressional districts, their opposition
would disappear Fortunately these de
tenders OF the pork barrel represent
- small and noisy minority"
The speaker urged the creation OF a
adequate navy as first line OF defense
an efficient standing army OF severa
hundred thousand men and the adoptio
Of the Swiss OF Australian plan OF uni
versal service TO make up reserv
army,
Threat of big Indemnity,
Declaring that the United states
ever defeated in war would have to pa
an indemnity reaching as high as 10000
eo0.o0O II the tribute laid on France b
Germany in n. may be taken as
measure. Mir. Williams said that the In
forest on this enormous sum would be a
large as any expenditure now propose
Tor increasing this countrys army an
navy. For all the time. he added hi
interest would be met by all OF the Ia