The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1945-05-31
THURSDAY, MAY 81, 1916
Peacetime Military CONSUMPTION

To the Editor Of The Republican.
1t is reported that hearings on
peacetime military CONSUMPTION will
begin on June 4.
| wish to again express my opinion
as peace-loving citizen, warning all
peace-loving people to wake up and
write or wire our President, Congress-
men and Senators protesting against
the bill, have talked to many wide
awake young men, as we'll as old ones.
The young generation is becoming
tired of having the older generation
tell them how to run their world of to-
morrow.
l must confess such an idea as a
postwar draft Of eighteen-year- olds
seems sheer folly. Lets be prepared
so no nation dare strike US again,
and "it will do wonders for the health
Of the nation, are but two Of their
favorite slogans.
Why is it they resort to an old idea
like military training to achieve their
end?
Take a look at the nations of Fu-
rope today. See what peacetime mill
tary training did for them What
happened to Hitler and his kind-how
their militarism wrecked Europe and
will wreck the world if military men
are allowed to run our nation.
The younger generation wants no
wars and no old methods which lead
to war.
We're not looking for safety Of the
United States of America alone any
more-it's now the safety of a united
world.
If the selective service chief wants
a really important job after this war,
let him draft youth into schools. Give
youth chance to understand the
world in which they live, not to un-
derstand the fundamentals Of killing
men.
Uncle Sam is one of the ''peace-lov-
ing" nations, but what if the others
see his huge pcacetime army as a
threat to their security, and several
natiOns combine against US?
| oppose the passage Of peacetime
military training because it is con-
trary to the Christian ideal of life
leads toward war through encourag-
ing fear Of an enemy, destroys our
democratic life by placing military
men in national leadership and hin
ders the formation Of world organi-
cation for peace. Peacetime conscrip-
ton would say clearly to the nations
Of the world that America too has
lost faith in democracy.
Calvin Coolidge, while President of
the United States. said no amount
Of preparedness ever kept a country
out of war or insured it victory when
war came.
l have read some history. I know it
is the ruling classes that make wal
upon one another, and not the people
In all the history of this world, tbs
people have never yet declared a war
Just so long as we teach the art of
war, and keep military men in power
we can expect war.
Who is it that wants peacetime con-
scription? Not the people, but military
men, army officers who want to keen
their rating after the war; big bust
insist on building up a large navy;
appliance manufacturers will insist on
a large air force.
In this modern age Of fast transport
tations, the nations Of the earth are
close neighbors, thus it behooves us
to learn and understand and live in
peace with all races and colors.
The cat and dog are born natural
enemies, but when they get ac-
quainted and understand each other,
they will play and lie down together.
VIII human beings let dumb animals
put US to shame?
Yours respectfully,
BERT C. REAM.
Swallow Falls, Md, May %, 1915