Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-10-12
SHIFTY WILSON ON
COLONEL'S BODKIN
Elusive BaIancer on String OF
Words Pinned Down by Proof
, That In Fifteen Public Ut
terances He Took Forty
| One Different Positions
on Preparedness.
EACH STAND C0NTRADICTE0
FROM / TO 6 OF THE OTHERS

Democratic Candidate Said That Our
Army Was Ample and That We Old
Not Have Enough Troops to Patrol
the Border; That We Were on the
Verge Of a Maelstrom and That
There Was No Critical Situation;
That the National Guard Would MOI
Do and Thon That II Must Do.
In the fourteen months extending
from December sth. 1914 to February
10th, 1916, there were fifteen mes
sages. letters and speeches OF Presi-
dent Wilson which | have read. In
these fifteen messages, letters ana
speeches, during those fourteen
months President Wilson took forty
one different positions about prepared
ness and the measures necessary to
secure It; and each OF these forty-one
positions contradicted from one to six
of the others. In many OF his speeches
the weasel words OF one portion oil
the speech took all the meaning out
of the words used In another portion
of that speech; and these latter words
themselves had a weasel Significance
as regards yet other words. He ar
gued for preparedness and against
preparedness He stated that our
army was ample and that we did
not have enough troops to patrol the
Mexican border in time OF peace. He
said the world was on fire. and that
sparks were liable to drop anywhere
and cause Us TO burst into flame; and
he also said that there was no imme-
diate danger. He said that there was
no sudden crisis; and then again that
he did not know what single day
would bring forth. He said that we
were on the verge of maelstrom;
and then that there was no special
or critical situation He said the dan
ger was constant aud Immediate; and
also that we were not threatened from
any quarter. He said that there was
no fear among us; and also that we
were in daily danger OF seeing the
vital interest and honor Of the country
menaced and the flag OF the United
States stained with impunlty. IIo
said that we were In very crltical
danger of being involved In the great
European struggle; and also that
there was no need to discuss the
question OF defense, or to get nervous
or excited about 1t. In one and the
same speech, he said that sufficient
number Of men would volunteer and
that II they did not he would be
ashamed Of America; and lie also said
that he did not know of any law
which laid upon them the duty OF com
ing into the army. IL II should be
necessary TO call for volunteers. He
said that we needed 500, 900 volunteers,
and that II there was any legitimate
criticism Of this demand II was be-
cause 1t was too small; and as soon
as Congressman Hay objected to the
plan, he promptly abandoned It. He
said that the National Guard was not
= the proper body upon which to rely,
and then not only changed his own
mind but forced his own Secretary
Of War out OF bis cabinet. because this
Secretary possessed less aexible con.
victions and was unable Instantly to
reverse himself when going at full
speed.-From the Speech OF Colonel
Roosevelt at Battle Creek, Michigan
In Behalf of Mr.. Hughes.