Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-01-27
National Society in Session at
Washington Calls on U. S. Cit.
liens to Arm against Day
They Will Need to Fight.
R0OSEVELT'S NAME CHEERED
Robert Bacon, ex.Secretary Of
State, Declares That 1t Is Time
to Save America for Ameri.
cans and That the Spirit of rs
Is Abroad in the Land.

Washington. Jan. 2o.-A call to the
American people to arm themselves
against a day fast coming when they
may need to fight was sounded to-day
and tonight in stirring speeches before
the first Congress of the National Sc.
curity League. 1t was greeted with con.
tinued and enthusiastic applause by the
several hundred manufacturers, pub
lcists, merchants. lawyers and others
gathered for the Congress.
Robert Bacon. former secretary of
state, brought the audience at the eve.
ming session to its feet when he de.
clared.
THE nation Is astir with a new feeling,
there is an awakening throughout the
land. The call for America to save the
Americans is sounding from house to
house and from city to city like that call
which on the eighteenth day of April in
10 went through every Middesex village
and farm, and believe the answer will
be as strong and clear as it was then"
Theodore Roosevelt's name was loudly
cheered. His sister. Mrs. Theodore
Douglas Robinson. read letter in which
he said he regarded the proposed con-
tinental army as a sham which would
tiona gaurd; that the navy program was
"a paper program entirely inadequate to
our needs" and that military prepared
ness should be required las a matter of
right. not as a matter Of favor" Of all
American citizens Colonel Roosevelt
likened the United States failure to take
other action than diplomatic negotiations
over the loss of American lives by sub.
ma ri y~fo N
face was slapped on the street and who
took no other action than to tell her
to stay home.
Miss Maud Wetmore. chairman Of the
Womans Section of the National Civic
Federation, told the congress that mo
woman who brings up her children on
a policy that she did not raise her
hoy to be soldier has a right to the
protection of another womans son."
Luke r. Wright. secretary of war in
Roosevelt's cabinet. declared that the
country had reversed the policy,
speak softly and carry a big stick"
by speaking loudly and carrying .
stuffed club"
1t was time. he said, for adequate
preparedness to meet what might come
after the European war. If for no other
purpose than to make good our recent
vaunt Of America for the Americans
and to uphold the Monroe doctrine 'as
prolific Of fights as barrel of red
liquor.
Mr.. Wright said it was possible tho
United States might have to fight Eng
land after the present war because 'ic
there is anything that makes an English
man peevish it is to disturb his trade"
The present preparedness program. he
said, was a step in the right direction,
but mighty short step"
The entire program" he continued. SIS
based on two fundamental thoughts. both
Of which can make soldier while you
wait; the second is the thought that you
can get all the volunteers you want
Colonel Roosevelt in his letter reiter-
ated his criticism of the administrations
submarine warfare policy and announced
his preparedness program.
Il believe" he said. that we should
base our military and naval program
upon the retention and defense Of Alaska,
| Hawaii. the Panama canal and all its
approaches. including all the points OF
South American soil north Of the Equa-
tor, and Of course including the defense
of our own coasts and the islands OF
the West Indies. To free the navy we
need ample coast defences manned by
100000 men and mobile regular army
Of 10000 men.
THE proposed continental army is a
sham. 1t would be merely an inefficient
rival Of the National Guard For year
or so. during the period of novelty 1t
might attract some men. But we cannot
expect men to sacrifice their business
interests and put themselves at n dlsad-
vantage compared to their less patriotic
business rivals as permanent thing
They ought not to do it; and it is an
outrage to ask Them to do it. Military
training should be required as a matter
of right of all"