The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-05-26
His Talk On Preparedness Was
Received With Applause
VAN SAINT HEARD ALSO
Frank Eddy in Characteristic
Speech; Orpheus Male Quar-
tet In Selections
From Wednesdays Daily.

That Mankato has caught the spir-
1t of military preparedness, which
mas been sweeping the country, ever
since the outbreak of the great
European war, was evident at the
Kellogg rally held in the Mankato
theatre last evening. 1t is not often
that political gathering fills that
large auditorium, but it was filed
last evening, both below and above.
Declarations that America should
be ready to fight if need be for the
protection of her honor, government,
possessions and institutions were
uttered by Frank B. Kellogg, candi-
date for the United States senator of
Minnesota; Captain S. r. Van SAINT,
former governor of this state, and
Judge Lorin Cray of Mankato, and
all such sentiments were applauded
to the echo.
The last speaker, Frank M. Eddy,
for many years Minnesota con-
gresham, dwelt largely on the ne
cessity of choosing good candidates
Tor both the national tickets, and
the Importance of voting wisely at
the primaries on June 10.
Selections BY Quartet.
Selections were rendered from time
to time by the Orpheus vocal Quadtet,
consisting of d. M. Jones, Sidney
Davies, Glenn Shoemaker and |. N.
Griffith. STAND by America" "The
ar-Spangled Banner" and amer
lea" were all rendered without in
strument accompaniment America"
was sung at the close, the whole
audience joining
For about an hour before the
meeting it was advertised by the
band, which included several of the
Sandon theatre players
Judge Cray, who presided over the
meeting, said in his opening re-
marks that Americans had been too
busy making money, and had seemed
almost to forget that they had a
country to defend. He said the best
way TO ward off trouble was to be
prepared to meet it. In introducing
Mr.. Kellogg, the judge referred to
the fact that Mr.. Kellogg had start
ed out as a farmer. and had become
one of the most successful lawyers
in the country, and one who had al
ready had much to do with the gov
ernmental affairs of the United
States
Mr.. Kellogg made a telling hit,
when he declared it to be his belief
that it was the duty of this country
to prepare to defend its government,
institutions, homes and industries,
There was prolonged applause He
said Americans and their property
should be protected not only in the
United States but in foreign coun-
tries.
Would Be Peace Measure.
The speaker said it would be
peace measure to strengthen the
army and navy. He spoke of the
suddenness with which the great
European war broke out, demon
starting the wisdom of prepared
ness.
He said there was no danger to
the liberties of this nation in having
standing army of 900 to 40O,-
OO0- There were 1OO,0OO,OO0 patriot
ic people, ready to safeguard their
liberties. He said such an army
would be for defense only. 1t could
not be used for invasion and con-
quest There was no danger of that
He ridiculed the proposal of Will
liam ]. Bryan, made recently at
Chicago, that the money that it
would take to increase the army and
navy might be parceled out among the
belligerents to get them to make peace.
He said such an exhibition would
not conduce to maintain peace for
America. History showed that many
wealthy, defenseless nations had
persisted. He did not wish to see
America made China of the Oc-
cident.
He quoted Admiral Dewey, Gener-
al Leonard Wood and other military
authorities for the statement that
large army might easily be landed
by foreign power on the American
coast under present conditions. He
spoke of the fact that at the OAR
danelles there was great landing
of troops under far more adverse
conditions.
Aggressive Attitude of Japan.
Mr.. Kellogg calledd attention to the
aggressive attitude of Japan, which
had closed the open door of China,