Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-01-12

; DEMOCRACY AND
MILITARY SERVICE 4



From the Chicago Tribune.
II do not see how any one can claim
Tor the individual the right of man
hood suffrage without conceding the duty
of universal military SERVICE This in eff
iect was the most Significant assertion of
nIle of Americas leading citizens.
II is but an assertion of the principle EN-
podled In our federal constitution which
creates "A militia and of the federal law
which provides tina il Shall consist of
every able bodied male citizen or alien
VINO mas declared his intention to become
a cltlzen between the ages of is and 40.
What congress has failed to do up to
TINS time has been to provide for and in
s!st upon the training of this militia for
ne service to which at the will OF the ma
ION. expressed through it's government.
is legally liable to perform.
w men the Tribune and other advocates
u efficient and adequate defense speak
.f universal military training many oppo-
sents assume that we advocate ii depart
Ire from an American principle.
IIlat is an error.
We advocate only Il departure from an
american method.
The principle of universal military serv-
re Is established in our American insti-
,ution. 1t has not been made effective.
md the demand we now voice is not that
my new principle shall be set up, but that
IN established principle as last shall be
made effective according To the conditions
mo Imminent needs of our own age and
tuation among the nations of the world.
Our policy has been to assert the duty OF
universal military service and to dis
courage or prevent proper preparations
This paradox is embodied i'm the yolun-
,eer system.
The volunteer system is supposed to be
Nh essential method of democracy.
1t is essentially ~undemocratic.
Ut is supposed to he efficient as bringing
20 the colors men who have willed to ght
20 fight.
1T has proved i'm all our principal wars so
Nefflc1ent that it has been given up in the
midst of the struggle and compulsory SER
'lce adopted in place of it. 1t has re-
2~eatedly impcriled the national cause and
t has cost untold waste in blood and
treasure.
The volunteer system permits the selfish
citizen t. shirS upon the patriotic the bur-
len he is In principle bound to help sus-
ain. 1t eNpends with lavish hand the
public, while the self-seeker survives. And
n the end it breaks down and is discard
"a. The volunteer system involves the
minimum of military efficiency. the maxi
mum OF personal injustice. 1t is vicious in
principle and in practice. and this is not
theory but the proved lessons of expert
rnce.
Justice and public. policy alike demand
hat the principle of universal service be
realized in this republic. Prejudice and
false sentiment oppose 1t.
Which will prevail?
Other dcmocracies have determined this
question In favor Of universal service
wealths. France. Are we to wait for the
dire compulsions of war to bring about
this reform. or shall we act with wisdom
and forethought now while peace re-
mains? Shall we give life or our principle
or cling to Il wasteful and fallacious ira
dition?
Senator Chamberlain has introduced a
bill to provide for universal military train
ing. 1t presents tho most important issue
prepared for defense until the principle
upon which this bill IS based is made eff
fective.