Arizona republican., 1916-02-10
While Not Unanimous as to What Should Be Done or Left Undone, All Oppose Any Present Change in Military Policy
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1

SeDcDliCan A. F. Leased WlTeJ
 WASHINGTON. Feb. 9.-Opponents of administration plans for defense leg islation concluded their day in court today before the house military com mittee and while not unanimous in their opinions as to what should be done or left undone with regard to the army and navy, they all opposed any present change in military policy.
 Representatives of the Society of Friends and a score of others, speak ing under the auspices of the Wo- mems Peace Party, discussed war and it's causes and consequences from many angles. They were seldom in cept where the open minuedness of congress on the subject of prepared ness was aSSailed.
 Among those who spoke were Wal ter Fisher of Chicago, former secre- tary of the interior; Osward Garrison Willard, president of the New York Evening Post; The Rev. John Me Cracken, chancellor emiritus of the University of New York; Samuel B. Montgomery of West Virginia. Speak ing as the representative of the Unit ed Mine Workers and several fratern al organizations, Mrs. Florence Kelley of New York, speaking for the Child Welfare Workers of the country, Ms Sara Bard Field of Portland. Ore, who said she represented the sentiment of the women voters of western states and Frederick Howe New York state immigration commissioner, and the Rev Frank Hall, of New York, speak ing for the celrgy of all denominations of that city.
 The views expressed ranged rom suggestions that congress should await the conclusion of the European war {, profit by lessons it might teach. tC declarations against a policy of mill tary preparedness at any time or fol any purpose.
 A majority of the speakrs, even the women, disclaimed any sympathy witt ! peace at any price doctrine, but MT i Willard prefaced his remarks with tht statement that under certain condi- tions he would wear hat designation as badge or honor.
 If it means to believe,' he said that there is no cause leading up tt war, which canot be composed and ad justed by internal tribunes precisely a! the quarrels of individuals are Vindi cated, then l would be willing tO hav' the stigma of peace at any price mal attached to me and shall wear it as ; distinction"
 AIr Fisher aroused the resentmen of some members of the commute when he declared that under a genera
 order of the war department, army of ficers had been gagged and t.4e view presented to the committee by staf ficers did not reflect the opinions . many officers of the line. He Sa.i sev eral officers of his acquaintance ha
 declared themselves opposed to an great military increase plan but a' feared to express their real views be
 cause of the gag order" Represen a tive Kahn called attention to the state
 ment of Secretary Garrison to the com
 mittee that officers were free as air
 to express their personal views.
 Mr Montgomery said he spoke fo
 800, O00 mine workers who had de
 clared against preparedness. He ad
 mtted that he and other officers c
 the organization had believed it woul
 be impossible for their side to get fair hearing, and added that he ha been surprised at the kindly recep
 tion he had met in Washington. Tn
 great newspapers, he declared, wer 1 controlled by munition makers an armor interests, and the opposition {
 their proposals was denied heal
 ing. He added that labor was nc opposed to the national guard
 states where it was not controlle ! hy the employers and filled wit
 gun and billy men, to trample o labor's rights.
 MT. Willard urged that the army ' reduced to the status of police it ot 'S Cupied in 1895. Adequate prepared ness was a willo the wisp, he sai : and could not be obtained under ar plan proposed short of conscriptiC and the military domination know in Germany and which had led the moral ruin of that country. How about an attack by Ge 1 many, France and Japan he sai
 | "at the same time? Can you ar
 against that, except by steering Il (Continued on Page Two)