The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-02-09
GAVE APPROVAL OF
MODERATE TRAIN
ING PROJECTS
The Opposition by Caucus
Would Tend to Interp0se
an Arbitrary Party De-
termination That Should
Receive Best COnsidera-
ton of Members of the
House.

Washington, Feb. o. President vii
son opposes the plan to have the Demo
cratic members Of the House at theiI
caucus tonight make an issue of uni
versal military training
The presidents views are set forth in
letter to Secretary Baker, transmit
ted to-day to Democratic leaders in the
House. Mr.. Wilson says 1t would be
unfortunate to make a party issue
on this subject, particularly since with
in few months this party will as.
sembe in convention and declare the
principles upon which it deems it wise
to commit itself in national election.
The president says the disturbed
state of the world does not permit
such sureness with regard to America s
obligations as to allow us lightly to
decide upon this great question upon
purely military grounds.
He recalls that he gave his approval
in principle to the various very mod
crate training projects suggested by
the general staff and expresses his
strong feeling against action by the
caucus which would tend "to interpose
an arbitrary party determination ia
the consideration which this subject
should receive from the best> thought
of the members of the House,
The call for the caucus tonight was
issued by Representative Clark, the
Democratic leader, on petition OF a
number of Democrats opposed to gen
eral military training.
The presidents letter follows
Il am told that caucus Of the
Democratic members of the House OF
Representatives has been called to con
Sder pending military legislation, and
The suggestion has been made that a
resolution be adopted committing tn,
Democratic membership Of the House
against the policy of general military
training In the present circumstances
it would seem to me unfortunate tC
make Il party issue upon this subject
particularly since within q few months
the party will assemble in convention
and declare the principles upon which
it deems il wise to commit itself in a
national election. The present dis
turbed state OF the world does not per
nit such sureness with regard TO Amer
ica's obligations as 10 allow us lightly
to decide upon this great question upor
purely military grounds while the dem
onstrated advantage TO the use of the
country which came from military
service in the war plainly suggests that
in the national interest quite apart
from military considerations, the med
crate and carefully conducted course oi
military training may have the highest
possible advantages. In our discussion
Of the subject YOU will recall ! gave
my approval in principle to the various
very moderate training projects sug
gested by the general staff and would
be verv glad to have you convey TO ap
propriate members of the House who
will attend the caucus my strong feel
ing against action by the caucus whicl
will tend to interpose an arbitrary
party determination to the considera
iion which this subject should receive
from the best thought of the members
Of the House, considering alike the ma
tional emergencies which may confront
us and the great disciplinary and othei
advantages which such system plain
ly promises for the young men Of th'
country.