The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-09-06
7. R. PRAISES NAVY
Ex.PreSident FdvOrS In.
CredSing 1t.
WOULD fORTIfY CANAL
Declares to Invite Other Nations to
Step in Would be Folly and
Complete Abandonment Of
Monroe Doctrine.

Omaha, Neb., Sept. 3.-Mr. Roose'
welt advocated very strongly the fortl'
fcation OF the Panama canal. He said
that to invite other nations TO step III
and guarantee the neutrality OF this
purely American work would be an
act OF utter weakness and folly. IL
would mean, he declared. the complete
abandonment OF the Monroe Doctrine.
II would be a wicked blow to the pres
tige of the United States on the Ia
ciic. II would be treason to the des'
tiny OF the republic.
Those who heard the colonel make
these statements before an audience
OF 5000 persons in the auditorium oil
Omaha construed his remarks to be
a shaft directed at President Taft. who
doesn't share this opinion. Mr.. Roose'
welt was mighty emphatic in MS
speech. He praised the navy and I'M
pressed upon the crowd that he Is In
favor of increasing It, He spoke OF
the wonderful cruise around the world
of the feet and pointed with pride to
fact that he had fooled those who had
said that 1t couldn't be successfully
accomplished.
A large navy. declared the colonel,
Is our greatest asset for peace. lie
didn't urge belligerency. as usual; he
urged strength.
As a help to the cause OF interna-
tional peace Mr.. Roosevelt said the
cruise of the feet was powerful. The
chief material advantage to be gained
from the canal construction Will be
the doubling OF our navy by the con
Meeting link by the two oceans. For
that reason we must take care Of our
selves and we won't have to ask any
other nation what to do. 1t IS one OF
the most important works that the
government has undertaken In years
II. indeed. ia isn't the most important.
in the opinion of the ex-president.
The colonel came to Omaha expect
ing great deal noisier reception than
he got. There were no brass bands. no
crowds that jammed the streets. no
policemen walloping innocent specta-
tors and no wild cheering. There was
law and order. just what I. X. Is
preaching. Omaha gave him what one
might term a thoughtful reception.
The people Of Nebraska are with the
colonel all right. only they are not so
demonstrative as the Kansans, who
are positively wild-eyed. Politicians BY
the score fiocked to Omaha to whisper
kind words to the colonel. Senators
Burkett and Brown. Of this state. and
Senator Deliver. OF Iowa, were on
hand all day long. and they said lots
Of patriotic things about Mr.. ROose-
welt
In breathing spells between his
speeches and motor rides and luncheon
and dinner and an initiation by the
Ak.Sa-Ben. Mr.. Roosevelt had some
time for political conferences. He
talked the situation over with the sen
ators and he met Governor Shallen-
berger and the cowboy mayor OF Oma-
ha, Jim Dahlman. Each Of these men
Is Of the opinion that Mr.. Roosevelts
trip through the west has thus far
been triumphal march. They con-
slider him the first private citiben OF
the country; the greatest man in the
world They refused to say what they
thought about his chatter about 1912.
The consensus OF opinion in Nebraska
is, however. that II Roosevelt wants
the nomination he can have IT, And II
he gets 1t they think he will be elected
without the slightest doubt.
Mr.. Roosevelt went to Sioux City
Ia, today. The colonel will speak
there and then leave for Sioux Falls,
N. D. On Monday he will make an I'M
nortont ahor nav address at Fargo.