The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1916-06-08
LOCKING THE DOOR TOO LATE.


when n farmer owns a valuable
blooded horse he protects himself
from loss at the hands of thieves by
putting n paddock on his barn door.
The banker who cares for your
money locks IL up in his great bur-
glar proof safe at night.
when the merchant goes home af-
ter the days labor he leaves his
goods under lock and key and bolts
and bars.
The individual invariably takes
measures 10 protect his own.
But not so with us as nation.
We have accumulated vast stores OF
wealth. but have neglected TO pro-
vide the necessary means for the pro-
lection of that wealth.
II Is true that after months OF In
difference congress has at last pass
ed a preparedness measure by pro-
vlding for the increase OF the regular
army and the national guard to a
total approximate force OF about
700 900 men. But II will be several
years before this force can be gath
cred together and armed and equip
ped and drilled and disciplined and
put In shape to meet an enemy on
equal terms. In the meantime we
are Just about whore we were before
the bill was passed-without lock
TO our door.
II Is not likely now that we will
have any trouble with European
countries after the present war is
over We sincerely hope not.
But we are not so sanguine as to
the attitude OF Japan. Our present
state OF national helplessness has
forced congress and the admlnlstra-
t,pn TO bow TO the demands OF Japan
and eliminate from an immigration
bill certain sections which were de-
signed 10 protect American laboring
men from the cheap Japanese labor
that has been flooding this country.
There was no help for II. II was a
case of bow or fight, and we are in
no condition TO fight,
II Japan would be content with
her victory all might even yet be
fairly well. But II Is doubtful II she
will be content. The Japanese are a
warlike people, determinedly bent
upon securing equal rights on the
American continent.
And right here enters the present
element of danger to our peace and
security OF the future,
The Mexicans hate everything |
American. They are imbued with the
mistaken idea that we are a people
who will not fight, and hence they
consider us beneath their contempt,
II is reasonably well known that
Mexican emissaries are in Japan /
seeking the aid OF the Japanese peo-
pie In war against the United
States, Nothing would suit the Jap
anese designs and purposes better
than such an alliance. II would at
ford them the coveted opportunity
and excuse for seizing the Philip
pines. which they greatly desire A
great army could be landed on our
Pacific coast and we could not pre-
vent it, Another tremendous army /
of Japanese could be landed in Mex
leo, and In cooperation with the
Mexicans could invade us across the
border at a hundred different points
simultaneously. Our present mill
tary strength is so rediculously small /
that we would be hopelessly outnum-
bered and outmatched at every point.
Press dispatches show every indi-
cation that the MeXicans are expect
ing just such an alliance with the
Japanese. and if the attack comes
at all it will not be delayed until we
have had two or three years in which
TO collect and drill an army, 1t will
come soon, while we are still in a
hopeless condition.
The American people are at last
awakening to a realization of the
perA OF our national helplessness,
and congress is taking belated steps
toward defense for our homes and
our great wealth. But are We lock-
ing the door too late? VIII the l