New-York tribune., 1922-07-05
Pershing Assails
Lawless Elements
In Talk at Marion
Urges Patriots to Combat
Violators; Takes Fling
at Pacifists i'm Uphold
ing Military Training

MARION, Ohio, July 4--The spirit
Of patriotic Americanism that made
"men and women by the millions" seek
opportunity to serve their nation dur
ing the war was invoked by General
Pershing to-day, speaking at Marion's
centennial celebration, to combat the
present dangerous tendency toward
disobedience to law"
moral standards have become mate
rally weakened" he said, "and the
criminal elements of society are less
cautious in their activities. It is time
for all citizens who cherish our heri-
tage Of free government to assert them
selves and cry out against lawlessness
and immortality. We must stand for
prompt enforcement Of the law or con-
cede that free government is a failure.
"Open adherence to the lofty ideals
is quite as essential now in the post
war days as during war time, when i'm
pending danger inspirited every one to
unselfish devotion and service.
Deprecates Ruthless Murder
"Where whole communities openly
sympathize with ruthless murder Of in
offensive people in the exercise of the
right to earn livelihood, and where
wholesale murder goes unpunished, it
is imperative that public opinion should
demand that the strong arm of the law,
under fearless officials, take positive
action. Overt and inexcusable acts of
this character not only debase the par
ticipants but lower the whole moral
fabric Of the nation and strike at the
very existence of self government.
'"The voice Of the blatant pacifist
again is heard in the land. The unrea-
soning, the unthinking and those who
will not learn from experience continue
disarmament will prevent war. In the
knowledge that our army is Of the ,peos
Pile, and In the face of the loss of life
and the cost in money that we our
selves have recently withstood az re-
suit of neglect Of the most feeble prep
aration, they pronounce against any
sort Of military training or preliminary
organization and would so reduce as to
make expansion impossible within any
reasonable period and possibly again
compel the enormous expenditure Of
life and treasure under which the coun-
try is suffering to-day.
Few Pacifists Served on Battlefield
II venture to say that few, if any,
Of those who would destroy our small
army and navy In times of peace were
found in the ranks with those brave
and patriotic men who fought to
destroy the armies of our enemies on
the field Of battle.
"It must be with deep chagrin that
every American recalls the almost
helpless feeling that came over us
when at the beginning Of the war we
were confronted with the problem of
saving the Allies from destruction and
had no ships in which to transport our
armies. Only fortuitous circumstances
prevented the last stroke by the enemy
that would have made him the victor,
and made it possible for the Allies to
hold on for the year necessary for US
to build ships. Even then over half
our armies were transported in foreign
bottoms.
To-day we would be helpless as
sea power without an adequate
merchant marine. Those who oppose
the policy of giving aid to en- Ameri-
can merchant marine are working
against the best interests Of their
country, in which action they are with
out doubt strongly supported by the
agents OF every we'll developed mari
time power. We have sea trade and we
upon it,"