Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1947-11-28
Behind The
Scenes In
Politics
By
Clayton
Rusch
Chairman

many vital issues now facing
the American people. Among
these are the necessity of
. building an effective consum.
ers' cooperative movement and
the need to implement the
United Nations in such a way
as to lay the foundation for an
effective world organization de-
signed to really assure world
peace. Also such issues as
housing, high prices and racial
discrimination.
All of these issues shall be
discussed as fully as space per-
mits in subsequent columns.
At the moment, there Is no
issue of more vital interests to
the American people than the
drive to enact legislation to
foist universal military train
ing upon the American people.
We must recognize at the
outset that this is not an issue
on which a reactionary Con-
gress thwarts the will of the
administration. The admins
tration is officially for univer-
sal military training. While
such cognomen may make it
sound more palatable, con-
scription by any other name is
just as obnoxious.
FRUITLESS
1t would be fruitless to build
a case against conscription on
the basis of the bad effect
upon the youth of America
and the tendency toward regi-
mentation.
There are many things evil
in themselves which must be
accepted in order to avoid
greater evils. The only logical
way to look at the question of
peace-time military conscrip-
ton is from the standpoint of
whether or not a conscripted
armed force can aid in the
promotion or preservation of
the peace.
Just an aside thought on the
whole question of whether or
not conscription is necessary
to assure the existence of a
large armed force. A volun-
teer army could find plenty of
recruits if the wages and
working conditions were suf-
ficiently attractive.
In 1917 and again in 1941 1t
was amply demonstrated that
preparedness did not prevent
war. Let us also consider the
questionable value of a large
well-trained armed force in
this era of the atomic bomb
and archaeological warfare.
We cannot overlook the psy-
Geological effect universal mill
itary training in this nation
will have on other nations. 1t
will of course look like prepa-
ration for war and will engen-
der like preparations in other
nations.
This expense will also be
borne at time when the
money could be used to pro-
vide educational and recrea-
tional facilities and social safe
guards for the people.
Military men and veterans
are not of one mind, by any
means, on the issue of univer-
sal military training.
Among scientists, no less an
authority than Einstein is on
record as contending "you can
not build for war and peace at
the same time"
LABOR TOO
The Labor Movement Is also
o. record against conscription.
The only effective answer to
the threat of war is a world
which can effec-
lively keep the peace. The only
to either making
the United Nations work or
building a more effective world
which will work
Is WAR.
We may as well face the
fact that dividing the world
into armed camps will not keep
the peace. That method has
always failed in the past.
In a world war of atomic
bombs and bacteria devices, no
one can win. Mankind will be
the loser. Conscription will
not hinder and may aid the
of war.
Only through world peace
can we resolve our economic
problems and build a world
industrial democracy. 1t is the
duty of all of us to write to
our Congressman (SenatorS