El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-10-13

~ THETHER not the war IS followed by the fOrma-
M tion Of league of nations committed to the aIb
trstion Of international disputes and forcing
compliance Of nations party such disputes by force Of
arms, necessary, the question Of universal military sew
ice viii prominently before the people Of the United
States to demand action.
If league Of nations is formed the United States must
be Of the principals and its military strength viii
its importance If league is not formed and the
United States stands alone heretofore, all the more
essential viii it that this country be strong
Universal military service offers the only Of giving
any nation military power. It rests with the spirit Of
the people whether military power means miltarsm It
does in Germany It does not IN France, viii It in
the United States any more than it does in Switzerland
Brazil Argentina, Australia New Zealand, where the
principles Of universal military service obtain.
reduction Of srmaments of the peace terms was
proposed by pope Benedict in his recent proposal sent to
all beigerents and all powers acquiesced in principle
Germany agreeing to the suggestion However,
Germany strong element denounced the idea not
being practical and It IS indeed, hard to how very
great reduction IN armaments could be compatible with
the maintenance Of league Of nations which only could
survive backed BY military strength. In all probability,
the proposal Of reduction in ornaments, when discussed
at the peace conference, viii be tabled.
In the adverse report recently issued by the senate
ttee On military affairs senator Hardws resolution
providing that the every drafted
obtained before he could be sent into foreign service
valuable argument in favor Of the adoption Of per
manent system Of universal military training
The committee declares that universal training viii be
the principal military subject discussed after the is
and this report It Is argued by the committee VIII be
Of great assistance to the proponents of the policy for It
contains historical data from the time of Washington
revealing the inency of any volunteer system and the
necessity Of the establishment of system making military
service universal and compulsory.
By searching through documents, of which the
dust Of century had accumulated the committee able
forth arguments intended prove that all OF our
would ended in half the time actually required
complete them and that thousands Of lives and millions
Of dollars would have been saved, had safe and efficient
military system been established by congress Of
the conflicts OF even during their continuance
The committee declares that universal in
with the traditions Of the country and constitutional
that the haphazard volunteer system IS chaotic unde-
Pendable and fraught with the menace Of disaster
Thus when this war came upon did not depend
for instant upon the broken staff Of voluntary service
except that welcomed into the army navy all who
cared to volunteer and still accepting such voun-
eeTs President Wilson, IN his message congress on
April 2 1917 said that the war would involve the me
at least 5oOo7 men, who should be chosen upon prn-
Gple Of universal liability 70 service. The president
foremost student Of history had long convinced that
there was only safe and prudent way Of meeting the
versal service Notwithstanding that It was opposed to
previous policies, he hesated moment in declaring
Tor Its adoption and the nation already sees how night
the president in the decision.
Although stated in the previous sentence universal
liability to service opposed to policy policy
abhorTent to those Americans whom we have revered
for generations the best greatest Of our countreu
Washington did not hesitate speak bluntlt and force
fully than the inefcency Of the volunteer
system On Feb 9, 1776, he saie
TO EXPECT THE SAME SERVICE FROM RAW AND
UNDISCPLINED RECRUITS AS FROM VETERAN SOL
DIERS IS TO EXPECT WHAT NEVER DID AND PER
HAPS WHAT NEVER WILL HAPPEN
This almost coincdent with the opening Of the revo
lutiouary when Washington foresaw the difficulties of
opposing the trained troops Of England with the fervdI
patriotic but Hndscpned and unseasoned volunteers Of the
colonies.
On September p Of the year. Washington attacked