Evening journal., 1915-09-08
Americans ARE NOT
TOO PROUD TO FIGHT
President Wilson'S Express
sion Absurd and Puerile
Lawyer Tells Bankers
IN LINE FOR
PREPAREDNESS
AZ me United Press.

Rv The United Press
SEATTLE. Wash, Sept. S.-Henry
d s. Estbrook. New York lawyer
( nrincfnal sneaker before the Ameri-
can pankers' Association today,
characterized President Wilson's ad-
mention to new citizens that there
Is such a thing as being too proud
70 fight" as being absurd ana puer-
ile'
The attorney was speaking on the
subject of self defense" He declared
the European war no concern OF
America except as some of the bellig-
eronts have trampled on American
rights. Since this country is the best
hone of humanity he said, If we fail 20
safeguard it we are traitors TO our
forefathers. Every dollar in the ma
tional treasury should stand pledg-
cd to its defense, he declared, and
continued
mo nation threatens us in so many
words but who is oblivious to hints
and intimations that speak louder
than words? We boast our strength
to repel attack when we know we are
weaker than dishwater While every
other nation has been preparing for
UMI.||MNIUU
even for defense. In this state of i'm
becility to endure? Shall We continue
TO listen TO a wandering voice as i'm
becile as our condition? When this
voice was recently removed from the
counsels Of our government we
thought. good easy souls, we had gotten
rid Of It and were ready TO cry out
with Isaiah We have been with child
we have been in pain we have, as IL
were. brought forth wind. Has Mr.
Bryan proved himself so good a pro-
phet in the past that we can afford
70 trust him IN the future? Person
ally have never believed in Mr..
: Bryan's wisdom. and grant him sim
cerity only because the point is not
worth arguing.
And yet I would heartily advocate
Mr.. Bryan's Quaker policy Of non-re-
sistance rather than policy Of half
preparedness. had rather scrap
every gun and warship we own II we
are not to add TO them.
ITO say that we are too big or too
proud to fight in self-defense Is, with
an respect to the estimahle but mis-
taken gentleman who said It, absurd
and puerile. To say that a mob of
a million or so of unframed citizenry
could leap to arms and put TO flight
the bullet-tested soldiery Of Asia OF
of Europe is worse than puerile-ii
s. perverse stupidity The machina
tions against this government at thu
4 moment are more suhterranean thar
submarine. Our duty is to defenl
against both. We are permitted n,
alternative. We must forthwith spenl
money for defense and lots of il. w
must know that we are safe ever
from the temptation OF attack. Oul
peace and future happiness depend
upon this assurance
"A free people, says Washington
should be armed and disciplined ac
cording to some well adjusted plan
Whose plan? / should say that tn,
recommendation in the first instance
should come from our military ex.
perts, and that insofar as their rec.
lamentations were unanimous they
should be adopted without much de.
hate and regardless of cost With the
understanding. however, that the sole
purpose to be subserved is not con-
guest, but self-defense This simpli.
fies and limits the problem as well
as the expense. 1t means obviously
big navy-as big as any navy In
the world-with every flying. diving
amphibious auxiliary that can add "a
its effectiveness. and with all the mu.
nltions and means to boot-munitions
for years campaign at least always
IN cold storage II means as man,
naval officers and men as may bt
necessary easily to operate the ma.
chinery' furnished by the government
AND inasmuch as most of the machin
cry will be complicated and scientific
1t means officers and men of brain,
and technical training. But this sor
OF men can at all times find lucra
tive employment in private life. whicl
means that the government must out
Did the market for their services. In
surance Will cost money, but n 4
worth the price"
Mr.. Estbrook also discussed a mer
chant marine as an auxiliary to tn
navy and said the La Toilette act pre
vented the requirement Of a merchan
marine
Governor Lister and Mayor Gil
helped to welcome the hundreds q
bankers at the first general sessio-
OF the convention today.