Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-18
PREPAREDNESS
GIVEN ANOTHER
BOOST BY WILSON
EFFORT BEING MADE TO MAR.
SHALL INDUSTRIAL UNITS
OF THE NATION.

Washington, d. c., Jan. 17.-An.
nouncement that President Wilson had
written presidents Of the leading. en-
cheering organizations Of the coun-
try, requesting the appointment of
representatives to gather, In conjllnc-
tion with the civilian naval consulting
board, data for use in organizing busi-
ness for national defense in time Of
danger, served to renew interest In
the subject today.
The dispatch Of the letters is tho
latest step in the plans of the presi-
dent as outlined by him in his mes
sage to congress for marshaling the
nations manufacturers, railroads and
other business resources in event Of
an emergency.
Communications have been sent to
the heads Of the American Institute
of Mining Engineers, the American
Society Of Mechanical Engineers, the
American Society of Civil Engineers,
the American Institute Of Electrical
Engineers and the American Chemi-
cal society.
1t is expected that the plans, now
in q tentative stage, when completed,
will set in motion machinery to bring
to the government full information
regarding business and industrial re-
sources which would be called to aid
the army and navy in event Of wa-.
Low Is ouTsPokEh.
Washington, d. c., Jan. II. - The
national civic federation opened its
sixteenth annual meeting today with
prominent civic welfare workers from
throughout the country present. Sub
jects for discussion included prepared
ness immigration, government regula-
tion Of private industry and other
problems. The women's section OF the
federation opened separate two days
meeting. &
National preparedness was the feat
ure Of today's program. Seth Low Of
New York, president of the federation,
sounded, first note on preparedness
when, In his address, he declared that
II the United States is to prevent the
"antagonisms and hates Of Europe and
its age long tradition of empire" from
finding lodgment on this continent af-
ter the war, 1t must be "by the
strength of our own right arm and by
the Willingness to die for what is GER
tainly precious to our selves and for
what we believed to be no less precious
to humanity"
Mr.. Low said he favored the admin
istratton's defense program, not be-
cause he thought 1t perfect, but be-
cause it was a long step in the right
direction.
PERSONALLY" he continued, II be-
lieve that a short service under the
colors on the Swiss system. modified,
perhaps, to meet our conditions, should
be required of every young man in the
United States, and that we should no
loneer depend upon an army which, as
in England. strengthens the view that
1t is the business of few to protect
all, rather than the business of all to
protect each other
"Any plan Of military preparedness
which makes the flag under which we
live the emblem Of our life, our all, and
not a rag with which to protect the
corpse from which the spirit has fed.
l welcome Miss Maude Wetnore of
Rhode Island said. in presenting the
report of the women's department.
preparedness against war concerns
the women" she said "They are the
ones who carry the heavy burdens OF