The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-10-07
SUBSCRIPTIONS RATES:
PRESIDENT FIRM FOR STRONG
DEFENSE PROGRAM.

There is no doubt that Presiden
Wilson voiced the sentiment Of III
nation when. in his address before thl
new naval advisory board, he came
out firmly for a strong program o
national defense. OF course. we d,
not mean TO say that his views vii
meet with unanimous approval The
radical preparedness bunch will de
clare that he didn't go far enough
while the professional pacificists will
go up in the air. asserting that he has
succumbed TO militarism. The vast
majority of the people, however are
not disposed to throw in with the ex-
tremists in either camp, but will CON
cur in the sane views expressed BY
the president
There is nothing IN the presidents
words d Indicate that he has become
unduly excited by the epidemic OF war
fever that is sweeping the world or
that he has any notion that America
should be converted into an armed
camp but on the other hand he rec
ognizes the necessity of dealing with
conditions as they exist in the world
today and therefore holds that the
United States must be prepared for
defensive warfare in case we are
driven to such action By the aggres-
sions Of any foe,
II will be happy day when hu-
manity is so perfected that no city will
need even police force, but that day
is some years distant. AS long as
there are some people who are not dis
posed 70 comply. With the rules gov.
erning personal conduct, an efficient
police force will be a necessity. The
must be prepared con
stantly to deal with outbreaks OF law
1essness and the same condition Oh,
tains with reference to nations
America may be as peaceful and
harmless as dove, but the history OF
the past year has demonstrated that
many nations have not advanced
beyond the savage state which renders
them perfectly willing to resort to
war It is true that most OF thosa
nations are far distant. but modern
means Of communication have well-
nigh eliminated the question of dis
tance and America is therefore near
neighbor Of all the other members of
the world family. II some Of those
neighbors win not listen to reason
and are determined to wrong US, we
must be prepared to use the police
mans argument and to apply it effec-
lively.
In this address to the naval board
The president said.
Il think the whole nation is con-
vinced that we ought to be prepared,
not for war but for defense and very
prepared and that the
for defense is not merely |
a technical matter; it is not a matter
that the army and navy alone can
lake care Of, but a matter in which |
we must have the cooperation OF the |
best brains and knowledge. of the
country, outside the official service
ol the government as well as inside
For my part. ! feel that it is only in
he spirit OF true democracy that we
get together to lend such voluntary |
aid. the sort of aid that comes from
interest in and knowledge Of the
varied circumstances that are involved
N handling nation
Il do not have to expound il to you
you know as well as do the spirit
Of America. The spirit Of America
Is one OF peace but one OF independ-
snce. It IS a spirit that is profoundlN
Concerned with peace because it can
express itself best only in peace ltl
S the spirit of peace and good will
md Of human freedom; but il is also
he spirit Of nation that is self-con-
icious that knows and loves its mis-.
zion in the world, and knows that il
must command the respect OF the
World
$50 il seems to me that we are nctl
working as those who would change
ANYTHING Of America. but only as those
who would safeguard everything in
America.'