New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-16
What Security League Wants.

What Security League Wants.
cambridge Colby opened the morning
session of the conference with clear
definition Of what the National Secur-
Itv League stood for.
'No one is for war" said Mr. Colby,
who acted as chairman. Our Presi-
dent has stated that as nation we
Go not seek an inch of territory not
our own. The maintenance OF peace is
not only the highest duty, but it is the
highest praise OF the statesman.
ITO provide a force adequate to
maintain the nations cause and to in
sure its readiness for immediate &C
tion in case of necessity is respon-
sibihy resting upon every govern
ment Time has worked profound
changes in the relation Of nations TO
each other. New dangers have arisen,
new duties are born ont Of these
changes. We cannot ignore these
changes If we would"
Mr. Colby read a letter from William
McAdoo. Chief City Magistrate, in
which he declared that the navy of
country is fighting machine or it is
nothing. Mr.. McAdoo especially empha-
sized the great necessity for a power
full submarine division.
Charles J. Bonaparte said any one
who had tried to interest Congress IN
army and navy matters knew how hard
II Is TO get the attention Of its mem
berS
They are too much interested in the
important questions aCitatlng POdunk
10 pay attention 10 the question of ma
tional defence" he said. IF they are to
he aroused somebody will have to get
behind them with sharp sticks"
Too Powerful to Fight"
Mayor James VI. Curley, Of Boston,
said the country had every bit of faith
in the craftsmanship Of Woodrow VIII
son and that the United States shared
with him the belief that it was too
proud TO fight
But away down in our hearts" he
said, 1--WE all wish that il might be pos
siole for US to exchange this phrase
for another, namely, we are too power
full 10 fight If too powerful TO fight
we would never be called upon TO
fight, for, since the world began, might
has dominated right and through its
existence has prevented aggression"
The navy is approximately 10000
men short Of the war footing" said
Lieutenant Commander Riggs. at is
may be supplied in time of war from
the new naval reserve. The naval mi
litia to-day comprises about 5000 men,
which is a hopelessly inadequate num-
btr."
Strength Is Necessary.
There is no sucn tnIng as national
influence unless 1t can be backed by
organized strength and by willingness
Haven Putnam. THE citizens who have
organized the National Security League
are fully in accord with those who are
working in the great peace assocla-
tions.
I'VE do not contend that the pro-
vision Of adequate ornaments for our
national defence will of itself prevent
war We point out simply that such
proper organization and utilization OF
our resources will remove one great
temptation to war. In making our de-
mands we are not putting into express
sion merely the opinions Of hysterical
citizen who DO not know what they are
talking about.
The leagues resolution to be for
wardcd to President Wilson was cead
by Mayor Curley.
Mr.. Coudert spoke in part as follows
al the luncheon:
"J'nwillingly arc we confronted with
the possibility that whatever turn mat
trrs may take some such catastrophe
event may force US to defend our
selves. | believe in the Monroe
Doctrine ! believe in our right TO de-
termine our own standards for Amerl-
can citizenship and in our duty to up
hold the highest standards of interna-
tional law. Believing these things,
am convinced that without adequate
methods Of military defence our poll
cies, principles and purposes would go
for nothing. In addition we would be
the victims of aggressions as certainly
as China.
81 believe the United States should
have an army and navy strong enough
to compel respect for justice, clvlllza-
tion and the dignity of small nations
which Washington stood for. cannot
admit that the world has improved
much since his time. The recent IN
vasion of Belgium and the prosecution
of the policy Of frlghtfulness' hnally
resultant in the Lusitanla tragedy
would not seem to indicate It,
After the luncheon the delegates
held an executive session and consid-
cred plans for organizing branches Of
the league in other states. Two hun
dred branches have been formed or
are being formed.
The steady stream Of men and wom-
en- who passed through the exhibition
room at the Hotel Aston Monday did
not cease yesterday. II was reported
late yesterday afternoon that more
than 10000 persons had visited the ex-
hibition during the day and that the
same number had signed cards making