The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-01-27
,MANN TELLS WHY
IT IS REALLY WISE
TO BEGIN DEFENSE

finally victors, as we would be-. (An-
plause.) If we are involved In no
trouble we will be getting off cheap
ly with the expenditures for prepara-
ton. II we should be involved IN
trouble the money we spend now Will
be worth MANIFOLD that which we
would spend after the trouble be-
gan. (Applause.)
know the gentlemen are sincere
in their belief that there will be no
trouble. l sympathize with those
who prefer to spend the money OF the
people in the way Of investment and
aid Of our own people at home
rather than for the support OF die
armies and navies. But when trouble
does come, II 1t should come, there
would be no dissenting voice against
spending all II means, II necessary,
to defend II country and our homes,
and 1t were wise for us nown It
seems to me, to begin our prepare
ton.
I do not intend to discuss the de-
tails, though I have reached the con
clusion myself that 1t were well, as
an emergency measure, to increase
our regular army to 100000 or 30O,-
900, or even half a million men
(Applause) /; that we should increase
or provide for Notifications 80 that
our coasts may be fairly. amply pro-
tected, and that we should provide a
navy which will be able to defend
us on the sea. I have much more
fear in the end Of war with England
than I have OF war with Germany.
(Applause.)
Events are coming rapidly In the
world. We may sit by and wait In
contentment, and yet 1t Is u duty.
as the managers OF a great country
and powerful people, to provide for
their protection against possibilities
as well as against certainties. 1
think. then, that we ought to provide
these great forces: that II ought TO
be considered as an emergency mat
ter, entirely apart from the ordinary
routine or expense Of government,
without regard to p%artisanship or
party lines. (Applause.) II Eng
land and France and Germany and
Italy can consider their problems
without party lines, a country like
ours ought to be able to sweep away
mere partisan considerations and
try all to stand together, loyal to the
country, In the effort to aid the adj
ministration Of the government.
I think, further. that we ought to
provide In some way for the building
up and strengthening Of IL home
industries, SO that II we shall become
involved in war we may be able to
live within ourselves. (Applause.)
And I think as far as possible that
question should be considered en-
ttrely apart from former partisan
opinion. in the hope that in some
way we may get together in the IN
terest OF our country, II we should
become involved In a struggle with a
foreign power.
l have spoken thus very briefly,
not with, rhetoric or fancy phrases,
because 1t seems to me that IL there
ever was a time in the history Of our
country when we ought to invite aid
receive expressions Of opinion from
all sides, this is one Of the times, with
a firm determination that out Of 1t
we will bring results; a combination
Of the opinions of all, without ex-
pressing the views Of any, which we
and all OF our people may stand for,
that we may uphold in the future our
national honor and MIR national IN
tegrity, and, it SCENE to me possibly
our modern civilization, which l fear
may break down on the other side Of
the water. Let us try to think what
is for the best Of our country, what
we would do II we had, each one, the
supreme authority and responsibility,
II 1t were placed upon each n to de-
termine whether he would take the
chance of disaster in the future, or
prepare now to prevent that disaster.
prolonged applause.)