New-York tribune., 1917-01-12

commercial force behind n. SO LEI ui TAI.
look at our efficiency il every citizen ., -.
United States were at the command OF 81.
government Immediately on the declsrs,;..
OF war.
The President Of the United State, =
flash would bring TO his side every spee,g,
in the United States.
Charles VI. Schwab would. undoubtedlv 1.
given charge Of the department for the NJ.
duction Of munitions. One Of our great r,a
Dad managers, VINO had distinguished bI,
aelf as an executive head Of transuor..t..
such as Frederick ID. Underwood, ] K,,..
schnitt or Mr.. Ripley, would be called u,o.
TO coordinate all the railroad trsnsports,is,
facilities.
The Problem Of Man Power
We have yet confronting US the qu.s,o,
of man power. This means that we mus,
have a large force Of citizens educated in n.
use of war material, which can be organi,,S
into an effective armed force on short MOTIF,
With the above law on the statute boo.,
of the United States, all objections to mill.
tary training would be removed, for il wovls
be apparent to every citizen that only d,.
fensive war could come, and certainly ever,
citizen wants this country in position %
defend itself.
We should have military training in On,
schools and make it compulsory for every boz
20 be trained, if for no other purpose thar
for the physical improvement Of the rae,
Give them military training, not 10 msk,
soldiers, but to make men, and for the Dur.
pose of giving 70 the American boy that which
he most needs-discipline. Universal military
training with the safety which the above law,
will apply will be just as great an asset to
this country in peace, as it will give efheieney
in case of war. The placing OF these aE,
en- our statute books would cost nothing, bu,
they would Immediately marshal the entire
efficiency Of this nation, and would insure ],
against war, because no nation or group o.
nations would have the audacity to believe
that we could be overcome, and nations are
like individuals-they are not looking for
fight they cannot win.
Recently the American Federation Of Lbsr
in session at Baltimore, passed resolutors
opposing military training IN our schools
and It is quite obvious that labor as class
is opposed to any effective policy Of prepared.
ness when that preparedness consists In the
construction of a large navy and the training
and equipment Of large army, either stand.
ing or reserve. Many may say that this re.
luctance on the part OF labor to support srY
preparedness programme so far suggested
arises from a lack Of patriotism or lack o.
Of our dangers, but neither sur.
mise is correct.
The battles of all wars have been fough;
by the common people, or laborers They
nave not only borne the wounds and woes Of
war, but they have returned exhausted and
broken to their homes to pay the expense BY
carrying the burden Of taxes.
War for them is what Sherman said i was
with no mitigation.
The masses fight the war and pay the sI.
penses, while the classes take the spoils ih'
power and the glory. II is small wonder TIA.
labor views everything suggestive Of war with
suspicion.
Property and Labor
We are unable to call to mind any va
where labor was the object Of attack, bui1
are willing to venture the assertion nE
wealth and power have always been th"
ject for which war was waged. Yet thf'sg'
out all the years, snd even up 70 the pr''si'
moment, all nations and all laws have con-
pelled labor 10 protect Weailn anu PVNe .
labor's expense, and have denied labor an
Just share in the spois, if there were s'I
spoils. For example: England recently passed
a compulsory service law which gives to ne
government the right to compel every abe
bodied citizen of military age to bear aHri
in defence of the country. man thus called
must drop all profitable pursuits and risk hn
life at his country's call. Why did not hs
same law take over every business and pee,
of property in the empire for the defence O
the empire? Is property more sacred th'l
life? When the government thrust mill'ap
service on its able-bodied men. why did II no
by the same token compel civil service oil ih
the other citizens and marshal all the Wesin
and strength of the empire for its defence, ID
stead of allowing the weaklings and snirsen
to prosper, and wealth 70 fatten at me eA'
pense of those who have given up all ana gene
70 the front to fight the battles2
Germany has at last been forced to the coz
dition which would obtain in this eouauy
were the proposed laws enacted, and tne Oh"
belligerents are fast coming 10 IT,
Would II not be very much more inie.ns'
to start with the maximum eficiezsy nsn "
come to it after great suffering snd es'"
ter? II. {. CUIIl''
New York, Jan. 8, 1917.