Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-05
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r WAS over at Chicago a week ago for the first
tional convention OF the National Security league
which, taken altogether, was attended by very
representative set OF from all parts OF the eoun
try and 1 than surprised at the exceptional
interest that developed In the subject OF pre-
paredness. The addresses and debates. Il is true
brought a wide OF opinions as to the degree
OF preparedness which the country needs ana as 10
the details OF a possible preparedness program, but
perhaps more than would any live subject on
which short OF full information and awaiting
expert advice. The meeting disclosed navy enthusiasts
and aviation devoees, regular army champions SWISS
system advocates and military defenders each cock
his preference IL the main key TO the solution 81
the problem but all agreed that what must now be
done is to good start headed In the right dec-
ton. and work out at time.
At the banquet rendered by the Chicago branch Of
the league was seated between Bishop Burke OF
ST. Joseph who invoked the blessing aud General
Luke Wright OF Tennessee, whose speech made the
chief hit Of the evening Bishop Burke proved to be
a benevolent mid-mannered churehman, who had
come from ireland with his parents to Chicago as
lad. and he told OF the almost inconceivable
changes he when revisiting the city and recalling
his early familiarity with st. He said, for example,
there but paved street in Chicago when he
arrived and explained the difficulties encountered
little later In choosing location for church, now
In the heart of the business district for fear would
be too far OF the way. understood him TO say,
also. that Chicago today has. Catholic churches
than any other city in the world and that parish
the center OF the Polish population, contains over
ioo0 Catholics. Bishop Burke's first episcopacy was
as bishop Of Cheyenne place occupied by en-
Incumbent furnished by Omaha Bishop McGovern and
he inquired personally about Bishop scannell the
crelghtons. John A. Mcshane and Thomas c. Byrne
among his Omaha friends.
For almost 20 General Luke E. Wright is
marvel Of virility. He dvulged unpleasant
truths about so-caed great battles of civil
war; for example. In the first Bull Run which
nothing but mob fight, that both sides thought
themselves whipped and Il was only question OF
which started the foot first and kept It up long
est He pad his compliments particularly TO Colonel
Bryan's idea of nation rising up night in a
Spouse TO call for volunteers drive off invader
IT might be possible and probable" said he that
Mr. Bryan could summon 100000 men between sunrise
ana sunset. but wouldn't have the arms to equip
them II he had that much good luck. And they
wouldn't know what to do with their arms and ac-
ooutrements II they could be supplied. Mr.. Bryan,
indeed, might them the Sermon on the Mount
and urge them to refer any difficulty which might
have called them out to The Hague court but doubt
even that"
Two other interesting speakers were Colonel LATE
Young OF Iowa and Ex-Governor Van SAINT OF Mlnne-
Sofa the former depicting in graphic language his per-
sona observations of the Balkan war and the latter
drawing on his experience civil war solder
Governor Van SAINT Is also grand old man. confess.
ing to Y years but with fire In him than most
people Of half that Speaking me- he was solicit
tous about his brother and his niece the Van SAINTS
OF Omaha stin another pleasant renewal Of acduant
ance was that OF Rev. John Gordon. who will be re-
membered pastor Of the Westminster church here
and president OF the Omaha Theoiosicai seminary.
whence he went to Tabor college and from there to
the presidency Of Howard university In washington.
from which he has since retired ana IT, now living In
New York City He was at the Chicago meeting with
his son. who Is enlisted In the local security league
Let me mention, unique contribution to the enter
tainment by the chorus leader whose name ala not
get who announced during IN the interludes that
he had been specially requested to sing solo, which
he proceeded to do to familiar classical air When
we tried to catch the words we discovered that he
was reading OF the items on the card setting
them to music he went