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0115 Spa Execseccandidates
0115 Spa Execseccandidates
15, 1916] 1
Briefly stated, I am opposed to what is eu- Not a dollar for war, not a man for milita-
phoniously called “Preparedness.” There is far less rism, not an ounce for capitalist “preparedness”
danger of an invasion by a foreign fore than by while wage slavery exists.
the American Plunderbund. We should oppose The ruling class will use all military powers
everything that smacks of militarism. Teach the to protect profits and suppress the workers. Every
art of Peace rather than the “art” of War. gun we make will be turned against us.
But, if the people INSIST that there MUST I am therefore opposed to all military “pre-
be a military organization, then: paredness,” whether the murder machinery is
First, Let every able bodied man between 18 made in government-owned or private plants.
and 45 get one month’s training each year with No government today could goad its work-
full pay by his employer. ing class into attacking an unarmed people. If
Second: Democratic selection of all officers. “our” country had no army and no navy what-
Third: Each such soldier to retain his fire- ever, “we” would be absolutely safe from hostile
arm with at least 200 rounds of ammunition, fur- invasion.
nished by the government, in his home. War may be inevitable under capitalist, but
Fourth: The government to make all muni- the continuation of capitalism is not inevitable.
tions. The capitalist system is rotten ripe for revo-
Fifth: No part of the military force to be lution.
called into service by the government during It will collapse as quick as we are ready.
strikes nor aggressive wars against other nations. Let us prepare.
Sixth: This military arrangement shall dis- Stop frittering away our strength on “re-
place all present military forces. forms.”
Educate and organize for the purpose of
revolution.
Educate the working class to withstand the
pollution of the prostitute press and hypocritical
politicians, “patriotic” (for profit).
United into One Great Political Party. Or-
ganize into One Big Industrial Union. Train both
arms to strike as one.
1
2 SPA Executive Secretary Candidates on Militarism and Preparedness [Jan. 15, 1916]
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