South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-11-26
NOVEMBER 20, 1913.
FOR COMPETITION IN PREPAREDNESS.

The National security league-long on universal.
military training-and opposed 10 permanent peace.
lest 1t interfere with the business opportunities of the
arms, munitions and other war equipment manufac-
turers,-apparently feels that it has stirred up enough
OF local interest among people who have something
financial To gain. and no children to train, to put
over its local branch.
You can see readily. how it would affect an insti-
tition long on so-caled preparedness" if a league Of
nations should invoke disarmament and there should
be no worldwide competition in preparedness for
slaughter. such as maintaining large armies and ever
increasing navies.
II would be suicidal TO a nuriE er Of eastern inter-
ests whose long suite in addition to serving the blood
craving has always been occasional minor inventions,
and changes An powder textures, so that the 'prepar-
ing nations can have an excuse for changing their
war equipment Of course, always intent on keeping
mp to date.
Universal military training is quite as essential to
such a program as an absence of disarmament. The
cas5-ons can then be used by the new soldiers in train
ing. furnishing a utility that affords a better opening
for new "up-to-date" equipment for the armies reg
ular.
Chips to carry around on our national shoulders
with a dare on our national face for somebody to
knock it on-and then another war. and more prof
iteering for the makers Of the equipment; that is. all
the equipment except the men! Their boys. if they
have any. viii Of course. be able to obtain a deferred
classification, on the theory Of their being essential to
81 va A19A Inv III IAv1HDlg 81 IL AAeu - lhdt
they won't even have to take the universal training"
There isn't another thing for which the National
Security League presumes TO stand. such as its pre-
tended fear Of bolsheviksm and ~anti-American propa-
sanda, that isn't being taken care of by other agencies
attached TO the government. Espionage is being looked
out for by the American Protection league. in direct
association with the department Of Justice. and is per-
hsps as much TO be trusted as an organization that
thinks so much in terms Of preparedness" that it
doesn't even classify espionage laws, and excess profits
taxes. as war measures.
Additionally promotion Of patriotism does not call
for promotion OF mnitarism, AUGMENTATION Is no
synonym for Prussianization. and reconstruction runs
farthest in the world from preparation for renewed
destruction, whence very evidently the prime purpose
Of the league. regardless of its pretenses. is to pro-
mote conditions that will make business for the manu-
facture of war materials. more than anything else.
1t is a great system. and a fine burden, to shoulder
upon the poorer people Of the nation. who have al
ways done the fighting. borne the weight Of the war
burdens. while the profteers have been mainly inter
ested in boosting the thing along. When you ngure out
that these eastern interests-very evidently the back
ers OF this league-furnished Germany with millions
Of her guns and tons of ammunition employed by her
early in the war; that they found It profitable then to
help equip England and France. and Italy-and final
" the United States-yOU can readily understand
their propaganda against any considerable letup.
We are certain that when the next war comes II
il ever does. as the result of the preparedness" com
petition for which this league stands, the generation
that does the fighting. as usual while the prodteers
keep on prohteering, will certainly be grateful to the
present age-for its lack of humanity. its willingness
to be humbugged, and is greedy Observation-Disclosures