Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-19
Col. Roosevelt Takes Strong
Stand Against "HaIf Way
Preparedness.
ARMY TRAINING FOR ALL
URGED AS LOGICAL PLAN
Tells Detroit Audience World Thinks
United States Foreign Policy
Dictated by Timidity.

DETROIT, Mich, May 1S-HuhoreoS
of school children waving American
flags were among the throng which
greeted Theodore Roosevelt at the rail-
way station this forenoon, when he ar
rived hero to be guest of honor at the
American day celebration. Before Col
Roosevelt was driven to the Detroit
Athletic Club at the head of an auto
mobile parade, he made a short address
to the Boy Scouts who were lined up
in front Of the station. He told them
he believed In their organization be-
cause it taught them to fight for the
truth and mot to be mollycoddles"
After luncheon at the Detroit Athlet-
ic Club Col Roosevelt spent nearly
two hours in privacy before he went to
a local opera house to deliver an ad-
dress on "Americanism and Prepared
ness for Peace"
This afternoon Col. Roosevelt is to
make a short address to a mass meet
ing in Grand Circus Park. in the heart
turns to New York late this afternoon
he is to make an automobile tour of
the city. 1t was announced that he
expects to spend a few moments visit
ing Henry Ford at the latter's automo-
bile factory.
For Unusual Army Training.
Col. Roosevelt. in his address at the
opera house, reiterated his opposition
"to all kinds of hyphenated American
ism." advocated universal military
service based on universal training,
and declared that we must abolish
pork barrel methods in our national
defense, stop talking and get down to
the actual business of thorough pre-
paredness If we are ito make this ma
tion as strong as are its convictions in
reference to right and wrong"
Col. Roosevelt prefaced his speech
by announcing that he had come here
to Michigan because in the primary for
the selection of delegates to the re-
publican national convention Mr.. Ford
was victorious, and following on his
victory here he showed a marked pop
ular strength in Nebraska and Pennsyl-
vania. The effect of this showing has
the politicians within and without
Congress"
Blind to Wars Lessons.
I'VE, through our representatives at
Washington said Col. Roosevelt
''have absolutely refused In the small
est degree to prepare during these
twenty-five months of world cataclysm
NY
part of the lesson being written on the
scroll of torment in Europe. We have
fatuously refused to take the smallest
step. either to do our duty to our
selves or to do our duty to others. We
have endeavored to deceive ourselves
by announcing that in this policy of
supine inaction. and of failure to per-
form duty. we are actuated by the
loftiest motives. 1 doubt whether we
most certainly we have not deceived
others. There is not a nation in the
world which believes that our course
of conduct has been dictated by any
ing from effort and responsibility. and
cold selfish love of money making and
Of soft ease.
I'm any serious crisis there are al
ways men who try to carry water on
cape the hard necessity of choice be-
tween two necessarily opposite alter
natives, by trying to work up some
compromise. In actual practice this
compromise usually proves to combine
with exquisite nicely all the defects
and none of the advantages of both
courses.
When Compromise Is Wrong.
1T is true that in ordinary political
matters compromise Is essential. 1t
is true that in ordinary times 1t is es-
sential But there come great crises
when compromise Is either impossible
or fatal. This Is one of those crises
There is no use in saying that we will
Mt ourselves to defend ourselves a lit
tie, but not much. Such a position is
equivalent to announcing that, IL nee
essary. we shall hit. but that we shall
only hit sof:. The only right principle
is to prepare thoroughly or not at all.
The only right principle is to avoid
hitting if it is possible to do SO. but
soft To go to war little. but not
much, is the one absolutely certain
way to insure disaster. To prepare a
little, but not much. stands on a par
ment which, after a fire occurs, can
put it out a lite. but not much"
Col. Roosevelt declared that\the Will
son administration has taken no step
for preparedness, ana has done nothing
efficient to sustain our national rights"
Because, he said, the administration had
at intervals "ventured feebly to speak
in contradiction Of its non-action." the
ultra-pacifists and their followers have
refused 1t any whole-hearted support.
They object, Col. Roosevelt added
"even to make-believe preparedness;
they insist on even more thorough
going helplessness than that which we
had so amply provided at Washington"
Must Back Up Ideals.
I'VE must make this nation as strong
as are its convictions in reference to |
right and wrong" declared Col Roose- |
yelt. ut little matters what our ideals |
may be and what achievements we
may hope for. II these ideals and |
achievements cannot be reduced to ac-
ton. The events of the past and the |
events of today, show that national |
ideals amount to nothing II the nation |
lacks the power to maintain them |
against opposition.
Therefore. IL we are to win at home |
against those of our fellow citizens who |
that is. of national weakness and inef-
hciency, we must have strong and well |
convictions and express them |
with strength and sincerity. Aconsid- |
erable part of the strength of NJ. Ford |
: N6hlm1es On Tenth rktssl |.