Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-23

Mai. Gen. j. Franklin Bell. chief of stan,
United States Army. told the Washing
ton members of the d. A. r. yesterday
afternoon that there is nothing like
fighting as a food for a lusty young
nation, and incidentally mentioned that
he thinks the United States has a
weak policy in regard to mid coal
ing stations.
The address was part of a Washing
TONS birthday celebration by the d \.
r. in Memorial Continental Hall Maj.
Gen. Bell, in the full uniform of his
rank, stood between Mrs. Matthew T.
Scott, president general. and Mrs.
George Thomas Smallwood, state regent
of the District ef Columbia Il. \. r..
and addressed large audience of
women on the dangers of letting a ma
tion fall into easy ways and believe
that there will be no ever again.
Without fighting. civilization would
cease" he said: every right that the
masses have wrung from the classes
has been with<a fight. All advance has
been made at swords points. / am not
opposed to arbitration, and l have no
quarrel with those who uphold arbitra-
ton. Neither am l opposed TO universal
peace. l have been through one war
and do not want TO see another. But
the idea of never fighting is danger
Gus. l believe with Mr.. Roosevelt that
righteous war is to be accepted.
Where Arbitration Fails.
Arbitration cannot relieve everything
do not believe Magma Charta could
have been gained by arbitration. Could
American independence have been gained
in 1776 by arbitration?
"A nation not willing to fight for its
rights will soon have no rights to fight
for. At present we are in the position,
too, of Boosting of being world power,
and some of us do not understand our
world wide obligations. We must be
prepared to keep our trade abroad. We
are going around with chip on our
shoulders. and yet we are never ready to
fight. The United States is in the posi-
ton of a man who has bear by the tail
and is afraid to let 60
Maj. Gen. Bell said that he deprecated
the fact that the United States had not
more coaling stations. and mentioned the
fact that foreign countries dot the seas
with their relief where their fighting
fleets can put in to take second breath.
He said that he feared some day the
United States would feel the lack of
stations in the Atlantic and Pacific.
Letter From President Taft.
The celebration was arranged by Mrs
Mary $. Lockwood, who turned over the
gayel at the opening 10 MIS-. SmaliWood
The gaveI was made of wood from one
of the floors of the Washington mansion
at Mount Vernon. Mrs. Smallwood read
a letter from President Taft. in which he
regretted his inability to attend the cele-
bration. She made address, in which
she congratulated the ID. a. X. in having
| a part in keeping alive the spirit of '16.
Mrs. Matthew T. SCOTS address con-
tanned a reference to the plans for a
CITY beautiful She said that the COM
| mercial spirit seems TO be giving way
| for place for the question How are we
| living This she said. appeals to wom-
en-, and the outcome would be "a better,
| cleaner and bigger city.
| Col. q. O. Goodloe complimented the
women on their work in building the me-
| mortal hall.
| The music was furnished by the Rubin
stein Club, led by Mrs A. NJ. Blair, and
! the accompaniment were played by the
Marine Band and Mrs. l.. Pendleton
Dickinson.