The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-11-09
PRESIDENT SILENT
ON BRYAN SPEECH
Refuses To Discuss Attack BY
Former Secretary Of State
&e.tH on Defense a.
~. r. .
PARTY LEADERSHIP INVOLVED
trB&af a----- f"g <'&
Bitter Fight To Control Democ-
racy Seems To Be Brewing
On Mainland
PARTY LEADERSHIP INVOLVED
lA..Oc.a.sd Pres. .sy rsaeral wlrsls...l

| NfAasVSoatoN
WASHINGTON, November 6.--Presi.
dent Wilson returned yesterday from
New York, where he outlined the al.
mmistration policy on national defense
in speech at the Manhattan Club. He
was asked to reply to the attack on
the administration plan by William J.
Bryan, but declined to do so, 1t was
! said the President would make no an.
swer under any condition.
Mr.. Bryan s statement has attracted
wide notice in. government circles here
and had induced more comment on the
motives of the former secretary of
state. 1t is thought Mr., Bryan = state
ment forecasts bitter struggle for
leadership in the Democratic party.
Congress May Inherit Fight
The fight win be carried to congress,
it is confidently expected in Washing
ton circles, and may play a large part
in the next presidential campaign.
The President policy, as outlined in
his New York speech, according to
Bryan, is entirely unjustified by the
facts and places the United States in
the light. of a militaristic nation. In
answer to the President 3 statement that
he was supporting the plans for army
and navy expansion, Mr.. Bryan yester
day issued a formal statement, which
said: I
"The Presidents policy of defense
is departure from the traditions Of
the United States. 1t is a reversal of
our national policy.
1.-THE plans for military expansion
he proposes constitute n menace to the
peace and safety of the country. They
challenge the spirit of Christianity
which teaches us to influence others by
high example instead of by fear.''
Based On False Theory
Referring TO. Mr.. Wilson's comment
that 1--WE are arming solely in prepare
ton for the defense of liberty shoulh
the time ever come when it may b.
threatened" and his further comment
that "our work is only that we may
have an army adequate for the times
while working always for international
peace, Mr.. Bryan 5 formal statement
SAYS:
Preparedness as q means of defense
is false theory. Preparedness leads
nations TO use force of arms upon the
slightest prOvOcationL A man carries
pistol ostensibly for purpose of defense
but will more readily engage in a fight
than one who goes unarmed.'
In reply to the President declara
ton that the country is asking how far
prepared the United States is to guar
rantee against interference with ma
tioEal development, Mr.. Bryan says:
"The country is not threatened. We
are friends with the entire world and
have nothing to fear from aggression,
and added that the international situa
tiOn does not Justify the United States
in arming for possible war.
Statement Creates Sensation
The statement of the former secre-
tary of state has produced a distinct
sensation in official and semi official cir
cles 1t is regarded as the opening gun
in the fight to line mp members of
congress for and against the elaborate
army and navy expansion program
which has been worked Out by military
experts and Endorsed by the president,
the secretary of war and the navy, ana
other administration leaders.