Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-09-03
TAFT PLEADS FOR
STRONGER Defense
Urges Larger Army and
Navy and Refers TO
Arabic Incident
WOULD EXTEND
THE INCOME TAX

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 3.-EN-Presi-
dent Taft advocated preparedness for
war yesterday. illustrated its necessity
and detailed the means TO that end IN an
address a. the Panama Pacific fNposi-
tion delivered az "Iatt Day. exercises
Nlr Taft who broke ground for the eN'
position four years ago, again took the
silver spade ne used then and planted
california redwood tree in "lait Iir-
clea A silver loving cup was presented
him
The acquiesccnce of Germany 90 the
United states contention for the rght 5
of noncomhotant citizens ON comlnefciol
bnor. of hclheorcnts "should he the
cause of profound rejoicing by every pa
iriotio American and the occasion Tor
communication 90 the President sald
Nh ran "rhc recent news from Wash
inoton shows that the firm attitude oil
President Wilson in maintaining the
RIGHTS of non-comhatani citizens has
be,i acauicsccd IN by Germany TINS
mu4 relieve the strain between the two
countries. The shadow of serious
breach passes
'lt should not. however, lead or peo'
pic away from their duty OF ieasonanie
preparation. The incident, though closed
we an hope, except as TO indemnity TOT
The lives of those already drowned
shows how ncar as nenirals, we are %
The war II shows that we must n'
careful to insist upon our rights as such
ana that we ought to be reasonably pre-
pared no defend against their invasion 10y
any iolliaercnt powers
In summing up what he regarded ne
niece ary preparations, he -aid'
"Filst An increase of our navy ton
naeo rs rapidly as possible by 30 pen
cent and nm immediate increase OF th'
personnel cl the navy by nearly 2oou'
sailors and o0o officers.
Second. An increase In ammuni-
tion for our great coast defense guns,
the making of a few 16-inch guns ana
the condition of the defense Of the
Chesapeake al Cape Henry In addi-
ton. an increase of 10000 trained
coast artillorymon and 600 officers TO
man the coast defenses properly.
Third An increase in our regular
mobile army OF $4,000 troops and q
uuardupllng OF the supply of educated
military officers. We should adopt a
reduced term Of enlistment, with in
ducement TO the formation of a re-
perve of trained men"
Mr. Taft then pointed out that the
Treasury Of the United States is not
in a condition to warrant such eN-
penditures He suggested that eN-
penses could be cut down by giving
authority and responsibility to one
body Of men to consider the whole
field of government income and eN-
penditure. lie added:
Il am trying to make practical sug.
gcstions. and not a partisan speech
and I am looking TO what may reason
ably be demanded of a patriotic Dem
ocratic Congress.
1.-THE imposition Of small tax or
small incomes. asks a sacrifice iron
our patriotic citizens that they vii
be willing to make If our politicians
have the courage 20 impose IL and eN'
pain the imperative necessity
"The payment of a tax. however
small, makes man a better citi
zen. 10 assume that the plain people
are unwilling to pay increased take:
in case of national need is to dis
trust them and to ascribe TO then
The lowest motive for political action
LET us exclude politics from tho
question of preparedness. Let us In
sist that Congress and the Administra.