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Show DEFENSE DAY IS COOLIE PLAN BUSINESS WILL NOT BE D1S-RUPTED D1S-RUPTED BY NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Observance of Day May be Governed by Local Conditions Is Word Given Out by Chief Executive Lincoln, Neb. President Coolidgt denied that the war department plans for national defense day "contemplate "contem-plate a disruption of business in any way." In a reply telegraphed to Governor Charles W. Bryan, Democratic vice-presidential vice-presidential nominee, the president defended the war department order. "The people of the several states are expected to participate in accordance accord-ance with such opportunities as they may have for a patriotic demonstration," demonstra-tion," said President Coolidge. "National defense day plans for the patriotic demonstration are dependent depend-ent on state and local desires and are intended to be purely voluntary' the president's message said. The Bryan telegram to the president presi-dent quoted General Duncan's message mes-sage on national defense dav as "such action will be taken by the assistant secretary of war as- he considers necessary to test his plans for industrial in-dustrial mobilization of war time procurement of supplies. Governor Bryan asked the presl dent "whether it is- your desire that the plans and desires of General Duncan be carried out on national defense day or whether General Duncan's Dun-can's plans and suggestions should be disregarded and the national test day plans be confined to the demonstration demon-stration on the part of the military forces of the country, state and national na-tional and patriotic societies as originally orig-inally understood." President Coolidge held that the message of General Duncan made clear the attitude of the war department depart-ment which he fully endorsed. "The letter of General Duncan of May 20 to you from which you quote in part," the president's mess-age said "undertook to make this clear by this statement, 'no fixed form for these ceremonies is suggested. They should be planned to fit conditions in each particular locality.' "Their plans (the war department) do not contemplate a disruption of business in any way. General Duncan Dun-can attempted to make it clear in his instruction of July 18 in which he stated the hour tor holding the defense de-fense test and patriotic demonstration demonstra-tion will be left to the unit commander command-er and the local committee in order that such assembly may be held at such time as will best suit local conditions con-ditions and least interfere with the normal duties of those participating.' "The people of the several states are expected to participate in accordance accord-ance with such opportunity as they may have for a patriotic demonstration," demonstra-tion," said the president. President Colidge said he was "informed" "in-formed" that the war department plans contemplate "a practice by all military forces . and officials, national, nation-al, state and local, associated with steps necessary to demonstrate the defense enacted by congress." |