Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1916-05-19

Tribune asks, Are we to go to war
simultaneously against both the CEN
trail empires and the allies, for both
sides have disregarded previously ex-
listing laws of the seas?"
No man, not excepting the editor
of the Chicago Tribune, questions
President Wilson's good faith and
that his whole thought is Of and for
! America. No one questions his hon.
| esty of purpose and his absolute net
trality and yet to create prejudice, to
arouse suspicion, the Tribune goes SO
far as to cast reflection upon this
| government, which Is as much the
Tribune's government as it il Pres.
dent Wilson's, in the following
taken from their columns: III, how
ever, the presidents adamantine stand
towards Germany and flexible stand
with the allies" etc. Shame on .
respectable publication or an individ.
ual who will permit their partisanship
to carry them so far. During months
of patient negotiation when the pres
dents whole purpose was to avoid
war, avoid a clash with any and all
Of the belligerents, avoid being drawn
into this awful world war that Ameri-
cas- boys and Americas resources
might be preserved for purposes OF
peace, President Wilson has been &C.
cused of having no courage, charged
with permitting insults and outrages
upon our people, has been called pus-
sy-footed and made subject to all man
Der OF slurs and SANDER. Now after
these months when he takes a posi-
ton nothing like so aggressive as We
have been told he should take, his po-
sition is termed "adamantine."
Preparedness.
The question Of preparedness will
enter into the campaign. My posi-
ton is what believe to be the posi-
ton of all patriotic citizens, includ-
ing both those who are for what IL
termed preparedness and those who
are termed peace advocates. There
are no peace-at-any-price people in
the United States. There are but few
who can honestly be- called militarists.
The American people are for de-
tense sufficient to protect this coun-
d6dlAoI any ala doAOA, W SSSAA0
this country against any aggressor,
whatever preparation may be neces.
sary for that purpose. They are not
for one ounce Of powder nor single
gun to make war on any other ma
ton, nor for the securing OF foot
hold in any other country. Granted
this is the position of the American
people, am perfectly willing to leave
the details, the working out of the
plan, the perfecting of the whole
scheme to any president the people
of the United States may elect, be he
democrat or republican. 1t becomes
practical matter for experienced
men who have all the facts, a matter
of experience and efficiency. My
thought is that the $250.O00,000 per
year we have been spending Is sulfi-
cient. Possibly it will be found more
money is necessary. II more money
is necessary that we may be amply
prepared to protect ourselves. the
American people will gladly pay the
bill, whatever Il4sOiS they want
nothing approaching militarism ana
they want one dollar in defense
for each dollar spent. The pur-
pose of the recent bill authorizing
government manufacture Of armor
plate is to see the people get value
received for money spent; another
evidence Of President Wilson's efforts
in the peoples interest and an answer
to the charge that he is working for
q program in the interest Of the pow
der or armor ring.
Satisfy yourself from his past per-
Torrance whether President Wilson
is Loyalty serving you and every
other citizen, and If you decide that
he is, then txuet him to do what
in these matters he determines to be
best for you and for me. We cannot
have access to the information upon
which he bases his actions. We
cannot hope to give these matters
the same close study, we cannot come
in daily contact with the many depart.
ments manned by experts, as he does,
so let's stand back of the president
with full confidence that his every
thought, every action, every impulse
is to serve America and that means
you and me. Ask the mothers OF
America If they approve President
How many Of them, except
for him, might be today in tears. It
is easy to stand far off and criticise,
but would you have had him do other
than keep this country at peace? Ev-
cry father and every mother IN
America today can well afford to stay
q minute and send up silent pray
er in thankfulness for Woodrow Will
son and the fact that he has been At
the helm in these troublous times.
In the history of our country no 9th.
er president has ever been obliged to
carry a greater burden, il as great.
Surely a divine providence rules In
the affairs of this nation.