The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1923-10-30
Keening Ready for War


thrones of travellers. and he has gon
back to the scenes OF his victories OF
the European continent, where he VII
spend a vacation. Since the close o
the war General Pershing has led thu
life of dignihed. conservative gentle
man. and about the only real task NJ
has set out for himself has been tina
II discharging what he believes IS hi'
duty to his country in arousing th'
people to the need Of maintaining
large force of regular soldiers and
strong citizen army. Congress ha'
not met his wishes regarding the size
of the regular army. but he has hac
fair success in the attendance at the
summer training camps, where mer
have met, trained. enjoyed themselves
and went back home with the Per
shing idea" concerning what might be
required OF them in case OF another
war. The results seem very satisfying
to the general public but fall far short
of what Gen. Pershiag thinks should
be done. and just before he left his
native shores he emphasized his con-
viction that there should be built up a
large army of trained men ready TO
meet an emergency. He said that by
1925 "less than 100000 World War
veterans OF draft age will be available
for service" He almost bewailed the
lack OF military spirit in the country,
and asked for support which he says
SIS particularly essential at this time
when an active campaign against pre-
paredness is being conducted by paci-
fist associations" The illustrous Cen
eral seems never to have learned that
there is nothing reprehensible about
opposition to preparedness OF the
kind that army officials usually de-
mand, and well-meaning people who
wish to maintain their equilibrium
with respect to military matters re-
pudiate the common epithet that is
intended when the word pacihst is
used. To call a man or woman a
"pacihst' has gotten to be a new way
of swearing at them. Webster's de-
hnition of the word doesn't go any
more. Perhaps if there should be
new start in making words, prepared
ness and ''pacihst' should both be
expunged. The preparedness" advo-
Gates were on the high road to break
ing the United States bank when pub
lie opinion checked them in their de-
mands. The army was cut down to
a peace-time basis. and herculean at
tempts. such as the Four Power
Treaty, sought to put crimp in the
reckless building of floating fighting
machines. Sober-minded people will
likely all agree with General Pershing's
desires so far as they wish to build up
a large citizen-soldiery, just as they
agree with Navy officials who wish 10
police and protect the seas. While
heir warnings should be-and are
needed. still these gentlemen who have
pent their lives preparing for fight,
hould be satisfied because they had |
whale of one; and since it is over. |
they will examine the temper and |
OF the American people. Z
hey will be compelled to admit that i
his is peaceful nation. whose peo- 1
lie are still ready to fight and to put c
our million men into the field on |
hort notice. But the over-burdened
alton has little enthusiasm for a sur ..
lus army or navy.
Teapot Dome
Teapot Done is the name OF hill
nat spouts petroleum. When he was
ccretary OF the Interior Department. u
lr. Fall leased this property OF the q
government to the Sinclair oil inter- \
Us. After an explosion OF oratorical Il
in the Senate a commit o
e of that body was named to make
investigation. SO Mr.. Fall came =
lck to Washington from his ranches !
-N ia -NNN 10 en-
ain to the Senators that Senator La
gillette who had made most OF the
SIS, was talking through his hat. Ac-
riding to the former Secretary of m
c Interior, Teapot Dome was being al
AIMED by surrounding oil properties T
I'd was losing all its tea" through :
epage, when he called in the Sinclair y
terests, and made so good a bargain
tn them that other oil interests
ist have chided their innocent bro
ers for their philanthropy in taking
bad deal from the Government.
or course this conversational Sena
rial investigation will not settle the
'apot Dome controversy: and even
Mr.. Fall has stated the facts in such
way that they cannot be controvert-
II is impossible TO think that so
'thmie a name as Teapot Dome"
i ever be permitted to lapse as the