The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-11
Presidents Action.

IAFN service or training kIlal mas any
compulsory feature In IT,
Presidents Action.
But MIR Wilson. without finding out
the situation In the house. sent letter.
not merely advising that the Democrats
hidc their time aud wait for the san
Francisco convention 10 determine what
shall be the issue OF the Democratic
party in the campaign but giving, Mt
the same time, an Endorsement Of the
universal military training plan
Had he failed TO commit himself and
merely urged "A pnstpouemcnt the blow
that came In the vote Of l0i To IS
would merely have been difference Of
opinion as to the proper time to make
q declaration on the subject and not a
distinct objection to the principle Of
military training approved by theNprcs-
Ident and Secretary Baker and the gen
eral staff Of the army.
II is about time that the executive
branch OF the government discovered
that. unmerited as the opinion may be.
the general staff Is hardly popular on
Capitol hill Memories Of the brusque
treatment received by members Of the
house and senate during the war. when
they used to sit cooling their heels out
side the offices Of lieutenants. captains,
colones and generals, are only too fresh
In the minds Of our Legislators, who
never forget such things anyway
But, fundamentally, the Democratic
members Of the house who are opposed
TO military training. hail from the West
and the South
As for the latter section, members
say their constituents are absolutely
opposed to military training, largely be.
cause Of fear that TO arm the negro
youth OF the country three months Of
the year might make it difficult 10 ham
die said youth the other nine months.
southern members are always scna .
tive about any piece of legislation thnt
touches the race question. and they are
having too many postwar troubles on
!. 1le race question anyway to experiment
with universal military training In time
of peace,
As for tho West, the objection seems
TO be that farm labor Is scarce enough
as 4 is and that the disloCation to ag-
riculture caused by the war time con
scription Is too recent to permit Of any
peace time scheme that Is evenly re-
mutely analogous to the solectye draft
There are Western members. Of
course, who argue IN favor Of military
training on the ground that it helps
the health of the nations youth and
gives us preparedness for war which
We did not have when the European
war came.
But the trend seems to be to return
Go the same state of suspicion about "A
large military establishment now as
the West had when President Wilson
campaigned for Secretary Garrison s
continental army and reserve system.
Members from the West say their con-
autuents are not exercised over the
possibility Of another big war for the
next 10 years at least, because the
world Is IN a state OF economic and
Financial exhaustion.
The question is by no means disposed
Of. The Republican party is in control
Of both branches Of the government
aud must soon declare itself The re.
volt nf the Republican leaders Of the
house against the senate leaders on this
issue Il due u the same line ~ reason
ing which Western Democrats have ad-
yanced
Even with the support Of the Amrri-
can Legion II is doubtful whether the
plan would go through. as Republicans
and Democrats fear the women voters
are opposed to the scheme. that farmers
don't want It. and that organized Labor
~ far from enthusiastic about the crea
tiou OF large federal force that might
upon occasion hc used for strike duty.
n.IA
ITeSlueHJ disappointed
prasider, y,usr., j.. ,,,,,,,,..,t..,..,.,.
disannoiutcd mai his na,t, IA NV" t'' ,,