Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-02-12
CLAUSE IN ARMY BILL 70 5E
ABANDONED AS UNPoP.
uLAR ISSUE.
WEST Is OPPOSED TO
COMPULSORY FEATURE
Sudden Change In Sentiment. Despite
American Legion Endorse r,ent Of
Feature Of Proposed la~-Repub.
lieans Using Care In Preparations
For Forthcoming Campaign.
tBy z. G. Dougherty.l

Washington, Feb. l2-Methods or
the speeding up of legislation so that
good record may be presented to
the country this campaign for
the republican congress. as outlined
to the republican national committee
and leaders in congress by Will H.
Hays, republican national chairman.
does not include universal military
training, as provided in the army
reorganization bill.
Senator Wadsworth Of New York.
chairman of the senate military
committee, is more and more finding
himself leading a smaller and smaller
group insisting, without regard to
the politics OF the situation, that
universal military training is sound
common sense and the proper solu-
ton of the preparedness problem.
1t is now the opinion of most OBJ
servers that the universal military
training provision OF the army bill
- az N~aaAN Al A-sA44 Vi NEAtdl III l4lt
senate, where ii is ever so mucn
stronger. proportionateiy than in the
house. Chairman Kahn, OF the house
military affairs committee. is Just as
strong for military training as sena-
tor Wadsworth. but he is fighting an
uphill fight against what apparently
is a strong majority sentiment in the
house against it.
There has been a sudden conviction,
the explanation of which IS hard to
find. that unlversa' military training
is unpopular in the country. Repre-
sentatives and senators from the
middle west. particularly. who were
mildly in favor of universal training,
have suddenly Topped 10 an attitude
of extreme opposition. They are
afraid 70 have the republican party
tied up in universal military train
ing in the approaching campaign,
saving that such a plank in the plat
form, backed by republican con-
gress IN favor Of this principle, would
cost the party thousands Of votes IN
the middle western states in Novem-
Der and make the task of electing a
republican president more difficult.
Tho II is conceded that the
strength Of the American Legion will
be almost wholly in favor of adoption
Of universal military training. there
exists a strong sentiment against
what Is held to be a movement
toward militarism. This was reflect
ed in a statement just issued by
Representative L. J Dickinson, OF
the Tenth Iowa district. announcing
his support of the candidacy Of
Governor Frank o. Lowden for the
republican nomination for president.
Barring the entrance OF an Iowa
man into the race for president"
Mr.. Dickinson said, Frank Q. Low
den, in my Judgment, meets the ideal
Of the Iowa people. The middle
west is against any tendency towards
nirtarisr and favors a strong con-
structive business policy. This gov
trnment of ours must be placed in
the hands of a man who can COM
prehend our business difficulties and
formulate plans to overcome them"
Coupled with this idea that mill
tary training under compulsory
methods Is not desired Is the pretty
settled conviction that the repub-
lican party will have no trouble
winning this election II no
bad mistake Is made be-
tween now and November. The
politicians look on the adoption Of
universal military training as an Is
sue which might seriously disturb
this status. Believing that the re-
publican party has the edge now.
they are not anxious to take any.
chances or switch the line Of fight
ing to some question on which the
democrats might possibly have the
popular side.
Politicians are looking with relish
70 the primary Of South Dakota on
March %, which will not only de-
ternine the popularity Of Maj. Gen.
Leonard Wood, but also will to
large degree indicate whether uni
versal military training will hurt the
republican party In the election. The
state orzaization OF that state is
strongly for General Wood from the
governor and national committeeman
down. Lowden and johnson sup
porters also ere numerous, but not
as strong as Woods hackers. If
General Wood should be defeated In
that primary, despite his strong
support from the state organization
that vote would seal the doom Of
| l-l 49,.
year at least in congress. It will
probably mean also that no plank
endorsing universal military train
ing will be adopted in the republican,
| platform.