The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-03-04
JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY
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comes from isolating the military, from
making military ideals separate and often
III conflict with those of the masses
OF the people. The military should not
exist as something apart, but for the
service OF the whole nation. The naval
and military institutions Of our country
winch give special training to those
who have particular fitness and desire
TO follow military or naval professions,
ought also to be open to all who possess
tne required qualifications. Such "A pro-
VISION would enable men from all walks
OF lite to enter the army and the navy
"a condition, which in itself, would be
IN accord with the spirit of democracy
Wherever the spirit of democracy is
absent therc the accompanying evils Of
'nllitariSin, military caStcs, fastcn deadly
clutches upon freedom and civic oppor-
lunily, and obvcrSely where the spirit of
democracy obtains it tends to the aboli-
tlon OF military castes and the Inherent
vicious dangers Of militarism
In addition to those who enter the
regular army and the navy as a profes-
sion, there must be reserves that can he
called INTO the service Of the country
quickly to meet an emergency. 1t is nee
cSSary, therefore, that there should be
opportunities afforded to the masses of
the citizens for physical and military
training. However, all military training
must be safcguardcd to protect demo.
cratic ideals and civic institutions. Not
only must there be equal opportunity for
all citizens to enter military training or
SanlzatlonS and camps, but that oppor-
tunity must be attended by such provi-
sions as to make II an equal opportunity
Tor both the poor and the rich a fair
compensation for service in military
framing camps must be paid as a sub
Ntltutc Tor wages lost In these citizen
organizations for military training. there
must be no recognition of distinctions,
professions or for any advantage or
position that may be held by any citizen
or group Of citizens.
IN order to insure naval preparedness
and To maintain reserves for that service
| II Is imperative that high standards of
manhood and efficiency may be cstab-
IlShcd III the navy, the merchant marine
and Tor transport service.
When service in the army and navy
and IN training schools and training
camps and reserve organizations is open
to all when those institutions are or
ganlzcd upon a democratic basis, demo-
cralcally oihccrcd and administered 4;
when there is equal opportunity for all
Tor service in all positions, from the
highest officer to the lowest in the ranks /:
and when the COMMANDMENTS Chief of
both army and navy and all military or
ganizations within the country is an elect
ed person directly responsible to the peo-
pie, 1t seems that the greatest possible
prccaution has been taken to secure ma
tlonal defense and national preparedness.
without doing violence to the spirit of
democracy and to our Republic. With
these safeguards the dangers of develop
ing militarism will have been reduced to
the smallest possibility.
Absolutely democracy in voluntary SER
vice for national defense will have an
effect upon all other relations of life.
1t will make for better understanding.
1t will bind all together in unselhsh ser
vice and broaden and deepen that which
constitutes the common life Of our ma