New-York tribune., 1914-12-23
SECURITY LEAGUE
BALKS AT ACTION
Defeats Resolution Asking
Congress for Adequate
National Defence.
DECIDES INSTEAD TO
INVESTIGATE NEEDS
McAdOo, Winthrop and Satterlee
Named to Report on
Navy.

=
A resolution recognizing the made
quacy Of our national defence and the
urgent need Of prevailing upon Con-
cress for an increase OF army, navy
militia aud armament and an appro-
priation Of SlOO,OOO,OOO for the ma
tion's security, was voted down at the
second meeting Of the National Secur-
ity League, at the Hotel Belmont yes
t.rdav. The resolution, introduced by
DR.. william r. Hornadsy, preclpi'a'eu
hot discussion. .
Those who advocated a "go sio"
policy until various committees Sp-
pointed could investigate the different
branches Of national defence and re-
mort hack TO the league. carried their
point. On the motion Of Frederick II.
Allen the resolution was referred DaeN
10 the executive committee, giving
:. the mower TO amend or change u as
~ saw mt. ,:. oF
tho league. was among those VINO ar
gued against any hasty action. lie
made the point, as others ana, Una
sitbouqb il was generally recognized
tnat the national defence was SOreS
inadeouatc. little would be accom-
nlisbed by rushing a committee bei0ie
Congress until the committee was iuiy
nrenared with evidence and DATA 70
point out needs. 40
"Tbis movement is to be much more
e.rroacbinc than we a. first realized,
said MIR. Menkcn. I'VE shoulu SUI
J;,idc The work with various commit
,eos ON the army, navy, militia ioI,'
e.at;ons etc. for investigation. we
,,.,nt renorts from the committees as
60 actual present conditions reports
,.ot coIored or sensational ana theh
rc can 20 before Congress WIN re-
concentrations. Our respohoiolllty 10
GREAT iu this matter we 40 noI "on'
10 overburden the people WIN VaA@
,ion. There are many thlhgS lh0 10
tion needs besides an army ana d navy
We want TO go about 1T as ecohonl'o''-
ly as possible. ....l ,bo an
~.intr,ont Of the several committees
uc committcc on the navy being par
t;cuIsrlv strong. II includes William
NcAJoo. Beekman Winthrop and her-
hort Satterlee. motion was carried
~ Incorporate the league under the
laws of this state.
Tho meeting WAS called to order Dy
Tho chairman at p. m. About ZOV
men prominent in all walks OF LIE ln
tho citv we're present. DIR. Hornaday
,.as The first speaker. and he lmme-
diatelv urged the necessity OF the
league communicating TO Nasnlnglo"
an expression of its purpose and scope.
lie said il had been conclusively snoWh
that the defcnces Of the nation were
inadeouste and that the welfare OF lhc
country demanded an increase m army
navy. militia and armament. ne pre-
sented his resolution, when III SUI
stance called upon Congress az once 10
adopt measures to remedy condiIlohs'
The resolution also provided ths'
COMMITTEES from the league should ap-
pear before the proper eommittees III
the House of Representatives ana the
senate and ask Congress TO invest
q 600 men, 10 be trained as officers oil
the army. and also to appropriate 3d.
100000 10 be used toward providing
generally an adequate national defence
Members in Opposition.
Several members of the league sup.
ported tho resolution warmly, some OF
them making other and more sPeclnc
sugCestions. Ex-Assemblyman l.. A.
Cuvillier. who was chairman OF tne
Committec on Military Affairs IN the
lower house of the Legislature, de
clared he was glad 70 know that the
hest citizens of the state had at last
realized that the country had not been
nronerly defended. General George w.
Wingate. of the Board Of Education,
supported the resolution and advocated
the extension of the work IN the pub
lie schools of teaching the boys the
use of arms. Colonel II. :. Sternber-
Ger suggested that the regular army
should be increased 90 100000 and the
militia to 100000, the latter TO serve
for three years and the men 20 receive
from So 70 50 4 month for expenses.
II looked As If the Hornaday resolu-
ton WAS going through with whoop
when its opponents suddenly came TO
the fore and argued for more time
Cordon Knox Bell declared that the
league should not 60 on record as as.
suming that the national defence was
ADEQUATE or inadequate until present
conditions were ascertained by It's OWL
committees. George Haven Putnam
Herbert Barry, secretary OF the league
Frederick II. Allen. Frederic Il. Cou
dert and others pointed out the wisdom
OF going slow and sure.
The argument reverted 70 the Other
side. and cN-State Senator J. Mayhem
Wainwright and Major John W. Love
land, OF the New Jersey militia, strenu
ously objected TO further investigating
and delay.
"The facts showing the deplorabl,
condition Of the national defence ar,
all before the public" said Mr. Vain
wright. Lets not talk about more in
vestigation, but get down 20 business
We should pass a clear cut resolution