Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-08-22
"DEFENSE DAY" CONDEMNED
Newark Minister Opposed to PrOpOs-
ed Warlike Demonstration


! Plymouth church, addressed a large
congregation Sunday evening. His
subject was Mobilization Day." and
his fearless condemnation of the pro-
posed display of military strength on
September 18th met with general APP
pToval.
Mr.. Close said in part:
at is difficult to learn exactly what
the war department plans for Sep
tember 18th
'At first the war department plan
ned to openly call this Mobilization
Day. The Army and Navy Register,
which is our military paper, referred
to the events of the day as "Prospec-
tive Mobilization Day Manoeuvers"
and that it would be the greatest
peacetime military demonstration in
the history of the United States"
Since then the name has been changed
to Defense Test Day." President
Coolidge, with his usual cautiousness,
calls it 'Inspection Day." Moreover,
it is planned to make this an annual
event. The war department claims it
will promote peace. Why do we pro-
test against it?
LET me summarize the reasons
which the churches and friends Of
peace have advanced against the mob
lllzatiOn manOeuvers.
at is said first that such demon
Stratlon is unnecessary. The nations
are sick of war and longing for lead
ership to peace. No nation on earth
contemplates aggression against us.
Against whom are we practicing
mobilization
Second, the churches say that the
demonstration will turn our peoples
thoughts toward war and thus have
a bad psychological effect. Let US
not be fooled by the talk of defense.
Every war is history has been fought
in defense of something. Preparation
is always for defense. European ma
tions militarize their people by pa
rades, speeches, martial music. pre-
paredness propaganda, the glorifica-
tion of war and military men Just as
will be accomplished by the demon
stration this fall and every year here
after if this is to be a permanent in
StitutiOn.
ga third objection is that this is
the wrong kind of preparedness. The
nations of Europe are trying to pre-
pare for peace through cooperation.
II We want to do something to pre-
pare against war, we can do more to
prevent war by joining the World
Court, by cooperation with the ma
tions in disarmament and the out
lawry of war, and by educating our
people for peace, then we can by de-
veloping nation of civilian soldiers.
II we prepare for peace, we shall
have peace. If we prepare for war we
shall have war, just as every other
nation has which prepared for war.
Let US wage peace.
GA fourth factor in the decision is
the effect which this demonstration
will have on other nations 1t is a
good thing to see ourselves as others
see us sometimes. The United States
is friend Of peace, but nothing we
do can persuade the nations of our
innocence and good intentions toward
makind, if we persist in establishing
a mobilization day. It will DESTROY
the confidence other nations have in
US and defeat our leadership for
peace. What good can it do compared
to that loss?
again, the churches object be-
cause they believe that this is only
the entering wedge for the militarism
of our people. After the armistice,
CIlC NAI Pct1 Introduced DlIIS
into congress providing for compul-
sorry and universal military training.
They hoped to get it for month each
year at first and then after the peo-
pie had accepted compulsory training
as principle, the period would be
heightened. This particular Defense
Test Day. seemingly innocent, will
be enlarger upon. Soon a week will
be spent in defense maneuvers. then
a month, and then we will become a
nation of civilian conscripts.
"Finally, the church objects be-
cause a military demonstration is not
keeping faith with those who died in
France to end war. 1t is our loyalty
to those men and ideals that makes
US so much opposed to a military
demonstration which will enthrone
military power, strengthen military
autocracy, lead to the glorification of
war, and sooner or later produce war.
If America really wants peace she
can get it by sensible foreign policy
and by simple processes of co-Opera-
tion.
eve should petition President
Coolidge to make September 18th a
peace holiday, when our people shall
study how they can lead toward per-
manent peace. We hold as Christians,
as patriotic Americans, we can have
nothing to do with a military demon
stration and that we must urge other
people to likewise refuse to partici-
pate in anything which works against
peace.
81 have spoken in utter frankness
J and deepest earnestness. | have said
what | believe Jesus would saw to Won
tonight: Because | love humanity, be-
cause ! love my country and want
her to lead mankind forward, / shall
fight the war system as long as God
| gives me strength.