The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-11-05
DEFENSE PROGRAM
tcontinusd Prom Mrs. r.xs.,

air. All Europe Is in battle. Force
everywhere speaks out with a loud and
imperious voice in a titanic struggle OF
government. and from one end OF our
own dear country to the other men
are asking one another what our own
force Is. how far We are prepared TO
maintain ourselves against any inter
ference with our national action or de-
velopment.
The President called upon men OF
all shades of political opinion to rally
TO the support OF the program He
said IL represented the best profes
sional and expert opinion of the coun
try, and gave warning that IF men
diner with me in this vital matter,
shall ask them TO make Il clear how
far and I'm what way they are interest
ed in making the permanent interests
OF the country safe against disturb.
ance."
There is no need for the country 10
feel panic-stricken. the President de
clared. because Il stands in friendly
relations with the world. He spoke OF
the United States as "a nation too big
and generous TO be exacting, but yet
courageous enough to defend its rights
and the liberties Of its people wherev.
er assailed or involved"
Outlined Defense Program.
Outlining the defense program. the
President said Il included an increase
In the standing army. the training
within the next three years OF 400. 900
citizen soldiers TO be raised in annual
forces OF 1896 and the strengthen.
ing OF the national guard. He laid par.
ucular emphasis on the need OF ample
equipment
The President declared that the
navy is already "a very great and ef
ficient force, but that in order to bring
II TO point OF extraordinary force and
efficiency a definite policy must be
adopted and FASTENED and an adequate
supply OF men and equipment pro
vided"
In addition to speaking on national
defense. the President attacked men
who love other countries better than
America" and men who stir up re
ligious and sectarian antagonism. He
declared that such men should be
called to a reckoning"
Just before the dinner the Presi.
dent shook hands with all the guests,
including Charles F. Murphy.
Prominent Guests.
Inc guests al the banquet included
Secretary OF War Garrison. Senator
O'Gorman. Mayor John Purroy Nit.
chel. Dudley Field Malone. collector OF
the port OF New York: Judge Edward
Swami. district attorney-elect of New
York county; Charles r Murphy and
other Tammany leaders: Roger c. Sui.
Ivan OF Chicago. and more than 400
other Democrats, most OF them promi.
nent in New York.
The President tonight changed his
plans for tomorrow. Instead of leav-
ing in the morning. he will remain until
the afternoon. and he and Mrs. Nor
man Gait, his fancee. will take lunch
with Cleveland II. Dodge, at the lat
ter's home here
The President arrived here shortly
after 3 O'Clock today. and spent the
afternoon with Mrs. Gait.
After the banquet at the Manhattan
Club he went TO the home Of Colonel
r. NJ. House TO remain for the night.
Each time he appeared on the street
today he was applauded. Cleveland
n. Dodge, a personal friend of the
President. and a member Of the Ar.
menian Relief Commission, paid him
brief visit.
Henry Watterson. OF Louisville. XIV
who had been designated by the dinner
committee to speak Immediately after
PRESIDENT Wilson. sent his regrets in
a letter read TO the diners.