Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1915-12-17
WILSON PLEADS
FOR US. DEFENCE
Urges Congress to Assemble
All Resources Of Nation.
ENDORSES MILITARY INCREASE

President Would Meet Expense by
New Taxes on Incomes, Luxuries
and Industry-Scores "Hyphen"
Americanism.
Standing behind the reading desk
in the house of representatives, Presi-
dent Wilson delivered in person to n
joint session of the congress, and
through it to the people of the United
States, his third annual message, pos
sibly one of the most remarkable in
recent years.
With national preparedness as his
theme, the president called upon con-
gress to unite in assembling all the
resources of the nation into mighty
weapon for it's defence. Not only did
he call for the expected increases IN
the army and the navy, but he also
demanded the mobilization of the il.
dustries and resources of the country
as another step in the direction OF
preparedness.
In words of vitrolic force, he de-
nounced citizens of the United States
who have taken part in the various
attempts to violate neutrality. Nj
many points he was interrupted by
applause.
The following are the main point"
in the message:
The president presents, and urges
for adoption, the plans of the war de-
partment, providing for an increa~e Of
the regular army to 7136 officers "a
134,707 men, and supplementary
force of 100000 citizens trained in
military discipline and evoluticnS;
also the navy department program to
construct ten battleships, six bait
cruisers, ten scout cruisers, fifty de-
:stroyers, 100 fleet and coast subraa'
rines and other vessels, during me
next five years.
To raise money for these eXpendl'
lures and to cover deficit in the ma
tional treasury, he suggests:
Lowering the limits of exemption
in the income tax.
Continuance Of the duty of one cent
pound on sugar.
Tax of one cent a gallon on gaso'
line and narhtfa.
Tax of fly cents horse p"wer on
motor cars an / Internal explosion en-
gines.
Stamp tax en- bank checks.
Tax of tw ,nty-five cents ton On
pig iron.
Tax of twenty-five cents a ton on
fabricated iron and steel.
He declares the purpose of the
United States to continue to uphold
the Monroe doctrine.
He defends the course of the admin.
istration in Mexico, saying this pol
Icy has resulted in gaining the friend.
ship Of the Central and South Ameri.
can republics, thus creating true
Pan-Ame anism.
He reasserts the neutrality of the
United States in the world war ard
expresses hope that this nation NAV
be of service in bringing about the
economic readjustment and recn"era'
tion viii h must follow the conf Ct.
He bitterly sores "hyphenatad''
Americanism as greater mera~e 10
the United States than any f reign
influence, and urges the enactment
of laws provi ling adequate prnish
ment fer disloyalty, whether b. Amer.
leans or aliens.
He urges the passage Of the BIZ t.
create an American merchant marine
rejected at the last session-to fe
ve'op American commerce, particu'
larly in South America, and to aid
the navy in case of war.
He urges plans for the mobilization
of the nations industrial a~d nlt:ra'
resources, mentioning in this connec
tion the enactment Of rural credits
legislation.
He s;,-s is regulation of railroads
to male them more useful to the
country at large.
He says the United States must
keep its promises to the Philippines
and to Porto Rico.