New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-29
American Society Declares
Public Interest Demands
Open Statement.
REQUEST PROMPTED
BY REBUKE TO WOOD
Representative Kitchin Quoted
to Show Weakness of
Nation.

Major General Wood in the matter
of Colonel Roosevelt's speech at Platts-
burg has drawn an open letter from
the American Defence Society, Of 1903
Fifth Avenue, in which the Secretary
of War is respectfully asked to make
public the administration policy on
/ the subject of preparedness.
In the letter the board of trustees
4 of the society alleges that friends of
( the administration have made sys-
tematic efforts TO stihe statements re-
garding the present military status and
the condition of the defences.
Further, it is stated that influences
were brought to bear that the Peace
and Preparation Congress, held in New
York on Flag Day, might have been
postponed, and these same influences
endeavored to suppress a resolution
calling for a special session of Con
gress to take up the matter Of defence.
Quote Kitchin on Appropriation.
The letter asks if recent statement
Of Representative Kitchin, Of North
Carolina, chairman of the Ways and
Means Committee, in which he said, II
am a small navy man. Less
than s1OO0O,O00 will be appropriated
for national defence by the next Con-
gress unless | am greatly mistaken"
is to be taken as the typical attitude
Of the administration, the letter reads.
"In view of your reprimand, public
" administered to Major General
Leonard Wood, for permitting ex-
President Theodore Roosevelt to speak
at the Plattsburg camp, the board of
trustees of the American Defence So
ciety desires TO know how the cause
of preparedness is to be advanced un-
less by a statement of facts, detailing
at length our defenceless condition.
Each succeeding day seems to bring
forth additional evidence that the ad-
ministration at Washington is not in
favor of an aggressive campaign for
preparedness, and at this time, in view
of the part now taken officially by
you, and in the past by friends of the
administration, public interest compels
the board of trustees to ask Tor an
open statement regarding your posi-
ton.
Ask Open Statement.
"While you personally have done in
valuable work in furthering the cause
of preparedness, notably by your hrst
report to the President, your speech
at Lake Mohonk, and by similar ex-
pressions of opinion in the press,
nevertheless our attention has been
repeatedly called to endeavors to head
off further agitation of the subject
through the very organizations Gre
ated for better national defence.
"You have personally been accred-
tied with the direct request that all
agitation on this subject be delayed,
although common experience teaches
that public support is first necessary
before Congress will take action IN
favor of preparedness. Your posi-.
ton in this matter and the position Oh
the friends of the administration, has
already done much to suppress an
active. aggressive and much needed
campaign in behalf of national de-
fence. If such a statement of your
we should like you to say so.
an this connection the board of trus-
tees desires 10 state that numerous
efforts have been made by friends OF
the present administration, not only to
stife statements regarding its lack of
military policy, but also to suppress the
truth regarding the condition of de-
fences. We desire to call your atten-
ton specifically to the following facts:
First-Late in May a friend OF the
present administration reported that
you advised against an immediate agl-
tation for better defences, and In this
connection sought to postpone the hold
ing of the recent peace and preparation
congress in New York on Flag Day.
Plan to Block Conference.
"Second-at the time of this nation
wide conference the same influences
which had sought to suppress this con-
vention were used, and this time sue
cessfully, to suppress resolution call
ing for a special session of Congress to
take up the question of an adequate
national defence.
"'Third-Since the adjournment of
this conference, which took place on
June 10. the same influence prevented
addresses delivered at the conference,
many of which represent to-day the
best propaganda material produced in
the present agitation for better national
defence.
"Fourth-Further efforts on the part
of the friends of the administration
have succeeded in delaying and sup
pressing a recital of the facts-frst, re-
garding the fitness of Mr.. Daniels for
the important post of Secretary of the
Navy; second, regarding the unfitness
of such men as Representative hay,
chairman of the Committee on Military
Affairs: Representative kitchin, chair
man of the Ways and Means Commit
tee, and many others
Federal Interference Hint.
at was partly, though not wholly, in
view of this altogether unwarranted
and unnecessary interference of the
agitation for better national defence
that the board of trustees Of the Amer
lean Defence Society on August an
nounced the formation of the Ameri-
can Defence Society and requested
public support for an aggressive, fear
less campaign in behalf of an adequate
national defence.
AS amply JusIlISlnS thc HcSu VI 10
campaign the American Defence So
ciety respectfully calls attention TO the
statement of so important represent
ative as Mr.. Kitchin. of North Caro-
lima. chairman of the dominating Ways
and Means Committee of that body and
Democratic leader on the floor. Mr..
Kitchin is quoted as saying:
81 am a small navy man. | have
held that position for years. The Eu-
ropean war has convinced me that my
position is right. and | shall refuse 10
vote any appropriations for the dread