Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-11-05
WILSON DEFENDS
PREPAREDNESS PLANS
President Delivers Opening Opening
Address Of Campaign in Behalf Of
Party Measure and His Own Re-
eIection-Says Issue 10 Non Partisan

New York. Nov. 5.-President Will
son opened the administration cam
palgn for its national defense program
in comprehensive and carefully pre-
pared address delivered mere Thursday
night at the Manhattan club banquet.
He declared solennly that the United
States had no aggressive purposes.
but must be prepared to defend itself
to assume full liberty and self de-
yelopment" Significantly. He said
that with ourselves in this great mat
ter we associate all the peoples Of
our hemisphere = adding that I'VE
wish not only for the United States,
but for them the fullest freedom Of
independent growth of action"
The president received enthusiastic
applause as he entered the banquet
hall and during his address. The hall
was decorated with American flags
and filed, even to the galleries, with
democrats happy over their victory OF
Tuesday in New York City. When the
president arose to speak, every one
Jumped up and applauded until he was
forced to signal for quiet.
within a year" said the president,
1--WE have witnessed what we did not
think possible, a great European con-
fiict involving many of the greatest
nations of the world. The influences
sof the great war are everywhere in
the air. All Europe Is in battle. Force
everywhere spealD out with loud
ana imperious voice In titanic
struggle Of government, and from one
end Of our own dear country to the
other men are asking ono another
what our own force is; how far we are
prepared to maintain ourselves against
any interferencew with our national ac-
tion or Development" =.
Devoid of Partisanship.
The president called upon "men OF
an shades ef polfelx9h opinion to rally
to the support 5ofr the program. ne
said It represented ''the best profes-
stonal and expert opinion Of the coun
try'' and gave warning that 'if men
differ with me in this vital matter. !
shall ask them to make 1t clear how
far and in what way they are inter-
ested in making the permanent inter-
ests Of the country safe against dis
turbance"
There is no need for the country to
feel panic stricken, the president de-
clared. because it stands in friendly re-
lations with the world. He spoke of
the United States "as nation too big
and generous to be exacting. but yet
courageous enough to defend its rights
and the liberties of its people wherever
assailed or involved"
Outlining the defense program, the
president said it included an increase
in the standing army. the training
within the newt three years Of 100000
citizen soldiers to be used in annual
forces Of $4,000 and the strengthening
Of the national guard. He laid partic-
ular emphasis on the need Of ample
equipment.
The president declared that the navy
already Is very great and efficient
force" but that in order to bring it to
. point Of Extraordinary force and ef-
ficiency,' a definite policy must be
adopted and hastened and an adequate
supply of men and equipment pro-
vided.
Agitators Forswarned.
In addition to speaking on national
defense. the president attacked men
who love other countries better than
America" and men who stir up relig-
ious and sectarian antagonism. He de-
clared that such to be called to a reck-
oning.
Just before the Dime rthe president
shook hands with all the guests, in
cluding Charles F. Murphy.
The guests at the banquet included
Secretary of War Garrison. Senator
|O'Gorman, Mayor John Purroy Mitchell.
Dudley Field Malone. collector Of the
port Of New York; Judge Edward
Swami, district attorney elect of New
York county; Charles e. Murphy and
other Tammany leaders: Roger G. Sui
livan. Of Chicago. and more than 4OO
other democrats. most Of them promi-
nent in New York