Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-05
PRESIDENT OPENS
/ CAMPAIGN FOR HIS
DEFENSE PROGRAM
Declares United States Must
Be Prepared to Pro-
tect Itself.
BUT THIS NATION HAS NO
AGGRESSIVE PURPOSES
All Peoples of This Hemisphere
With Us in Wish for Full Lib
erty of Self-Development.
OUTLINES PROPOSED PLANS
Calls Upon Men os All Shades Of
Political Opinion to Rally
to Support.
BUT THIS NATION HAS NO
AGGRESSIVE PURPOSES
OUTLINES PROPOSED PLANS
Political Opinion to Rally
to Support.

I NEW YORK. Novembor 4.-Ircsident
Wilson opened the administration cam
! paign for it's national defense program
! in a comprehensive and carefully pre-
pared address delivered here Tonight
/ al the Manhattan Club banquet. lie de-
clared solemnly that tie United States
had no aggressive purposes. but must
be prepared to defend itself in order
TO assume full liberty and self-devel-
opment." Significantly. he said that
with ourselves in this great matter
we associate all the peoples OF our
own hemisphere" adding that I'VE wish.
not only for the United States but for
them. the fullest freedom OF indie
pendent growth OF action"
| The President was received with
enthusiastic applause as he entered the
banquet hall and during his address
! The hall was decorated with American
! flags and filled. even to the galleries.
, with Democrats, happy over their vic
tory Of Tuesday in New York City.
/ When the President arose to speak
every one applauded until he was
| forced TO signal for quiet.
within year." said the President
>
! think possible: a great European con-
/ t'ict. involving many OF the greatest
nations of the world The Influences
of the great war are everywhere in
| the air. All Europe is in battle
/ Force everywhere speaks out with II
! loud and imperious voice in Il titanic
struggle OF government, and from one
| end OF our own dear country to tho
other men are asking one another what
! our own force is--how far we are pre-
pared to maintain ourselves against
any Interference with our national
action or development"
ASKS SUPPORT or MEN
! OF ALL POLITICAL OPINION
| The President called upon "mcn of
all shades of political opinion" to rally
to the support of the defense program.
He said IL represented "thc best pro-
fcssional and expert opinion OF The
country" and gave warning that IF
men differ with me in this vital matter,
! | shall ask them to make il clear how
/ far and in what way they are inter-
ested in making the permanent inter-
| ests of the country safe against dis
! turbanccs"
! There is no need for the country to
feel panic stricken. the President lie
|
relations with the world. He spoke
OF the United States as IL nation too
big and too generous To he cXactine,
but yet courageous enough to defend
| its rights and the liberties Of the pco-
pie wherever assailcd or involved"
outlining the defense program, the
President eaid il included an increase
| in the standing army. the training
within the next three years OF 4OO. 900
citizen soldiers to be raised i'm annual
forces OF $4,000. and tho strengthens
ing of the National Guard. lie laid
particular 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
point OF "cXtr.orduary force and
efficiency definite policy must be
adopted and FASTENED and an adequate
supply of men and equipment provided
ATTACKS MEN WHO LOVE
OTHERS DETTEH THAN AMERICA
In addition 10 speaking on national
defense, the President attacked men
who love other countries better than
America" and men who stir up re-
ligious and sectarian antagonism. lie
declared that such men should be
called to reckoning"
Just before the dinner The President
shook hands with all the guests. in
Guiding Charles T.. Murphy
The guests included Secretary of war
Garrison. senator O',iorman Mayor
John Purroy Mitchell. Dudley Field Ma
lone. collector Of the port of New York;
Judge Edward Swami. district attor-
y-eicci OF New York County; Charles
+, Murphy and other Tanmany