Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-09
FIGHT" ASA VETERAN
SAYS MINE WORKERS
DON'T WANT DEFENSE
Statement Unworthy of Man
Who Has Served Under
Flag" Cries Represent
ative Crago
WOMEN JOIN IN PLEA

WASHINGTON Feb. with the dec
larRtion. Your statement is unworthy OF
any man who has ever served under the
American flag" Representative Thomas II.
Crago. of Waynesburg. Pa, today Bitterly
denounced Percy Tctlow, formerly of
Wampum, IA, who appeared before the
House Military Affairs Committee with
delegation Of men and women who are
opposed to preparedness. Tetlow told the
committee that he appeared for 100000
members Of the United Mine Workers of
America. and declared that they unani-
mously opposed any step toward militar.
ism.
After Tetlow had been vigorously crit
iCised by several members of the COM
mittee, he contradicted the statements
he had made which drew fire from those
who are In favor of preparedness. The
controversy grew out of n reference made
by Tetlow to his service in the Spanish
American War. He said he served in the
18th Pennsylvania Volunteer Regiment,
and was convinced that the volunteers
rendered just as good service as the
regulars
You had an old Springfield rife, didn't
you?' asked Representative Crago.
Yes" replied Tetlow
The enemy had the best modern rifles.
You were up against an enemy better
equipped?"
Yes"
Would your organization be opposed to
equipping the forces of the United States
with the best rifles availabe?"
PLAYING TO GALLERIES.
81 will answer that by telling you that
was one of those who was criticising
Mckinley for holding Congress back.
went to Cuba on transport, sleeping on
concrete floor because we did not even
have hammocks; we did not have water
for our coffee even. We got to Cuba,
and | saw our men dying all around.
When we reached the island 1 found we
were not prepared I would rather go
through all that and suffer as did then
than to plunge this Government into
militarism'
The committee room was packed with
antipreparedness devotees, and they ap-
plauded vigorously.
THAT is only playing to the galleries
and isn't worthy of a man who has served
under the flag OF his country" said Rep
resentative Crago. This committee has
as much patriotism as you or any one
else"
THAT is true" agreed Tetlow.
do YOU think it would bring about
miltarsm to have arms and ammunitons
equal to those of the enemy?"
absolutely not" said Tetlow. I'VE
are not opposed to this Government hav-
ing the best arms and ammunition and
the mobility of these things"
WHAT TETLOw SAID.
In beginning his statement, Tetlow
said:
1--WE are opposed to advancing one
step toward fastening on the people of
this country n military system that will
crush them. You cannot safeguard
democracy by establishing a military
system other than that necessary to pro-
tect the system for which we contended
when we established this Government
I'VE feel that the question of arma-
ment and ammunition is such that the
Government ought to control every ave-
nue. from which these tools and NUM-
tions must come If you eliminate the
profit desire, we will move along sane
lines.
"The reasons why the workers are op-
posed to the National Guard Is that they
are called on to exercise police powers
and put down strikes In Colorado armed
gunmen were employed 10 crush the very
ideals of liberty.
1--WE don't want any preparedness at
all that increases the number OF pro-
fessional soldiers. If any progress Is to
he made YOU must reform the National
Guard and make it more democratic"
Representative Nichols, of South Caro-
lima. said:
"You are not opposed to having arms
and ammunitons but you are opposed to
nutting down strikes"
Not at ALL said Tetlow.