Evening star., 1920-02-09
Against House
Democrats Taking
Step Tonight.
GIVES MR.. BAKER
VIEWS IN LETTER
Says Question Should
Be Decided Upon
Military Grounds.

President Wilson opposes the plan
10 have the democratic members OF
lhe House at their caucus tonight
make an issue of universal military
training.
:. The Presidents views are set forth
in letter TO Secretary Baker trans
mitted today To democratic leaders in
The House. Mr.. Wilson says it would
be unfortunate to make a party issue
on this subject, particularly since
within n few months the party will
assemble in convention and declare
, the principles upon which it deems
il wise to commit itself in national
election.
Purely Military Matter.
The President says the disturbed
state of the world does not permit
such sureness with regard to AmerI-
cas- obligatios 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 ito inter
pose an arbitrary party determinatfo
10 the consideration which this sub
lect should receive from the best
tnOuRnC tnc rncmOeTS OIL Tue
The call for the caucus tonight was
issued by Representative Clark, the
democratic leader. on petition of 4
number of democrats opposed to gen.
erai military training.
Tetx of Letter.
The Presidents letter follows:
II am told that a caucus of the demo-
cratic embers of the House of Repre-
sentatives has been called to consider
nondlnV military 1apiSlafinn and the
suggestion has been made that a reso-
luton be adopted committing the
democratic membership of the House
against the policy of general military
training.
In the present circumstances it
would see m to me unfortunate to
make a party issue upon this sub
ject. articuiarly since within a few
. months the party will assemble in
convention and declare the principles
upon which IL deems it wise to commit
itself in a national election. II
present disturbed state of the world
does not permit such sureneSS with
regard to Americas obligations as to
allow US lightly to decide upon this
great question upon purely military
grounds while the demonstrated ad-
vantage to the use Of the country
which came from military service in
the war plainly suggest that in the
national interest quite apart from
military considerations.
Quoted course of military training
may have the highest possible advan-
tages In our discussion of the sub
ject you will recall ] gave my ap-
proval in principle to the various very
coderate training projects suggested
by the general staff. and ! would be
very glad to have you convey to ap-
rropriate members of the House who
will attend the caucus my strong
feeling against action by the caucus
which will tend to interpoSe an arbi-
.rary party determination, to the con-
sideration fhich this subject should
receive from the best thought of the
members of the House. considering
alike the national emergencies which
may confront US and the great dis
ciplinary and other advantages which
such a system plainly promises for
the young men of the country