The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-11-22
GUARD AGAINST
DANGER AHEAD
Why We Should Not Have Universal
Military Training and Service

Written for the American Union
Against Militarism by Ex-Gover-
nor Simeon E. Baldwin of Con-
necticut)
In my judgment, any permanent
system of universal military train
ing and CONSUMPTION would be I'M
suited both to the political and the
social conditions existing in the IN
tied States.
We have made our President an
officer of immense powers. They
are great in peace; overwhelming
in war. In framing our Constitu-
ton this policy was deliberately
adopted. With states scattered over
half a continent it was vital nee
essity to have something like abso-
lutte authority in certain matters
vested in a single executive magis-
trate. He must, in the nature of
things, see that the laws of the
United States are properly executed,
whether by the people in general or
any particular class of the people.
The only recognized class is that
engaged in the military and naval
service. 1t is the Presidents right
and duty to carry out the legisla-
ton of Congress in regard to it.
Against the danger of his abusing
this trust the only safeguard is
impeachment. Against the danger
of bad legislation by Congress there
is the greater and self-executing
safeguard of constitutional pro-
vision that no appropriation of mon
ey for raising and supporting armies
shall be for longer term than two
years.
The design of the trainers of the
Constitution was to have only a
small standing army, but that it
should be supported by force of
militia in each State, trained I'M
der discipline prescribed by Con-
gress. The necessities of the war of
1914-18 have caused the virtual alb
clifton of the State militia. Instead
of it we have adopted for the time
being, the policy of CONSUMPTION. The
course Of events has now brought
us to. the point where we must de-
termine whether to perpetuate or to
abandon it as part of the Amer
lean system of political government.
Our history since the Constitu-
ton was adopted shows that It's
trainers were right in providing for
a small army and a supplementary
militia, only, in time Of peace; leav-
ing CONSUMPTION to be resorted to
only when necessary in time of war.
We shall never wage wars avow-
eddy for conquest. For any others
we can safely trust to voluntary en-
listment in the armies and navies
of the United States, and the State
militia; to be supplemented, in case
of invasion or danger of invasion, by
a temporary Consumption Act.
We have become the greatest and
richest experiment on earth. Cam
ning's statement, century ago, that
England had called upon the New
World to redress the balance of the
Old, if but half true then, has since
been acted out in the wars just
closed. We have had main share,
cooperating again with England, in
shaping the events that have in these
wars, re-made the face of Europe.
Our success now becomes our danger.
Power begets constant temptation
to use it. Power to dictate to other
nations their course of conduct leads
to a desire to exercise and enforce
that power. Amy Consumption Act
tends to exalt the military and de-
press the civil authority. Safety for
US does not lie that way.