The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-01-29
MondeII's Speech
Disappoints Den1s
BIZ DAVID LAWRENCE,
tcopyrtSat BY The rntellZ enoer)

WASHINGTON. n. c.. Jan. 2s:--Few
things have disappointed politically
minded Democrats here more than the
statement OF Representative Mondeu.
Republican leader of the House. that ne
Is opposed 20 universal military tram
ing. And that isn't because the DEM
ocrats favor military training Tor the
nations youth, but. because they hao
hoped the Republican party would mako
the mistake OF passing such Legislation.
While on the surface there has oeen
much talk OF making the treaty an Us
sue IN the next campaign or CARRYING
the law and order controversy INTO
the presidential contest. the political
sharps have really seen a great oppor-
tunity in the military training question
esp,scially because of the Hell-founded
suspicion that II Leonard Wood were
10 Be the Republican candidate he
would warmly espouse the cause OF
military training.
Now when the Democrats had sup
posed the Republican party was GONG
to commit itself to military training
or peace-time conscription program.
whom Senator wadsworth. chairman OF
the Senate Military Affairs COMMITTEES
and other Republicans In the Senate
seemed eager to pass legislation OF
that kind. along comes Leader Mondeii
with the declaration that any Repuoli-
can who Is responsible for such leSisla-
tion will find himself soon IN poliu-
cal oblivion
without question the strongest SEN
tinent against universal training seems
20 como from the West and South and
Is not confined to either party. Indeed
Secretary Baker. OF the Democratic ao-
ministration. has endorsed the Senate
mi EN- Inclined S0t 10 9sinS the
Secretary Of War Is influenced by the
prevailing atmosphere Of the War De-
partment where hardly an officer OF
high rank Is to be found who doezn
favor military training.
Objections TO the program however.
como from varied sources There are
conflicting ideas about how tho return
ad soldtaP feelS- While he Is said 10
regard the advantages OF military train
Ing as Indispensable to nationai oe-
Tense. he doesn't think the next war Is
near enough ia. warrant turning ovef
tie nations tUath to the largo army
of regular army officers who want q
keep busy and thus retain their pro-
motions. The handling Of large bodies
or troops would require almost as many
officers OF high rank as II America
had 8 big standing army. 50 while ,,, ~ Is
argued that the adoption or military
training would reduce the size OF the
standing army. opponents or the pro
gram point out that il doesn't reduce
the number OF officers BY any great
humber.
many cases behind the opposition.
Also labor organizations fear that 10
create a large Federal force might LEAD
to abuses that would adversely anect
them They look askance at the send
ing OF too many Federal troops around
the country to interfere In labor dis
putes. Conversely 1t is true that many
large manufacturers and associations
Of employers have expressed their ap-
proval OF the military training PROJECT
and letn sums OF money 10 campaigns
Of education In its behalf. Few people
taka seriously the notion that the man
ufacturinS interests want 10 see large
military force created for domestic
purposes. The fact that strong po-
sition has been taker ny the employer
class in the east especially has. how
eevr reused suspicion in labor circles.
And when Il comes 10 eNerttng influ-
cnce upon congress, there is no more
subtle and rfT"ctivC power than that
welded By organized labor In checking
legislation thought 70 be ntmica' {" its
interest.
But tho most significant part Of
Leader Nondcll'~ statement and IN" ore
which probably is ~" controlling
reason for hts opposition IS the i'm
mvrSc cost ot p"av, time conscript;or
He estimates il At a billion dollars a
year and contend. thar bond issues
would he necessary |" rails" IN" rere-
nue..
Tbs is time moreover when the
Republican party is trying I" make 4
record for economy. Appropriations
haga been cur right ana II: and the
spectacle oC senator Wads""rth "t
New York. Republican chairman "f N"
Ssuat. Military Affair." '"mnit;e".
p~'adlnS again and again With tn" Sen
at. rnt - reduce needed military Ap-
prnpriatr"nS. has been on" "f ~" most
in'~rSs;,no s'dvliShtS IN thu ""n'r"Hcr-