The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-01
URGES TRAINING Of
ONE MILLION men
Senator Owen, Democrat, Answers
Preparedness Question BY
Republican Club.
WORK FOR THE JoBLEss
Oklahoma senator Advocates Military
Training for Unemployed to End
Depression and Promote Protcc-
ton.

New York, Jan. 31.--RObert l.
Owen, Democratic United States SEN
iator from Oklahoma, took up Presi-
dent Wilson'S call for an army of men
trained for war when he
addressed the Republican Club herr
i'm a non-partisan discussion. At least
a million young men should be taken
into the service of the United States
and paid "a minimum wage" for half
ia day of work throughout the year,
urged Senator owen, answering the
Question put by the club as to the
best means Of meeting national dan
|gers from within and without.
els that Socialism 2" he asked Ids
Republican audience. II am not In
the least disturbed whether 1t IS called
Socialism or something else. In this
country in the future you will have
either an advancing. intelligent de-
mocracy, capable of dealing wisely
with human life, or you will have the
alternative of Socialism you don't
want. There may come a time when
there will be a. war in the United
States to prevent Socialism
Owens Plan OF Training.
''Tf we are to prepare ourselves
do not think the United States ought
TO confine itself to taking the boys
who have a notion they would like to
wear a uniform or those who can
get no other jobs and so are DESTROYS
of accepting Sls a month from the
Government.
I'VE ought to employ our unem-
,ployed boys at q fixed minimum wage
scale, and we should, at the same time
we teach them the rudtments of mill
tary science. teach them elements OF
mechanics, electricity and so on"
Owen asserted that II the Govern
ment were prepared to absorb the
unemployed in time of severe depres-
sion there would be not depression.
The Oklahoma senator's views on
Mexico were that the United States
has no business to invade the republic
to the South until the American army
has been placed on a basis that will
admit of no uncertainty as to the out
come of the struggle.
I'VE have been tempted to the limit
by the Mexican brigands who have
killed our citizens and destroyed their
| property. There is. however. a broad
| er question to be considered--the
solidarity of the republics of North
and South America. The diplomats OF
South America have been urging us
not TO set precedent by invading
| Mexico"
Judge Clayton More Martial.
4 1s Sha5 VIII lhAtSu t'tAsCn
| District Judge of Alabama, also q
| Democrat. sounded a more martial
| note
Peace at any price means slavery,
| 1t means laying down our arms to our
enemies and I do not believe there Ia
a desirable peace In slavery. How
ever. we are not going to be an In.
ternauonal bully. going around with
a chip on our shoulder for somebody
to knock off and start a war"
James r McC1esry. who served
seven terms in the House Of Repre-.
senta tives. said:
mo nation dares grow rich and
weak at the same time. when tho
wealth Of the world flowed Into thu
lap of Rome the Cloths and the Van.
dals came down. We're growing rIcf
faster than any other nation In the
world. but we must not grow weak
for there are Goths and Vandals to-
day just ~ there ever WERE"
Herman A. Metz, Democrat, at.
tackled Great Britain. the newspaper
and Secretary Redfieid of the Depart
ment of Commerce.