Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-12-21
j. s. DEFENSE TALK
BY BOARD Of TRADE
Speakers and Topics at Meet
ing Last Night in Line With
Preparedness.
VOTE ON PROPOSITIONS
FROM U. S. COMMERCE BODY
More Efficient National Guard Spe-
cially Urged-Recommendation
for Adequate Local Armory.

The gathering of the Board of Trade
at the New Willard Hotel last night
might well have been announced as a
special preparedness" meeting, for
practically the entire evening was de-
voted to addresses and consideration
of reports having either direct or in
direct bearing on national defense.
Representative julius Kahn of Cali
fornia made straight out-and-ou talk
on the question. citing the need of
greater army, and particularly a great
err and more efficient National Guard.
Senator Sterling of South Dakota also
spoke on preparedness. though a por-
ton of his remarks was devoted to the
matter of suffrage in the District of
Columbia. The annual report of the
committee on public order of the Board
of Trade included a recommends ton
for an adequate armory for the Dis
trict National Guard. and the support
of the board In manning and upbuild-
ing the guard. both having an indirect
bearing on the question of prepared
ness.
Special resolutions submitted by the
public order committee directly relat-
ed to the question, in that they pledge
the Board of Trade to indorse any and
every effort TO increase the strength
and efficiency OF the army and navy,
coast fortif1cations and National Guard.
These resolutions were adopted.
Even referendum from the Cham
Der Of Commerce Of the United States.
II was considered, had u bearing on the
preparedness issue, since it dealt with
the plan of settling disputes of nations
at an International court. In the dis
cussion which the consideration of the
referendum provoked the question of
preparedness frequently was mentioned.
Views of Senator Sterling.
Senator Sterling prefaced his remarks
by saying that the people in South Da-
kota. his home state are not so en-
thusiastic on the matter of prepared
ness those on the Atlantic coast.
They think no 42-centineter she'll
will ever reach them away out there
in the middle west" said the senator;
but l frankly say that | am in favor
OF reasonable preparedness. By reason
able preparedness l mean such pre-
paredness as will enable the United
states to resist aggression on the part
of any foreign nation"
The speaker was loudly applauded
when he spoke of the matter of suffrage
in the District of Columbia q
You people of the District IAN re-
solve and can agitate all you want to.
but you cannot vote. l don't see how
YOU can stand it"
The speaker told of the many bills
affecting the District which have been
introduced in the Senate already this
session.
'They provide for everything, from
the regulation of the kind of plaster
used in building houses to the creation
of . territorial form of government
here with a legislature composed of
eleven senators and twenty-five repre-
sentativess I don't see how you could
stand any more legislative bodies here
in the District: Congress is enough.
But often wonder If there is not some
measure of self-government that Con-
gress could give 10 the people of the
District, one that will involve the cleo
ton of a delegate to Congress from
the District The Poindexter bill pro-
vides for such a delegate. 1 think the
enactment of that bill would be a good
thing for the people of the District and
for the nation at large"