The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-09-04
DEFENSE DAYS.
PURPOSES ARE
DISTORTED
Foes OF. Preparedness Seem
Unable to Regard Test
As country's Need
BY WILLIAM HARD.

Conversation with leading friends
CT Defense Day" and with lead.
ing enemies of it induces the con-
clusion that each side is about d
million miles or so away from
understanding how the other side
reasons.
The enemies of Defense Day are
inclined to speak of it as Goose
Step Day"
This phrase is much used by
Mr.. Libby, secretary Of the Ma
tional Council for Prevention Of
War, who has been the arch
enemy of Defenses Day and who
is one Of this country's ablest man.
ayers Of agitations.
Alert, intense, tireless. precise,
shrewd, devoted, unterrified, acute,
he stings Secretary of War Weeks
at every opportunity; and, on one
weeks notice, through his admir-
able mailing list, he can assemble
whole flocks of what some people
ir the War Department call mos
guitoes" to join in the singing.
He represents an organization
which is supported ny whit he
calls participating organizations,
some of which, such as tho Amer
lean Farm Bureau Federation, the
National Board of Farm Organize.
tons, the Women's Christian TEN
perance Union, the National League
of Women Voters, and the National
AGSnofOfinn
prestige and much influence.
Noted Women Aids.
Among the vice chairmen OF his
institution he has men like John
Crier FIibben, president of Prince
ten University, and A. Lawrence
Lowell, president of Harvard Uni.
versity. On his executive board"
he has Mrs. Louis y. Bran,leis,
wife Of the distinguished Supreme
Court Justice, and MrE. J. Borden
Hartman, the well.Aliown and pow.
erful Democratic political leader.
Mr.. Libby has led the fight
against Defense Day. 1t may be in
terjected, however, that even with
out him the fight would have been
of large proportions.
Bodies Of Protestant clergymen
throughout the country instantly
SAVIOR thought they saw--in De-
Tense Day a direct challenge to the
anti-war and pro-World Court resi-.
lutions which they recently multi
tudinously have been adopting.
The Massachusetts Federation Of
Churches, a federation of churches
in Philadelphia, a federation Of
churches in Chicago, a council Of
churches in Portland, Oregon, tho
Oregon Synod Of Presbyterian
clergymen, the Methodist Episcopal
clergymen of Pittsburgh, and end
less other groups of representatives
of Professionalism have protested
against Defense Day.
They have been backed earnestly
and emphatically by large part Of
the Protestant religious press.
There is no Protestant religious
periodical of higher standing than
1.-THE Christian Century" of Chicago.
1t has denounced Defense Day con-
tinuously with great vehemenence
and with great skill.
Numerous other leading Protest
ant periodicals have been equally
hostile to Defense Day and Few
have had any good words for it.
Conscience Of ClericalS.
The Protestant clerical conscience
of America, in so far as it has
spoken. is overwhelmingly against
Defense Day.
The First Congregational Church
at Berkeley, California. 1evot3s IT'S
Wednesday evening meeting to Il
discussion Of Defense Day. 1t pro
ceeds to consider President Cool.
idge's defense of Defense Day. 1t
wishes to be loyal. 1T votes hat it
''accedes" to Derense Day. 1t