Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-02-16

Mr.. Gardner urged it; Mr.. Lodge
urged it,, Mr.. Stimson urged it; Mr..
Roosevelt urged it; but their argu-
ment and urgency were ascribed. to
political motives and the president
described them with a sheer as being
nervous and excited
A Warning Voice.
"But the warning voices would
not be stilled. The opinion that we
ought no longer to remain defenses
less became public opinion. Its ex-
preston grew more general and in
sistent, and finally the President, not
leading, but following, {: has shifted
his ground, has reversed his position,
and asks the country :, to prepare
against war. God grant that he be
not too late. But the Democratic
party has not shifted it's ground. A
large part of it's members in Con-
gress are endeavoring now to side
track the movement for national pre-
paredness; to muddle it by amend
ment and turn it into channels which
will produce the least possible result
in the increase of national power
and defense. What sense of effective
ness in this effort can we gather from
the presence of Josephus Daniels at
the most critical post OF all-the
head of the navy department; when
we see that where preparation has
been possible it has not been made;
when we see that construction of
warships already authorized has not
been pressed, and in some cases az
ter long delay has not even been
begun. . %,
"If an increase of our country s
power to defend itself against aggres'
sion is authorized by the present
Congress it must be largely through
Republican votes, because the repre-.
sentatives of the Republican party
in Washington stand for the country
no matter who is president; and all
the traditions and convictions of that
party are for national power and
duty and honor
Failed to "Make Good"
Discussing his assertion of the adj
administrations second error Of pol
icy" making threats and failing to
make them good"-Mr. Root alluded
to the American ''strict accountable
ity' warning to Germany, and re.
viewed the circumstances surround
ing the attacks on the Falaba. Cush
ing, Gulflight, Lusitania and other
ships. The later correspondence OF
the state department was conducted
with dignity, but it has been futile.
Mr.. Root said, continuing:
"The brave words with which We
began the controversy had produced
no effect, because they were read in
the light of two extraordinary events
One was the report of the Austrian
Ambassador, Mr. Dumba, to his gov.
eminent, that when the American
note of February 10 was received, he
asked the Secretary Of State, Mr..
Bryan, whether it meant business,
and received an answer which salts
fed him that it did not, but was in
tended for effect at home in America
1.-THE other event was the strange
and unfortunate declaration of the
president in a public speech in Phila
delphia the fourth day after the sink
ing of the Lusitania, that man may
be too proud to fight Whatever the
Austrian ambassador was in fact
told by the Secretary of State, the
impression which he reported was
supported by the events which fol
lowed. Whatever the President did
mean, his declaration was accepted
the world over as presenting the at
titude of the American government
towards the protection of the life and
liberty of American citizens in the
exercise of their just rights. and
throughout the world the phrase "too
proud to fight became the by-word
of derision and contempt for the gov