The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-12-04
puntry Safer Than Ever, Now
That Europe is Gathering Self,
He Declares
|ISAPPROVES WILSON
POLICY IN MEXICO
ends Toward Necessity of Ulti-
mate Intervention, Former
President Insists

mt or the United States and now
an OF the law school OF Yale uni
rsity. who came to Detroit at noon
thursday, and who delivered the
incipal address at the Detroit Bank
s, club dinner, In the Hotel Pont
hartrain Thursday night. does not
ink much OF the Wilson Mexican
blicy.
When the subject was preached In
course OF brief interview
lortly after his arrival at the Pont
|artrain, the former president struck
characteristic attitude. and. with
les flashing, head thrown back and
right fist crashing sledge-like
ows into the opened palm OF his
II hand, gave vent TO his opinions
the diplomacy pursued by the ad.
Illustration In dealing with our neigh.
prs to the south.
Yes. / have something to say about
exico" he said. "Pll say this: Our
resent policy in Mexico has served
increase the danger OF ultimate In.
rvention by this nation-a thing
hich | deprecate very much"
The statement. coming at the very
rther discussion of the subject.
Mr.. Taft had good deal of fun with
8 interviewers In discussing the
legged unpreparedness of this nation
r war. and. incidentally, poo-poohed
be iGea that the war In Europe made
Enlargement OF our national defenses
operative. Mr.. Taft reminded his
earers that he was at one time secre-
ny OF war and. consequently, knew
hat he was talking about.
The best way 70 bury a thing, I've
pund out, IL to make II up into a re-
prt and send copies TO the newspa-
ers," he said iaugningly. Reports
oeficiencies In our national de.
eIses have been made from year to
ear. Nobody, not even congress,
Aid much attention TO them, but now
very tcdy has suddenly awakened and
great howl is going up about the
eakness Of our army and navy.
AS q matter Of fact there Is logs
eed for our army right now than
here has been for a long time. al.
hough suppose that the war in Eu.
ppe Ii what has awakened people to
sense OF our own unpreparedness
They're busy over there now and we
re immune from attack in just exact
Z the proportion that they are en-
jagged with the task OF fighting one an.
|ther.
"Of course there's need of strength
ming our national defenses. What
Ye need Is this-a sufficiently mobile
|rmy and, more than that, coast de-
|enses sufficient TO make the oceans
IN either side the defense they have
|lways been.
The kind OF an army this nation
las Is limited by the kind OF govern
hent we have. When one mentions
and compulsory military
(ervice we realize at once that IL Is
ibsurd to talk about Ii In this coun-
Try.
Il believe in purchasing equipment,
ammunition and such things enough
Tor a great army" continued Prof
Taft. I'VE should be prepared to re-
DIST invasion. The military man does
not approach such things in the atti-
.ude forced upon the practical legis-
ator, however. Congress has been
asked for appropriation after appro-
priation and has cut them down sim
ply because II was easy to do, and
he congressman preferred to use the
money to take keer o. tn deestricks.'
Although Mr.. Taft has no love for
President Wilson's Mexican policy he
8 heartily In accord with the neutral.
ty idea enunciated by the president
1t the beginning of the war in Eu.
'ope.
II think that this country should
the strictest neutrality, not
,nly for protection to itself, but to
strengthen our position IL we should
'ver occupy the position of mediator,
| contingency which Is, | believe, en-.
irely within the realm of probability"
lie declared.
The former president refused to
make any new statement relative to
he widely disseminated interview OF
| few weeks ago I'm which he was
quoted as saying that the Monroe doc
rint would not apply in case Germany
attacked Canada unless the kaiser at
empted TO set up new form OF gov.
II gave that interview to a news
Iervice," he said. Il never read II
lfter' IL was published and don't
NOW whether | was correctly quoted
,r not"
Mr.. Taft laughed heartily when
comments on the interview contained
n British and Australian newspapers
we're called to his attention.
II haven't read them, but expect
ID as much" he laughed.
He refused TO comment on the Dem
'cratic Philippine policy other than
o declare that he was strongly oppos-
ID 10 relinouishing the hold of the
United States upon the islands.
"My heart Is sore for the Philip.
)ines," he said. II don't want TO talk
Ibout that question for fear | might
become too emphatic"
Pressed for some sort OF statement
lie finally declared that he did not be.
ieve Il good thing to give the ISL
lnds their independence at the pres
mt time
Mr.. Taft has changed much in ap-
since he was in the White
House. He Is considerably thinner.
lis hair is more sparse, and he moves
With more agility than before.
Mr.. Taft was the guest OF honor at
U CloCh iuh'HcVh gwen W HlCndT0
,. joy. president OF the National Bank
II Commerce, and head OF the Bank
RS club, In the Detroit club. The fol-
owing prominent Detroiters were
resent: w. p. Holiday, Emory Wen
Iell, Charles A. Dean, J. H. Johnson,
Livingstone, George II. Rus
el, George r. Lawson, Richard Z.
oy. Emory w. Clark. George n. Bar
'our, Julius II. Haass. Charles +. Col
ms, John w. Staley, William J. Gray,
henry b. Joy. Philip II. Mcmillan,