The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-16

ct am not going TO argue this propo-
sition except 20 point on that, while II
may be "A proper view 10 he held by an
individual or private citizen II IL wholly
iudof ,nsiblr on the part Of any ono who
is In AIRY sense trustee. So long "a "A
man IS dealing purely with his own Affairs
he las right to be as optimistic ~ he
chooses he can he optimistic even about
the future of the stock market II he so
desires. hut tine minute he accepts the
custody OF other lcopl,'s property his
whole situation changes, and II h. he
comes uu uly optimistic about the future
of the stock market. for example. he Is
extremely likely To go TO jail The test
which our Law prcscrib,s AZ 10 the duties
OF "A trustee is not anticipation as 10 tho
future. however disinterested and iure,
but experience with the past
The position OF the national Govern
mtut toward this question of national
defense IL essentially that ~ trustee,
responsible for the protection Of the lives
and happiness and property of nearly one
hundred million people. In determining
its attitude toward this most vital of all
questions II must not speculate II must
not gamle II must not take Chanes Its
only chart of conduct must he the ex-
perlence OF history. and SO ong as the
unvarying answer TO that experience is
that nations. in order to be safe, must
be able to protect themselves. the only
problem left in the matter for a respon-
sible government Is to solve the question
of how muui of such protection is re on
ably necessary for our own nation under
the conditions in which IL finds itself to-
day
Al In Roots Report.
Mr.. Stimson recalled that dozen years
ago Ellhu Root brought about the crea-
ton OF an Army War College and a Gen
eral staff. and the latter institution in 1917
tod fatt1ptta - nf
the land forces of the United states
which states authOrtatively the outlines
of what should govern our policy of ma
tlOnal defence This provides the size the
regular and voluAteer army should be In
time of war, the way II should he raised
trained and Offered in short, all the
things the public is discussing to-day
lie continued
Mr. Garrison, the present Secretary
has adopted and has been earnestly work
ing for the principles of this report. II
may he said 10 represent, according to the
, best lights Of the War Department. the
standard OF what should constitute a
proper defensive policy for this nation.
The proper purpose of this inquiry
which We are all making to-day in public
or private is To find out how far we have
! fallen short from this standard which the
best military opinion says We should have
in order to he safe to nnd out in the
| second place, what 1t is practical and
necessary to do in order to bring us up
as near as possible to that standard"
Mr. Stlmson said that Congress, like the
| American people was likely to neglect the
problem of defence in times OF peace. but
that now. when the attention OF the world
Is centred upon war. IL the best time Ia
prod Congress into doing something.
THE matter is not "A question of money
Of huge expenditures" he continued The
country already is doing that. The pres
mt army Appropriation II wisely and
scientifically spent ought to he sufficient
switzerland with AN expenditure of So
H0u,OOo year has an army of 800 900
with which II can defend It's borders from
violation of neutrality. The United
States cNprnds $40, 000 600 a year on an
army which totals p0O0O men, OF whom
only 10000 are available for general
mobile purposes within the United States
'rhore Al" many reasons why the
as switzerland. but there Is no possible
manner of doubt that under proper
methods "" can come a great deal nearer
ia her cNlmpl" than We do. The pract,-
cal question which lies before the Ameri-
can to-day is simply this Here We are
spending nearly $3.50, 600 600 on our army
and navy. why should We not spend this
So as tu produce the most efficient result
p"-slhl" rather than result which Is ad-
ul'tcdly Inefficient"
THAT pleased the business men and they
showed 1t, They were equally commenda