The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1918-12-28
DEMOCRACY AND UNIVERSAL
TRAINING

Objections Of intelligent labor leader
ship to militarism and its opposition to
any measure which would tend to create
militarist system in this country meets
the heartiest Endorsement of every sane
advocate Of universal training for pre-
paredness. There is absolutely no differ
eHce among loyal Americans on this sub
ject. IA +, -.e~asslts.:,
But as proposed universal training for
preparedness not only does not mean mil
itarism, it means the exact opposite of
militarism. It means the placing in the
hands of people themselves Of the means
of national defense.
A good deal Of the difference Of opin-
ion over training is founded on the fact
that its opponents are talking generalities
about one thing and its advocates are Of
ten talking generalities about quite an
other thing. Their minds cannot meet
because they are not thinking Of the same
thing. If universal training for prepar-
edness were what most of its critics think
it is, its defenders would be as heartily
opposed to it as it's critics. We all swear
war upon militarism or any system be-
hind which militarism can Turk.
The gratifying action Of the Illinois
State Federation of Labor at Blooming
ton in refusing to be stampeded by So
cialist members into taking stand
against universal training indicates that
the truth about this system of national
defense is spreading. We are confident
that If such a man as Gen. Leonard Wood
had been given the privilege of telling
the convention exactly the ideals and pur-
poses and detailed working out Of the
system, the federation would have gone
on record affirmatively and emphatical-
" in favor Of its immediate establish
ment. ~1sa41
Why Because universal training FOR
preparedness is the only form of thor.
oughly democratic national defense there
is. II provides for the compulsory
there is. It provides for the compulsory
preparation Of all citizens to perform
competently the basic duty Of citizenship
the defense of our common country. Il
is inherently democratic because it COM
pels the rich and the poor to serve in the
ranks, shoulder to shoulder, to be given
exactly the same training, under exactly
the same privileges. Under this system
the Millionaire or the millior.aire's son and
the poorest and most uninfluential young
man in the country must 60 to the same
camp. must wear the same clothes, must
eat the same food, must do the same work
must yield the same obedience to the
same system Of ordered effort.
From this even start those who wish
and are proved fit to 60 on to higher in
struction will 60 forward under exactly
the same system of promotion, and in
America, as in France, when war comes
by far the larger number Of officers and
non commissioned officers in the nation
al army will come from the ranks of men
of smaller means, the wage Garner, the
farmer, the teacher, the clerk
The camps for universal training will
be the greatest school at simon pure de-
mocracy ever formed. They will bring
young men from every walk Of life into
intimate companionship in honorable and
'dignified common service for an inspir-
ing purpose. These young men will learn
to know one another as men, and there
fore, to understand and like each other,
not for any worldly consideration but for
their human qualities as men. The ex-
perience will put its mark on them for
life and do more to bring all of us togeth-
~ in the tgue spirit Of democratic brotlA-
fhesd A& af48Hg else 4nua Do.
IhisHs the MgftSt purpose ana effect
Of universal compulsory Rfa5ing fer pre-
earedness, the hedge of ednmon duty
and OF democratic equality Of service.
MAVTNC coon ONy TrrU roD