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Show PREPAREDNESS NOW STANDS OUT AS MOST VITAL ISSUE r h REPfeESEAlTATlVE GARDNER -- SENATDf? CHAMBER LAINi - GENERAL. VSOOO IH National preparedness has become the nation's most vital issue. Con-eiessmen, Con-eiessmen, at their homes during: the holidays, learned how ardent is the sentiment of their constituents in this direction. Many plans have been proposed, and the debates in congress will be heated. The most radical view is that held by Roosevelt, who apparently appar-ently believes that the United States should be constantly on a war basis equal to the most powerful nations of Europe. The progTam proposed by President Presi-dent Wilson, who insists on action without delay, is a compromise between be-tween the various departments of the government, and is thus not wholly acceptable to many who made recommendations. It was not accepted ac-cepted by the war staff or the war college on tho ground that it falls short of requirements. The plan for a continental army has been criti- cired by those who believe in more efficient militia. Cong; Gardner, of Massachusetts, is considered the author of the preparedness pre-paredness movement, but his detailed de-tailed program is declared by many of the military experts to be unscientific. un-scientific. General Wood has given particular attention to the technical questions involved. The American people have never been instinctively a military class, but he insists that they should at least know the salient features of the military art. Senator Chamberlain, chairman of the senate committee on military affairs, af-fairs, will have charge of administration administra-tion measures in the senate. Senator Chamberlain is essentially militant and believes in maintaining our position posi-tion regardless of developments. One of the most notable advocates of a rational system of preparedness is Theodore Burton, former senator from Ohio, who advocates a eon- ftl st: ctive policy, perhaps typical of ll average sentiment, midway between BH the extreme tendencies of those who Bl would place us on a war footing and H advocates of peace at any price. He H believes in such a degree of pre- gH Earedness as is essential to defense, ll ut opposes militarism. He advo- H cates enlargement of the regular H army, with reorganization and de- H velopment of the national guard as H an adjunct. He also lays stress upon H the need for available officers, thor- H oughly trained in enlarged academies H at Annapolis and West Point, ex- H tension of which is opposed by many. H Burton's attitude is of particular H interest, because he is president of the American peace society, and H while he ardently advocates a proper H system of preparedness, he has not H lost sight of the ultimate ideal in the H settlement of international disputes H by tribunal j |