"Defense Day"

The project of holding a National Defense Day on Sept. 12 has met considerable opposition from pacifist bodies. President Coolidge under-took last week to uphold the propriety of the proposed "Day" in a letter to the National Council for the Prevention of War. Said he:

It is now brought to my attention that your organization is profoundly concerned because of the assumption that the plans for a National Defense test on September 12 constitute a militaristic gesture. This assumption seems to be based chiefly on a confusion of terms. In some unofficial and entirely unauthorized way the defense test has been denominated "Mobilization Day." The Government did not do this. It would be proper to call it "Inspection Day." But it is not a mobilization, and the Government is not responsible for any such designation. . . .

The Constitution and the law contemplate the maintenance of a defense establishment, which in time of peace always has been, and is now, in proportion to our national power and interests, one of the smallest in the world. I have taken an oath to support the Constitution and to execute the laws of the United States. I could do this by maintaining a large standing army. I am opposed to any such plan. I am trying to work out a method by which we can have constantly, as we now have, an exceedingly small army, and leave our citizens free from that burden by letting them assume their own responsibility for a defensive establishment sufficient to provide for domestic peace and order and national defense.

Instead of being a military gesture, this plan is the exact opposite. It is a non-militaristic gesture for the purpose of keeping down to its lowest possible point the professional military organization of the United States. . . .

Frederick J. Libby, Executive Secretary of the Council, made reply. He asserted that the term "Mobilization Day" was first used by the Army and Navy register on Jan. 5, and later in a statement given out by the War Department's Publicity Bureau. He declared that his organization objected to the "Day" on four grounds:

1) ... Increasing a nation's military precautions tends only to precipitate the calamity it would avert. . . .

2) It is opposition to what is termed the "bad psychology" of holding such a demonstration this year.

3) This "defense test" is being opposed because it is recognized as a radical innovation in our national policy which has not been thoroughly considered by our people.

4) Vigorous protest is being directed also against the militarizing tendency of this demonstration and particularly its influence upon our youth.

Then some one else took up the cry. It was Governor Charles W. Bryan of Nebraska, Democratic Nominee for the Vice Presidency. Said he of Defense Day:

I met General Duncan in Omaha and discussed the matter. His plan seems plainly to point to the participation of civic forces in the exercises of the day and making it a, general holiday.

Such a plan would seriously interfere with the work of farmers, those employed in shops, at the desk and counter, meaning an economic waste and giving a wrong impression and alarming war-sick of other nations.

I will order the National Guard to assemble and do all that is required of them by the military officers, and will appoint State-wide committees to urge patriotic societies to hold patriotic services, as contemplated by the War Department plans.

General Duncan told me this country had lost many men during the World War by not being prepared. I told him we had saved several wars by not being prepared to fight.