The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-05-10
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YOUTHS HOLD KEY
 TO WAR OR PEACE
Battlefield Graves Prove Thei
 Importance
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 Said a famous general to me a week ago, "War! We must not have another war. It won't do."
 Around his neck hung a ribbon with a medal for distinguished service. Across his breast were ar ranged a polychrome series of bands designating different cam paigns. The occasion. in his honor, demanded it.
 The sweet old man, still strong in body, had deep brooding eyes, eyes that had seen war and had not outlived 1t.
 "No," he said, almost violently, "We must have no more war"
 Another man, more recently, spoke of the demonstrations of high school students against war.
 "what's the matter with the country" he sneered, when a bunch of thin-blooded young popycocks declare they won't fight? What are our schools doing about citizen ship? They teach America first, last and all the time, make pupils salute the flag and at the same time must be putting bromide In their milk"
 Billigerent Citizens at Fault
 This gentleman has never seen a war. Moreover he has no chil- dren. Note the difference. And yet we blame the military for start- ing wars.
 We'll, in fifty lines one cannot settle that. Nor can one say what constitutes fair preparedness-nor when that prepardeness passes the point of defense and becomes az gressive. But let us take a homeiy example or two from nature.
 The armadillo is placid crea- ture, gentle and kind. Yet he is the best armored specimen known. The placid skunk never hurries. He never fights. His natural re- source enables him to cultivate an amiable disposition. He never uses his defense unless some predatory enemy comes too near for safety.
 Preparedness Is Not War Perhaps the idea will help to reconcil1 those who are against all preparedness. I don't know. If the world were past the dog-eat- dog stage it would not be needed at all. But preparedness is not war. About these high school students. It is true they are not old enough | to know what they might do, or not do, if caught in the over-pow- ering hysteria of war drums. Those who have not lived through 1t do not dream of the quick intoxica- tion of martial music and men in | line. These postwar years have echoed the apologies of speakers | and writes and men from every | walk if life, men of conservative | and sound reason, too, who confes: they were swept off their feet 1T the first general frenzy and helped | to put the war madness over. So what would youth do
 Youth has always fought wars Gettysburg, in spite of its bearded statues, is the graveyard of thuu sands and thousands of youni boys. I often drive through it, am it is not of the fmous think, bu of the children who never wer heard of. Every time see a parad of World war veterans l cry. The were boys when they fought. Boy they were, who died.
 Youth aroused to the truth c the futility of sacrifice and its ow exploitation may do much to aver war in the future.
 I am no paper patriot. Once | war, right or wrong, am Aemeri can. I have proved that. Tn World war found me faithful and more. This, think, gives m the right to speak as I do-th same right as the general wh says, "There must be no nor war. No more!"
 Copyright 1885 NEA Service Inc