The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-09
PREPAREDNESS OF
UNITED STATES FOR
WAR is DEFENDED
Crowded Galleries Hear
Woodrow Wis., Read
Message OutyS.;sg the
Legislatic vNow
Nes?1

Congress todl .oupled with defense
of the country's military preparedness
a word of assurance to business that
it would not be embarrassed by fur
ther legislation. He said the trust and
currency legislative programme of his
administration virtually had been
complete, leaving no conjecture as to
what was. to follow, and that there
was clear and firm road ahead on
which honest men might travel with
perfect confidence.
for passage at this session the Pres
loent urged measures to meet the
changed conditions due to the Euro
pean war, particularly the government
ship purchase bill, measures to unlock
resources of the national domain and
to encourage Improvement of navig-
able waters for generation of power.
and the bill already passed by the
House to give "a larger measure of
government to the people of the
Philippines
Given Big Ovation
When he entered the House cham
Der where Vice President Marshall and
Speaker Clark presided over a Joint
session of the Senate and House. the
President was greeted with an uproar-
ious ovation which continued for sew
eral minutes. Throughout his address
he freqrcntiy was interrupted by ap-
plause particularly from the demo-
cratic side. demonstrations of approval
reaching a climax when referring to
recent agitation over national defense.
he declared the administration had
mot been negligent of national de-
fense,' that the attitude of the gov
ernment would not be altered 'be-
cause some amongst us are nervous
and excited" and that a policy of de-
fense could easily and sensibIy be
agreed upon"
IN advocating the ship purchase bill
the President said the war in Europe
had left foreign nations more depend
ent upon the United States for supplies
and that the government should pro-
vide ships that the nations goods
might be carried ''to the empty mar
kets."
1T is not a question of the govern
ment monopolizing the field said he
"It should take action TO make ii GER
tain that transportation at reasonable
rates will be promptly provided, even
where the carriage is not at first
profitable and then. when the carriage
has become sufficiently profitable to
attract and engage private capital. and
engage it in abundance, the govern
ment ought to withdraw"
The Philippine bill. the President as
serted would nobly crown the record
of these two years of memorable Ia
bor."
Rural Credits
Concerning rural credits legislation,
sough by so many, he expressed regret
that difficulties of the subject seemed
"to render it impossible to complete a
bill for passage at this session"
Members of the Senate and House
listened attentively to the outline of
the Presidents programme as they did
also his discussion of economy and the
assertion that there should be a sys-
tematic reorganization and reassemb-
ling" of the parts of the government
to secure greater efficiency.
Mr.. Wilson spoke with great en-
phasis and deliberation when he be-
gan the discussion of the military sit
uation and was enthusiastically
cheered. the galleries joining in the ap-
plause when he said:
"It is said in some quarters that we
are not prepared for war What Is
meant by being prepared? Is 1t meant
that we are not ready upon brief no.
tice to put nation in the field
nation of men trained to arms?5 OF
course we are not ready to do That's
and we shall never be in time of peace
so long as we retain our present po-
litical principles and institutions"
Proclaimine the people of the United
States champions Of peace and OF con-
cord" the President emphatically OPP
posed a great standing army. and was
again scheered when he asserted that in
time of national peril the country must
depend upon a citizenry trained and
to arms"
Congratulated BY Senators
When the President had concluded he
was surrounded by senators and members
in the speakers office to extend their con-
gratulations.
The Senate galleries were packed to
the doors and senators and representa-
tives were crowded upon the floor Of the
hall of the House awaiting the arrival OF
the President. Seven members of the
cabinet had seats just before the speaker
desk Included in this number was Sec
retary Bryan, who took q seat just be-
fore the President entered the chamber
at exactly 1880.
The President was greeted by applause
as he shook hands with Speaker Clark
and Vice President Marshall. A minute
later he began to read his address.
The President was first interrupted
when he asserted THAT we have stunted
and hindered the growth of our merchant
marine" A scattered outburst of applause
greeted this statement
After speaking of the notable record"
of legislation Of the administration, the
President digressed from the text of his
pr repaired address to say that the adminis-
tration's programme of legislation affect
ing business rs now virtually complete
1T had been put forth by Congress, .
tho President continued, ''as we intend