Arizona republican., 1919-10-19
OPPOSES RUNNING AS
SOLDIER CANDIDATE
New York Times,)

New York Times.)
VIII the soldier candidate have the
advantage over every other candidate
the next generation?
One answer is offered by Congress
: man Florello Fl. La Guardia, republi-
can candidate for president Of the New
York City board Of aldermen. Con-
gresham La Guardia was Major La
Guardia until November 20, when, nine
days after the armistice was signed. he
resigned his commission and returned
TO his Seat in congress. He is mem
Der OF the committee on military af
fairs in the house. His record as an
aviator is well known. He took his
chances as a soldier and earned ad-
Vancement and fame. Few men in
politics have had a better chance to
capitalize an honorable military rec
ord. Few have had better opportun-
ity TO estimate the probabilities of the
future in this line.
Il am not a soldier candidate" said
the aviator congressman.
81 am absolutely opposed to making
capital of a military record. l can
think Of no more unjust, no more dan
gerous movement in American politics.
This was a great war of peoples. 1t
was not soldiers war. What soldiers
did was only part OF the effort re-
quired. The entire nation had to de-
vote its energies to the conflict.
Hundreds OF thousands Of brave men
who would have been glad to go and
to fight had to stay at home. The pro-
duction OF essential war materials
called for their work.
II have given absolute orders TO my
campaign managers to make no use OF
my military record in the municipal
campaign. ] have refused to permit
any picture in uniform to be used. II
were a candidate for a military office
] would. of course, use my military rec
ord. But I'm not.
THE fact that l was an aviator has
nothing to do with my qualifications
for the presidency Of the board OF aid
ermen. Air problems and military con-
duct are not before the voters of New
York. The question is whether am
better qualified personally and by af-
filliation for the Craftsmanship of the
board of directors Of the largest cor
poration in the world.
What did in the war was what any
young man in my position would do.
AS member OF congress l voted
for the draft law. was OF fighting
age ltll IL MY OuIy, eS-
pecially as I approved the law which
summoned all the young manhood OF
the nation to enlist.
II feel as ] thin kali soldiers who saw
action feel about this matter. II I
know the temper Of the men who
fought that is the state of mind of all.
They know that the peoples army won
this war. The soldiers know that no
force Of professional soldiers could
have won II. They know that entire
nations were at arms. Having won
the war, the thing to do is to forget
military organization and TO return to
normal peaceful life.
I'VE go back to the ordinary pursuits
Of free people. We do not perpetu-
ate military caste for political pur-
poses. No soldier wants to do such a
thing.
Il know that in other years a diff
ferent view prevailed. I know that
after other wars military service was
great asset in seeking political Of
flee. But II is not true now. This
war was different from all other wars.
and the spirit which has come out of
II is different. This was war against
war. II was fought TO end militarism.
We could not have junker office
holders"