The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-09-01
GOVERNORS PLAN FOR DEFENSE
STRONG SENTIMENT FOR LARG.
ER FORCES.
No Resolutions on Subject But Exc
cutivcs arc Expected to Advise Con-
SfpSSmCn,

the country, in which it was agreed
that the United States was not ade-
|quately prepared against foreign in
vasion, the conference Of governors
ended it's annual sessions today. No
resolutions were proposed, but sever
lal executives said they felt certain
lal1 the governors would return with
Ithe intention of demanding from their
congressman support in any pro-
lgramme strengthening the nations de-
Tense.
The governors chose Salt Lake City
for next years meeting place and
!elected the governor of Utah, William
1Spry, chairman of the executive COM
mlttee. Other committee members
elected were Gov. Henry c. Stuart Of
Virginia and Gov. Arthur Capper of
Kansas. Former Gov. John Franklin
For Of New Jersey again was chosen
treasurer and Miles C. Riley of Madi-
,son, Wis, was reelected secretary.
The conference programme which
had included a review of the Atlantic
{5ieet and parade of the Massachu-
l9etts militia had aroused great in
lfcrest,in tOday's session. The sessions
we're removed to q spacious hall and
big audience followed the addresses
I Secretary Redfeld. speaking not in
behalf Of the administration, but rs
Ia member of it, he said urged re-
Istraint of speech and soberness of
Thought in what he termed these try
fling times.
l with that spirit of restraint" he
Isaid, should we not be ready for any
emergency Of any kind that may
Tarise Should we not at least have
the tools ready, not for offense, but for
defense of our nation?"
Gov. Fletcher of New Jersey urged
Tan increase in the standing army Of
NJ iesst eQi ls.s4s u. .....a..-..n.
! Cordial agreement with Gov. -Fiel-
ders statements was expressed by
Gov. Dunno of Illinois, who said he
felt the nations main reliance for q
reserve force might well be found in
a requirement that every college and
university receiving federal or State
funds should give four years of mill
tary training to it's students
| "Tf war yUara IooIorol o,1 +Lo
States by any of the principal Euro
pean NATIONS tomorrow it must be ad-
mitted our situation would be a pre-
carious One,' he said. Gov. Dunno
said that 'any British or German
fleet could take possession of or de-
stroy all means of manufacturing am
munition in the United States, such
plants being almost entirely within
$50 miles of New York city"
Gov. Hammond Of Minnesota, char
acterizing what he said was the fact
that this country had spent hundreds
of millions more dollars for it's armv
and navy than any other nation in
the world, recommended the creation
of some board which would be able
thoroughly to inform congress Of the
needs for national defense. He said
he was not so pessimistic as some on
the subject of unpreparedness. "ho!d-
ing suspicion that if need arose we
would find these battleships of ours
giving a very good account of them
selves 1t was his opinion that the
nation must depend largely on the
patriotism of its people for defense,
that the men would not stand for
compulsory military service and the
nation can not afford to hire it's SOL
diers."
Gov. GOldsbOrOugh of Maryland ex-
pressed the belief that an extension
| or measures of defense was neces-
sary.
Gov. Trainmell of Florida felt that
dependence was to be placed on .ha
citizen soldiery and was applauded
when he added:
IF the European war last two veors
more, rs seems likely, there will rot
be a first class army or navy in the
world except our own"
Adequate preparedness was urged
by Gov Stuart of Virginia, while from
Gov. Walsh of Massa chusctts came
the suggestion that State or federal
provision be made for bringing into
the schools encouragement and op-
portunity for the boys of the Janl
to develop rs citizen soldiers.
"A new note was struck by FRANCIS
H. McGovern. former governor OF
Wisconsin,:
I'VE have been mentally chloro-
formed, he exclaimed. "by this in
ternational propaganda for peace. as
1t has been advanced i'm Auoric,