The daily Nome industrial worker., 1917-04-27
FROM AMOS PINCHOT.

of conscription is Amos Plnchot ana he has addressed a letter on this | subject to the American Federation | of Labor which is certainly worth! consideration After reviewing the results of compulsory military ser vice in the European countries ne continues: "Of course, some may reply that we have here a republican and not q dvnastic form of government; that we are protected by the fact that the ultimate political power IS Tn inc neople's hands This is true ln theory. but intelligent people all over the world-have come to realize that popular political machinery does not. in fact, mean popular mower. The main power in the world is the economic power ana if does not rest either in the hands of the general public, nor in the la bor group. In spite Of popular gov ernment. the moneyed class is, with us. still the governing class, ana It is more integrated and aggressive here than in Germany. And the unresting demand for compulsory service. which is filling the country with clamor, comes almost eXclusiV- ely from this class; and it has a good deal more class interest Tn II than real patriotism.
 Ii is the same old story. Ihese men. who are calling for the disclp- lining of the people through mill tarv service, are thinking more ot defense of their own investments tban of the country's borders. They are what Lincoln called the adFo- cates of the mud-sill theory Yankee" said he, who could ln- vent a stronghanded man without a head. would receive the everlast- ing gratitude of the mud-slii aoVo- cates' According tao that theory. sold Lincoln. "a blind horse upon d treadmill is a perfect illustration oi what laborer should be-all the better for being blind, that he could not kick understandingly. me mud-sill theory is as typical of the American exploiter now as 1t was Ill 1859. when Lincoln spoke. But to- day there is a better chance or its fulfllmcnt. Today, the mud-slllel has a definite program, backed bA powerful interests and spread m the name of patriotism and natlona security.
 The National Security League m forms us that universal military service is necessary to defend the ma ton. This is pure, unadulterate' bunk. With a good navy, ample coast defenses, mines, torpedoes' standing army of a quarter of mll lion men and moderately etficien militia. our country is as safe iron invasion. and infinitely less likely t' get into war. than if we forced ever! citizen into uniform and thoroughN trained him to kill. No one knows this better than the Wall Street m terests that are behind the cam paign for compulsory service.
 Conscription. in time of peace, to in war except in case Of deSperat necessity.) is unthinkable in thu American republic for conscripuol is in essence slavery. It does no matter much whether the master l private individual or an officer the state. If you enslave man YOU enslave whether It De D. forcing him to work in cottol field against his will, or by torcih him to enter the army ana hgh against his will Both are slavery the negation of liberty is the same the only difference is the master No man or state has right to fore a citizen to kill people against hi will or conscience.
 The advocates of compulsory ser vice however. call attention to tn fact that Lincoln endorsed Tn draft" in the Civil War. They sa that the volunteer system brok down: that the people of the Mort refused to enlist in sufficient quant1 ties to carry on the war. This is es sentially untrue. AS matter of fac out of the four million males Of mi ltary age in the North, over mil lion volunteered and enlisted in tn