Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-02-11
CITY OFFICIAL PAPER
THE PRESIDENT AND PREPAREDNESS.


President Wilson addressed the people of the
Middle West last week. in his series of speeches,
and the fact that he alone knows the complexities
and the dangers of the international situation in
which the United States finds itself, stand out as
the important features of the editorial comments
we have noted on the presidents speaking tour,
"a spectacle unparalleled in history as the
Christian Science Monitor puts it. ''No other
mans opinion on the need of national defense is
of any value whatsoever in comparison with his
opinion" says the New York World, ''for he has
been through the MILL He can speak with an
authority that is denied everybody else.'
And the Christian Science Monitor, a peace
paper commenting on particular paragraph Of
one of the presidential addresses, says "We
have here what appears to many to be an out
pouring of the inner thoughts of man who
knows more about the international situation than
do his countrymen at large, and who is deeply
concerned over the prospect Looking over the
papers of our own state, we find the Navy Yard
American, for example (Which, by the way, is not
edited by the former congressman James w.
Bryan, any more), pointing out that "Mr. Will
sons sources Of information are, Of course, more
numerous and more reliable than those of any
other citizen of the country" and characterizing
the presidents speeches as remarkable utter
ances that show conclusively that he is deeply
sensible of the peril Of the present situation And
if he is convinced of the necessity Of preparation
for Defense" this newspaper suggests, "it may
be that some of our high power paciicists will
eventually conclude that while the truly good
among us may continue to trust in the Lord for
protection it will be as well if we also keep our
powder dry"
Read, mark and inwardly digest the recent
speeches of President Wilson and then try and
understand the crisis and danger this country is
in" says the Aberdeen Herald, paper whose
present management through the frequent and
belligerent use of 'scarehead' type classes as
independent. 1T takes soldiers and battle
ships to offset the enemy soldiers and batteships
in these warlike, brutal days." the Herald adds.
Approaching the subject from still another stand
point the Auburn Globe Republican says ''The
presidents remarkable command of language,
coupled with the sense of tremendous responsible
ity he feels resting upon him in the present emer-
gency adds wonderful power and persuasiveness
to the appeals he is making to the public and will
undoubtedly result in making many converts to
his views of the necessity for preparation"
The Christian Science Monitor also suggests the
Mr.. Wilson's speeches compose ga very plain
waring to those, if there be such who imagine that
the president would think of going so far as to
sacrifice the nations honor that the country might
not be disturbed in its customary tranquil opera
tions,' while the Montesano Vidette sees in 'pre-
paredness" the slogan of the coming national
campaign, welded by the great Teddy whom it
apparently loves with an undying devotion
1t so happens that we have not encountered a
single newspaper that deviates from the spirit of
these quotations seeks to dispute the presidents
statements or to attack his program. The nearest
approach to it was the comment of the San Poll
Eagle, little paper and new one just started at
Keller, the Colville reservation, which declares
in the question of whether we have large stand
ing army or not, because "the government can
not find willing men enough to keep our present
army up to its numerical strength and compul-
sorry military duty or cOnscription in times of
peace is out of the question in free country like
this
Mr.. Wilson's political career" the Worlds
Work points out, 'has been succession of dem
Onstrations that he meant what he said' and such
seems to be the universal opinion among newspa-
pers at least applied to the speeches in his epoch
making tour 'Nobody can accuse the president
Of being swept off his feet by passion or fury"
says the New York World. "Nobody can charge
him with lingo or militaristic motives Mr.. Bryan