The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-08
BIG STANDING ARMY IS
OPPOSED By PR ESIDENT
AS That is against Our Ideals
and Our Principles of Lie
long Standing he Says.
DEVELOP STATE MILITIA
Powerful Navy as Proper Nat
llral Means Of Defense APP
proved by President.

eeASoAoVuI WllsUuI III lis Uuuubl du-
dress to Congress today. gave his
answer to those who contend the
United States is unprepared for ma
tional defense.
Let there be no misconception,' :
ne said, the country has been mis-
informed. We have not been negli
gent OF national defense. We arc
not unmindful Of the great respon-
sibility resting upon us. We shall
learn and profit by the lesson of ev-
cry experience and every new cir
cumstance; and what is needed will
be adequately done.'
Assembled in Joint session in the
hall of the House. senators and rep
resentatives heard the president
reading his message in person from
the clerks desk, outline the admin
istration legislative program and
voice feryent hope that the United
States might be instrumental III
bringing peace to Europe. The leg
islative program includes passage oi
the conservation bills. the bills for
intimate independence OF the Phil
ippines, ratification of the London
convention for safety at sea, a gov
ernment owned merchant marine.
charting the perilous waters of the
Alaskan coast and measures for
Z economy in all branches of the gov
s ernment
But the portion OF the presidents
address which commanded intense
interest was that in which he dis
cussed the subject Of national de-
fense.
Always Find Means.
1T is said in some quarters that
we are not prepared for war;" said
the president. What is meant that
we are not ready upon brief notice
to put nation in the field, nation
OF men trained to arms? OF course
we are not ready to do that; and we
shall never be in time of peace So
long as we retain our present polite
al principles and institutions. And
what is it. that 1t is suggested we
should be prepared to do? To defend
Z ourselves against attack? We have
always found means to do that, and
shall find them whenever il Is neces-
\ sary without calling our people away
from their necessary tasks to render
compulsory military service in times
of peace.
From the first we have had a
clear and settled policy with regard
TO military establishments. We never
have had, and while we retain our
present principles and ideals we
never will have, large standing
army. III asked. Are you ready to
defend yourselves? we reply, most
assuredly, to the utmost; and yet
stysR CHI a nf frHr nrtC int
itary camp. We will not ask our
their lives making soldiers of them
ergy in us. 1t will know how TO
declare itself and make itself eff
/ fectiye should occasion arise. And
especially when half the world is on
fire we shall be careful to make our
moral insurance against the spread
of the conflagration very definite and
certain and adequate indeed.
Depend on Residents.
Let us remind ourselves. there
fore, of the only thing we can do or
will do. We must depend in every
time of national peril. in the future
as in the past. not upon. standing
army, nor yet upon a reserve army,
but upon citizenry trained and
accustomed to arms. 1t will be
right enough, right American policy,
based upon our accustomed princi-
pies and practice. to provide a sys-
tenn by which every citizen who will
volunteer for the training may be
made familiar with the use OF mod
ern arms. the rudiments of drill and
1naneuver, and the maintenance and
3 sanitation OF camps. We should en-
courage such training and make it
a means of discipline which our
young men will earn to value. 1t is
right that we should provide it not
only, but that we should, make it as
attractive as possible, and SO induce
our young men to undergo 1t at such
times as they can command little
freedom and can seek the physical
development they need, for mere
health's sake, If nothing more. Ev-
cry means by which such things can
be stimulated is legitimate, and
such method smacks of true Ameri-
can ideas.
SIT is right. too. that the National
Guard OF the states should be de-
veloped and strengthened by every
means which is not inconsistent with
our obligat Pms to our own people .r
j; with the established policy Of our
government. And this. also. not be
cause the time or occasion speciAcai-
! " calls for such measures. but be-
cause ii should be our constant policy
to make these provisions for our ma
tional peace and safety.
Keep Our Balance.
More than this carries with 1t q
reversal OF the whole history and
character OF our policy. More than
this. proposed at this time, permit
nle to say. would mean merely that
we had lost our self-possession, that
+ we had been thrown off our balance
by a war with which we have moth
ing to do. whose causes cannot touch
: us, whose very existence affords us
opportunities of friendship and dis
interested service which should make
Z as ashamed Of any thought Of hos
tiIity or fearful preparation for
trouble. This is assuredly the OPP
portunity for which people and a
government like ours were raised up,
the opportunity not only to speak
but actually to enbody and exem-
Z
fcontinuetl on mage afx, i ~