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There is one thing for which I am thankful. Such a
frank, honest and open statement as mine would hardly be
permissable in but a few countries of the world, and ours
is one. It is to keep our nation free and democratic that
I use this priviđege. It is to show a pattern of life for
others that will help build a world democracy that I plead.
Turn back, Mr. President, turn back, ere it is too late.
Evolve and lead a new crusade of social justice that will
get at the root causes of war instead of adding to the fears
and pains that are filling this old world of ours. Yours
is an opportunity not equalled in history. Use it for the
good of mankind and not to throttle a yoke upon them that
shall lead to further ruin. Use words honestly and do not
handle them carelessly. Show seeds of confidence and trust
instead of fear and terror.
And now let me ask but a question or two. If this
compulsory military training which you are advocating so
earnestly is so necessary, why is it SO essential in the
face of those assertations that Japan and Germany are utterly
defeated and cannot rise again? Against whom then are we
to train? Who are our enemies if we are entering upon a
new era of United Nations? Is it against someone or a com-
bination of such powers? Why then should such be the case
if we are friends? Or is it to be a program against our-
selves, to establish a military or a facist dictatorship
upon ourselves? Is it a means to answer the "unemployment"
problem by putting men into military training which requires
a large number of people then to be engaged in socially non-
essential and valuless work? as it will also remove that many
from entering the competitive field of labor? Let us have
more openness in stating and forming national policies so
that we may know the aims and objectives of our governmental
authorities.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Simerely yours,
August Binder
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"ocrText": "There is one thing for which I am thankful. Such a\nfrank, honest and open statement as mine would hardly be\npermissable in but a few countries of the world, and ours\nis one. It is to keep our nation free and democratic that\nI use this priviđege. It is to show a pattern of life for\nothers that will help build a world democracy that I plead.\nTurn back, Mr. President, turn back, ere it is too late.\nEvolve and lead a new crusade of social justice that will\nget at the root causes of war instead of adding to the fears\nand pains that are filling this old world of ours. Yours\nis an opportunity not equalled in history. Use it for the\ngood of mankind and not to throttle a yoke upon them that\nshall lead to further ruin. Use words honestly and do not\nhandle them carelessly. Show seeds of confidence and trust\ninstead of fear and terror.\nAnd now let me ask but a question or two. If this\ncompulsory military training which you are advocating so\nearnestly is so necessary, why is it SO essential in the\nface of those assertations that Japan and Germany are utterly\ndefeated and cannot rise again? Against whom then are we\nto train? Who are our enemies if we are entering upon a\nnew era of United Nations? Is it against someone or a com-\nbination of such powers? Why then should such be the case\nif we are friends? Or is it to be a program against our-\nselves, to establish a military or a facist dictatorship\nupon ourselves? Is it a means to answer the \"unemployment\"\nproblem by putting men into military training which requires\na large number of people then to be engaged in socially non-\nessential and valuless work? as it will also remove that many\nfrom entering the competitive field of labor? Let us have\nmore openness in stating and forming national policies so\nthat we may know the aims and objectives of our governmental\nauthorities.\nThank you, Mr. President.\nSimerely yours,\nAugust Binder"
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