Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-03
MILITARY SERVICE.

Odious thing to even consiuei 'e"
wears aeo. Politicians would not
have declared for it under any circum-
staices; to have done SO would nave
caused political ruin. Fear OF mill
tarism" was too general.
But today people are less afraid OF
that word "militarism." closer
study has revealed that militarism is
not necessarily evil, or rather, 1t has
revealed that militarism is much
abused word. With a world in arms
and danger threatening this country,
Americans have come to see that un-
der proper safeguards an army and
a navy are the very best kind OF In
surance against loss of liberty, loss
of prestige and national humiliation.
With an insistent call for prepared
ness ringing from all parts Of the
country, many big politicians are dar-
ing to come out openly in favor OF
some form of the once dreaded mill
tarism. Efforts towards universal
military training for the able bodied
men of the nation have been advocat-
ed in congress. 1t is rumored that
President Wilson is mighty near a
point where he will declare for some
form Of universal military service.
Col. Roosevelt has taken the bit in
his mouth and comes out openly for a
brand of militarism. In his Memorial
day speech at Kansas City he advo-
Gated universal military training.
Here is what he had to say on this
Bubject: sr
The prime needs in preparedness,
the needs which can be Immediately
met are to give us, first the navy we
require, and second the regular army
We require. I have elsewhere given
the reasons why we require the Sec
ond navy In the world and a small
highly eficient regular army of $780,
900 men, with proper reserve. Here
lot It sudlce to say that such navy
and such an army would be our best
insurance against war and for peace.
But the navy and the regular army
are not enough. Exactly as back Of the
navy should stand the regular army,
30 back OF the regular army should
stand the nation. I speak to, and on
behalf Of, a nation Of freemen. Free
men at to be freemen do not have to
hire other men to do their fighting.
I speak here on the invitation of the
men who wore the blue and the men
who wore the gray Of fifty years ago;
Of the men who fought in the two
great citizen armies when, north and
south, the bravest and best in the
land went forth to battle for their
deep convictions. ask that we OF
this generation be loyal to the mem
cries Of our fathers and be ready at
noed to pay with our own bodies for
our own principles. When I ask you
to prepare by seeing that your repre-.
sentatives provide first class navy
and = first class regular army, l am
hereby asking you to prepare to have
the other fellow do your fighting for
you. This does not satisfy me. 1t
ought not to satisfy you. You and l.
friends, cannot be loyal to the mem.
DRY Of Washington. and Of Grant, and
of Lee, unless we are fit and ready to
do our own fighting in time of need
/ do not wish us, the people. to sink
into condition where we are so soft
30 ease loving, 80 fond of pleasures
or SO wrapped up In money getting
that we cannot do the hard work that
brave men must do when the need
calls. I speak for universal service
based on universal training.
Universal training and universal
service represent the only service and
training democracy should accept
1t is the plain people, It is the farm.
ers, the working men, the small bust
ness men, the professional men, who
above all others, should back up this