Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-07-29
PROTESTS.POUR IN
AGAINST PLANS FOR
MOBILIZATION DAY

WASHINGTON, July 81. The
controversy over the government S
proposal for observance of Septem-
Der - as Defense day was
brought to climax Saturday by decla-
ration of President Coolidge that the
proposed celebration was designed
purely and solely to remind the
American people of their relations
to and dependence upon the nation S
defense establishment.
What j. proposed for September
u is merely a compliance with the
purposes of the national defense
law of 1920" the president said IN
a letter addressed to Frederick j..
Libby, executive secretary of the
national council for prevention of
war; and made public at the White
House. 1T is not mobilization,
and the people who first attached
to it the term mobilization day and
then proceeded to iconGemn it. have
been utterly Unfair
The announcement of the govern
ment's plans for the day last ACrit
was followed by protests from anti
the move was a military gesture.
These declarations we're denied b
the war department but the criti-
cism continued with the national
council for prevention Of war tax
ing Il leading al str ng ,tand
against he proposal.
Recon ly the council asked Mr.
Coolidge to indorse it's three months
campaign. starting today, for world
co-ope GRAFTON to stop war, and this
request combined with co
ued criticism of ''DefcEse day" led
the president to write the letter.
Mr.. Coolidge declared he was and
ever had been 'unqualifiedly sympa-
thetic with the aim and purpose to
make war; so nearly as might be,
an impossibility in this world" But
added that such a hope and de-
sire was not inconsistent with his
approval Of the program for de-
Tense day.
Eager for Peace
p wish that crime might be
abolished; but ] would not there
fore abolish courts and police pro
lection,' he added. 81 wish war
might be mado impossible; but |
would iot leave my country unpro-
tected meanwhile. The defense test
seems to me to be means to
assure the fullest efficiency to the
extremely modest defense force our
country maintains"
The president objected to denomi-
nation of The defense test as mo
bilization day" declaring it was "a
n-militaristic gesture for keeping
down to it's lowest possible point the
izst Of
the United States" and was for the
purpose of maintaining IAN exceed
i'm small army
Mr.. Libby in the name of his OIL
ganiza later made public a reply
to the resident expressing apprecia-
ton of Mr.. Coolidge's efforts "to
diminish the danger of war and to
maintain ur' roken Americas friend
~ relations with the nations of
Europe and the Orient" and setting
forth at considerable length the OPP
position to the governments pro
posal.
The term mobilization day" the
councils letter said was at least
given TO the day by its friends, cit
ing its use by the army and navy
register. periodical devoted to
army and navy news.
The opposition to this demonstra-
ton soes, however, far deeper than
name" the letter asserted, add
ing detailed reasons for the oppo-
sition.
MANY patriotic 'citizens will not
participate in the observance. it
concluded They are ready to mo-
Billie for peace They : nd behind
you in your advocacy of the world
court They viii! support you en-
Enthusiastically in effective cooper
ton with other nations. They will
be unit behind you when Yol, call
another disarmament conference to
limit scout cruisers. submarines. IA
val personnel, and land and cir
fore $. But they believe that the
wise national policy for our country
at this iuncture is to avoid national
defense tests an, to express in con-
crete and practical forms of COOP
Grafton Il spirit of audacious friend
Illness. They. too. count themselves