The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1915-11-13
NATIONAL DEFENSE PROGRAM.
President Wilson Outlines the Administrators Policy
IN an Address Before the Manhattan Club-Appeas
to the People for United support-Deplores Nantes
taton Of Religious Antagonism

/ An Associated Press desnatel
] dated New York city Nov. 5, gives
the following synopsis OF a notable
| utteranee by the president of the
United States that merits the care.
full perusal and challenges the calm
judgment of the American peonle
without regard to political or other
differences:
President Wilson opened the ad-
mlnlstration campaign for its nation
al defense program in q comprehen.
sive and carefully prepared address
delivered here last night at the Man
haitian Club banquet. He declared
solemnly that the United States had
no aggressive purposes, but must be
prepared to defend itself to assure
| Tf1ll liberty and self developnT7 =
Significantly he said that with our
selves IN this great matter we asso-
ciate all the peoples Of our own hemi-
sphere, adding that 1--WE wish not
only for the United States, but for
them the fullest freedom of independ-
ent growth of action =
The president was received with
enthusiastic applause as he entered
the banquet hall and during his ad-
dress TIE hall was decorated with
American flags and even the galleries
We're filed with Democrats happy
over their victory in New York city.
When the president rose to speak
every one jumped up and applauded
again and again until he was forced
to signal for quiet.
Within year said the presi-
dent, we have witnessed what we
did not deem possible, a great Euro
pean conet,t involving many of the
greatest nations Of the world. The
influences Of the great war are every
where in the air. All Europe is in
battle. Force everywhere speaks out
with a loud and imperious voice in a
titanic struggle Of governments and
from one end of our own dear coun-
try to the other men are asking one
another what our own force is, how
far we are prepared to maintain our
selves against any interference with
our national action on Development
The president called upon s'men of
all shades OF political opinion to
rally to the support Of the program.
He said it represented the best pro-
fessional and expert opinion of the
country and he gave warning that
stiiff if men differ with me IN this vital
matter shall asls them to make it
clear how fal nd III what way they
are interesEe alkiaag the per-
~ fl
against sIis laes q
There IS 40 need for the country
to feel panic-strIeken, the president
declared. because it stands IN friend
III relations with the world. He spoke
Of the United States as a nation too
big and generous to be exaeting, but
yet courageous enough to defend its
rights and the liberties of its people
whenever assailed or involved. =
Outlining the defense program, the
president said it included an increas-
ed standing army. the training within
the next three years of 100000 citizen
soldiers to be raised in annual forces
of 133, 600, and the strengthening of
the national guard He laid particu-
lar 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 a point of extraordinary
force anG efficiency a definite policy