Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1919-09-16
OUR MILITARY ExTRAvAGENCE

OUR MILITARY ExTRAVAGENCi
The adoption OF permanent militia
ny policy for the United States is NJ
10 congress, but no one seems impress
ed with the Importance OF the matter
save, perhaps, the war department
the military caste and congress. Ths
military policy OF the country, II
would seem from past experience. ha,
n great deal to do with war and, some
OF us maintain, with peace as well
Doesn't IL seem little odd TO you that
the administration that is trying Q
peddle league Of nations covenant &c
the country as the panacea for war Il
now urging congress- to indulge In the
luxury Of a standing army OF more
than 100000 men? And IN addition
they want 20 impose universal mill
tary service on the young men OF the
country.
The Graphic has always stood for
preparedness I'm the years past, but we
now seem to have established coterie
Of men-largely made up Of converted
pacifists-who don't seem TO know any
limit The Graphic doesn't seem able
TO follow their line Of logic II would
seem that the country IL about to en-
bark ON military program which the
nation will find intoierable. And for
what reason? A few months before
the great war the administration could
not be induced TO add another field
piece or machine gun, although the
country stood on the edge OF q world
conflagration. Now these men, who
sent our manhood into battle but half
trained and half equipped. want to do
all the preparing after the fire has been
extingulshed. Doesn't Il occur 10 you
that there may be more secrets In the
Paris peace conference than have been
disclosed? What have these men got
up their sleeyeY'
Last week Gen. Wood declared be-
fore the senate military committed
that an army OF $4,000 would be am
pie for all needs, and Gen. Wood, being,
first OF all an officer OF the regular
army. isn't working against the inter-
ests OF the organization 80 near 10 his
heart. 1t takes men to make generals.
and there are lot OF gentlemen In the
army that like the decorations the war
has placed on their shoulder straps
II Gen. Wood says $4,000 men are am
pie the number can be safely cut In
half, II our citizen soldiers are allowed
TO do the part they have fully demon
strated that they can do. But the mil
itary caste doesn' want 10 be bothered
with up-start officers and civilian i'm
reference ana the burden their prof.
gram vii place ON the taxpayers isn't
bothering them In the least.
And In addition, II the youth OF the
are placed for period In
their control, their propaganda isn't .
going 10 languish for want OF receptive
human material They want the youths
placed In the regular army away from
he influences OF home and fully under
he control OF regular army officers.
Doesn't II seem that they should he
willing to enter the schools on the same |
lasis as other teachers TO accomplish 1
his necessary work?-for universal 4
military training Is necessary. IL isl ]
)lain that they are not willing 90 do 4
his. 4
This matter will come home to every q
itizen In the near future. But while I
he citizens are giving their attention !
o the spectacular fight between the q
resident and congress over the league :
4 nations. the power of the admins z
ration IL being directed to building up r
great military machine 10 carry on O
he contemplated projects for military Ii
In European countries. As r
matter OF fact the arrangements "
nder the peace pact have already In "
olved the nation In an mwelcOme war
n Russia, and II has advised that 4
american troops be sent TO Turkey, pro- N
oses to keep American troops In Ger r
lany for the next fifteen years. IL n
his Is world peace under the league Of $,
atoms In Heavens name can any Il
Their arrangement be worse or more u
n-American In all its notifications? al
The American people have followed &,
leir leaders to that point beyond
hlch they can go at their peril. A
'ague OF nations means a break with
le solemn advice OF Washington and
efferson to avoid European contro- 10
arsy and thereby invite dlctation by n n
urope OF American policy. II Is I'M 81
'rtunate that the treaty Is a political ~
sue; but the people have made u n.
lch quite as much as the president y,
nd congress- because. can you find a a,
.mocrat today who doesn't support 20
holly the presidents position? II is n,
ming to an out and out issue and at On
Ie polls the supreme decision win be al
ade. IL does not seem reasonable 81.
at one man win be able TO write the n,
ture policy OF the country ON his -
pewriter. IL Is tco big a Job to be =,
n to any one human being-however 40
Ise and just he may be. II the peo- An
2 allow themselves 10 be carried ~
way In the excitement OF partisan sv
Valry they will have only themselves ~,
blame when the payments for their a.,
shness Is due. This Is o critical
critical than can be fully
derstood and II will need the combin.
wisdom Of the people 10 direct pub
opinion In an effective and intel =.
ent way to consummate the ideals OF w
itch our president is the great ex- ~
nent. Let's not strain at gnat ~
d swallow a camel" WI