Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-13
DEMOCRATS DENY
CAUCUS WAS SLAP
AT THE PRESIDENT
The Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
623 Riggs Building.
RX THEODORE TILLER

WASHINGTON, FEB. 1Z.-Demo-
cratic leaders in congress decline to
accept the Interpretation that the
party caucus action on compulsory
military training was revolt
against President Wilson or repu-
d1ation of his leadership. Inciden-
tally there was revealed today the
gist of the arguments used in tho
caucus against the presidents letter
recommending that the party take no
action on the military training ques-
ton at this time and it should be
submitted to the Democratic conven-
ton.
In support of their claims, Demo-
CT attic leaders saw on at least three
n evious occasions, a majority of the
house Democrats have failed to agree
with the President, namely. on day
light savings, the prohibition on
forcement law and the inning :ation
bill. They were not accused then of
boiling the Wilson leadership 1t Is
contepded.
Representative Claude K ;1hen, Of
North Carolina was the lea SER in the
caucus fight against Endorsement of
universal military training. Repre-
sentative Charles r. Crisp. of Geor-
gia, was his principal lieutenant N
the fight. Both denied today that
the caucus action was rebellion
against the party leadership of the
president. Members Of the caucus,
they asserted, knew the sentiment in
the country and knew it to be against
anything savoring Of a mi1itaristic
policy.
Kitchin Explains
Outside of the reasons openly dis
cussed in the caucus, 1t is learned
here that there was an undercur-
rent one, which actuated many
southern members of congress.
That was the fear that universal
training in the south would not only
disturb labor and Industrial condi-
tions but it would inculcate in the
negro youth a militaristic spirit
that might lead to trouble in the
races and between the races.
In an interview today with The
Journal correspondent, Representa-
tive Claude Kitchin does not refer to
the negro issue but does explain
how the Democrats felt impelIed to
vote against the presidents views.
Mr.. Kitchin argues that If the
south, as a rule, sided with the
house in disagreeing with the presi
dent on daylight savings repepal,
prohibition enforcement and re-
stricted immigration, be believes 1t
training issue to the Judgment Of
congress. Our caucus action"
said Representative Kitchin, was
I'VE regard it simply as an ex-
preston of the sentiment through
out the country and in our own Sec
tions. Unfortunately the president,
because Of his illness, has not been
able to sound out this sentiment
against a compulsory training law.
Here was the basis Of the caucus
action:
First, it was argued that If the
League Of Nations covenant Is to
be effective there is no justification
for policy Of compulsory military
training in this country. It was
proposed by the war department to
spend on this militaristic policy
twice as much as Germany spent
before the world war. Once we en-
bark upon such n policy it will 20
on Indefinitely and nobody knows
where it will stop.
AT the lowest estimate, the army
program would cost 81, 00O, 900, 900 a
year, more than we have collected in
taxes any year before the war. Some
authorities estimate it would cost
$500 annually per man and there
would DO at least 100000 or 500, 900
men in training.
There already are 4,o00, 900 train
cd men in this country, veterans of
the recent conflict. For the next
ten years at least they should meet
our military needs in the event of
trouble. Meanwhile, we are told that
there 10 to be no more war under
the league covenant.
''This country and the majority, OF
Democrats always have opposed COM
pulsory training. Why embark on a
mi1itaristic policy now with 1000, 900
men already trained?
1.-THE majority Of Democrats dis
agreed with the president on his
vetoes Of the immigration bill, the
daylight savings repeal and the pro-
hibition enforcement bill. We over
rode these vetoes, but 1t was not
called revolt. The caucus simply
thought the president was wrong
again, that the issue ought to be
faced at this time, that the coun-
try was opposed to universal train
ing and the time had come to kill
off that proposition. I do not be-
lieve the legislation has any chance
Should we start this compulsory
training, 1t is my belief that event.
ually our military machine would
grow into something far more for
midable and costly than anything
Germany ever attempted. We cannot
excuse entering q war against mill
tarism only to build up a military
juggernaut Of our own as soon as