Denver labor bulletin., 1916-02-12
The Open Forum
The ..Preparedness" Hysteria.
Denver. Colo.. Fcb. D.

Denver, Nulo., req. y, lolus
Editor Denver Labor Bulletin:
II it be true, as we are told, that our
country has been discovered to be 80
exposed to invasion by the countries be-
yond the seas that we might be at
tackled any moment, why not those who
have made the discovery take the peo-
pie in their confidence and tell us what
country is making preparations for our
invasion, and for what reason, so "a TO
give the people a chance to judge for
themselves as to the great danger to
which they are eXposedl Instead OF
that We are given only unsupported
statements. and are asked hypothetical
questions.
Many people are skeptieal about the
danger we are told exists OF being in
vaded. They look upon the propaganda
for preparedness with suspicion OF its
possibly being a mask to conceal some
thing to which they might be opposed
i'll case they know just what was In
tended.
surely those who are to bear the cost
OF such an undertaking as the building
of large armament, the cost OF its main
tenance after its being built and the
consequences that may follow, should be
allowed to know the real reason for
such an undertaking.
10 10 other class OF people can the
building OF large army and navy be
of greater consequence than to the toll
ing masses For it is they who shall
pay the full cost thereof. And when
war shall come, as it is sure to follow
preparedness sooner or later, 1T IS they
who shall be found in the trenches, while
many OF the great patriots who are now
CRYING SO loudly for preparedness viii
be found in high buildings, manipulat-
ing watered stocks, and making huge
profits from the butchery and devasta-
ton that will spread desolation, misery
and SORROW over the land.
Preparing for war to insure peace is
about as logical as to saturate wood III
oil to protect it against fire. Prcpar'
ing for war means warl 1t has never
meant anything else. We may say that
we are only preparing for defense, but
the other nations may take differ
ent view of what our real purpose may
be- They may, without trying very hard,
see something sinister in the United
States abandoning its lifelong policy
under which it has never been molested,
to hurry into the building OF large
armament, and think it wise to pre-
pare against our preparedness. Then
will follow a race among military ma
tions as to which shall have the largest
military machine.
The reason this country has always
been on friendly terms with the other
nations is undoubtedly that it has never
really been armed. Not being armed it
was not feared; and not being feared
it was not hated. Hence the friendly
relations with the world. A nation, or
an individual, is safer unarmed amoEg
friends than armed among enemies. The
old axiom that 1T is the man with n
gun in his pocket that dies with his
boots on" is true literally or figura-
lively.
The best, the safest protection a ma
tion can build around itself is to gain
the good will and confidence of it's
neighbors, which can only be asquired by
conduct based on equity and justice,
and never to rattle the saber.
Protection based on force, or fear,
cannot always be relied upon, and when
it fails the consequences are sure to be
disa strous; because, when nation sue
ceeds in bringing to it's knees an enemy
that has caused it fear, the victor will
not feel safe unless it's vanguished foe
is completely crushed. This is now be-
ing exemplified among the warning ma
tions of Europe, each side yowing not
to relent until its adversary is placed
beyond where It will again be able to
cause it fear. This is the natural con-
sequence Of the policy of force.
Organized labor can never be too eau
tious in giving assent and cooperation
in the building Of large military armn
mcnts. Past experience should warn MS
to beware of militarism, even when in
trodaced under the name of prepared.
ness. There has never been weapon
yet contrived for defense that was not
also used for offense. Let us not for