Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-17
CONFERENCE IS HELD
ON NATIONAL DEFENSE
Virginia Branch OF National Security
League Is Formed
Here.
WEST OUTLINES IT'S SCOOP
Rally to BE Held in October, When
General Il. w. Nichols, of Virginia
Military Institute, Will Make Prin-
cipnl Address

For the purpose of creating and
crystali%in. sentiment for more ade-
quate preparedness for the national
defense, permanent organization.
consisting or thirty-four prominent
1tichmond men. was formed yesterday
at the business Mems Club Tho or
sanization will be known as the Vir-
Sinia Branch OF the National Secur-
ity League. and Will work in conjunc-
ton with the parent organization in
New York City. Wyndham r. Mere
dith was chosen chairman. and VIII
liam Todd and Edward j. Willis were
elected secretary and treasurer. The
president will later appoint an exccu-
1.-Two committee of three.
The following resolution, prepared
at the instance OF Governor Stuart,
was introduced and unanimously
adopted: Resolved, that we respect
fully request his cNcellency, the Hon
ornble Henry G. Stuart Governor Of
this state, to CO. operate with the ex-
ccutvcs OF other State furthcring the
cause Of adequate preparedness by APP
pointing a Virginia state Committee
on National Defense, OF such number
as he may deem proper. and repre-
sentinC all sections OF the State"
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
OUTLINES PLANS
Henry l.. West, executive secretary
VI inc .\atlohal security League and
eH-comm!ssioner of the city OF Wash
! ington, met the organizers and out
! lined tho purpose and scope of the
| organization. The league in no sense
said Mr.. West. stands for anything
like militarism. but, awakened to the
TACT that this country is wocfully un-
prepared to Withstand any invasion
that powerful enemy mig make. it
breaches the gospel OF preparedness,
realizing that that is the only cfec-
| tive way of keeping the peace and OF
obtaining national security.
Mr.. West said that the history of the
! world proves that war is never inn
possible. and the terrible struggle now
raging In Europe brings out that
fact only the more clearly. Expert
| once has shown, he said. that treaties
are undcpendab BILE, and that intcrna-
:ional law offers no safeguard. He
called attention to Switzerland, the
'Forcupinc of Europe" hemmcd in on
all sides by warning nations, got peace
:ul through preparedness Switzer-
land. he said, could mobilize her SPLEEN
didly trained army within forty-cight
hours
Security Lies in National Guard.
The National Security League. said
, Sir. West. does not advocate an Gxtrava-
CANT navy, nor does II stand for a large
standing army. Tho security of the M
| ton, II thinks. lay in the increa sed
/ clllClcnfN OF the Nntl0naI IuQrd, and tho
| thorough organization of the citizen
soldiery. 1t stands ready to endorse
| and urge upon Congress the passage
into law of proposals for more adc-
| quatc defense by the experts of the
, Army and Navy, who. 1t thinks, are
! entirely competent to handle the situa-
tion. and, who, heretofore. have gotten
too little consideration at the hands Of
Congress.
The parent organization was formed
in New York City about eight months
ago. Since that time branch organiza-
tons, all working in conjunction
with headquarters. have been formed
throughout the country, until the total
membership has reached from 10000 to
10000. Many of the Governors Of
states have consented to serve on tho
national committee and six of them
have appointed committees on national
defense. Samuel w. Gompers prcsi-
dent of tho American Federation of
Labor. is also In sympathy with the
movement.