Page:Frank David Ely -Why defend the nation? Sound Americanism... (1924).pdf/31

Rh the Edward Bok prize, when he enunciated in one of his speeches on the tour which ended in his untimely death his conviction that in the next war into which we are forced we will draft every man, every industry, and every dollar for the prosecution of the war.

The term “draft” is not used in any sense of confiscation. Obviously, every man cannot fight, every factory turn out war munitions, every dollar be laid in the vaults of the treasury. But the services, use, and credit of all will be available to the government as may be required, with any necessary adjustments to follow after the war has been terminated.

Why should that action secure peace? For the simple reason that when the opponents of preparedness—the opponents of national insurance—realize that in the event of war they too must serve, and possibly must fight, they will change their tune; for such being the requirements on all persons and property, it will be well for them if the Nation can be made so ready for defense as to render attack on us most unlikely. And that most sane condition popularly called “preparedness” is the very condition which the men and women who fought the recent great war do most ardently desire, realizing the utter impotence of all other measures advanced for war prevention and being unwilling that this Nation shall remain exposed to dangers of attack while utterly unprepared. With the removal of all opposition, which the late President’s suggested method would accomplish, really sane measures insuring future defense should prove relatively simple and easy of accomplishment, to the Nation’s greatly increased safety.

Employing every resource of the Nation, success in defense demands the very highest in organization, leadership, and equipment, and further demands just and kindly consideration of the human element as never before; this to assure the upbuilding of confidence and of that high national morale without which no war of proportions can again be successfully waged. When severity is demanded by temporary conditions it must be founded on justice, and that fact must be apparent to all who are fair-minded. The human factor is of predominant value and must never be misused. Napoleon’s estimate was that in war the moral element is to all others as 3 to 1.