Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-08-07
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
PaciGsts and Gov. Bryan
Attack Defense Day Plan
Coolidge Upholds 1t.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD


CONFIRMED pacifists and certain
~ political opponents of the Repub-
Iican administration, including Gov
ernor Bryan of Nebraska, Democratic
vice presidential nominee, and the La
Toilette group, are making political
Issue of the national defense day."
September IL, planned by the War
department. They insist that it is to
be a mobilization day." because some
of the department statements mad
vertently called it so, and they de-
scribe it as "militaristic gesture"
President Coolidge did what he could
to dispel this idea by sending long
letter to Secretary Libby of the Ma
tional Council for the Prevention Of
War, in the course of which he said:
''What is proposed for September
IL is merely compliance with the
purposes of the national defense law
OF 1920 It Is not a mobilization, and
the people who first attached to it
the term mobilization day and then
proceeded to condemn 1t have been
utterly unfair. Most of them, / am
sure, have been innocent of intent to
be unfair, but they have been misled.
Profoundly hoping that the out
having of war from this world may
be accomplished, 1 am yet unable to
detect any inconsistency in giving my
approval to the program of defense
day. / wish crime might be abolished;
but I would not therefore abolish
courts and police protection. I wish
war might be made impossible, but /
would not leave my country unpro-
fected meanwhile.
1.-THE defense test seems to me a
means to assure the fullest efficiency
10 the extremely modest defense force
our country maintains"
Governor Bryan disagreed with the
Presidents statements and announced
that he did not favor any plan "con-
templating mobilization Of the civil or
Industrial resources Of the country
or ANYTHING else that savors of ma
tional holiday devoted to preparation
for wars" He said, however, that ne
would issue general orders to assem-
Bile National Guard troops of Nebras-
ka "for inspection and practice IN
military activities
John w. Davis, Democratic nominee
Tor the Presidency, announced that ne
agreed with the views expressed by
the governor of Nebraska. He added:
at Is one thing to keep the mill
tary organization Of the country In
adequate practice; it is quite another
TO encourage demonstrations that can
be nothing else at time when every
energy should be bent in getting the
world back to peace and to work,
calming the prejudices and passions
growing out Of the World war and en-
couraging useful trade and commerce.
In all these America should take the
lead
Nearly all the state governors dis
scented from Bryan's views and the
plans of the War department are go
Ing ahead with apparently the general
approval of the people Of the country.
Senator LaFollette's campaign
speakers 1t Is SAID, are preparing ~
raise the cry of a choice between mil
itaristic Coolidge" and peaceful La
Toilette" In sections where they think
If will make a lot Of votes for the IN
dependent candidate.
INTEREST in the LaFollette candl-
4 dacy does not die down, because
there is always the chance that 1t
,nay throw the election of President
into congress. His followers are still
hoping for the support of the great
nulk of the union labor vote, and at the
close of the week the executive coun-
ell of the American Federation of La
nor met to decide whether or not he
should receive the Endorsement of the
federation. The decision is not known
at this writing, but President Samuel
Compers issued statement in advance
reiterating his opposition to partisan
action by the federation. He praised
LaFollette for not falling into the
snare set by the communists of the
Farmer-Labor convention, but added !:
81 say with complete assurance that