The Washington herald., 1916-01-18
DEFENSE URGED
BY CIVIC union
National Federation in Con-
vention Listens to Pleas for
National Preparedness. /
PENSION SYSTEM URGED
Retirement Plan 10. Civil Service En-.
ployes Advocated in Resolution.
Labor Conditions Reviewed.

Stirring pleas for an adequate national
defense. betterment OF conditions among
the iaboring class and a pension system
Tor employees of the United States gov
eminent were contained in addresses at
the opening session of the National Civic
Federation yesterday at the New VIII
lard. Seth Low. former mayor of New
YORK, president Of the federation, pre-
sided
Following the morning session the dele
gates were rendered a luncheon by the
woman's department of the federation
which is meeting simultaneously with the
| national body.
In an address at the luncheon, Repre-
sentative Augustus Gardner, of Massa-
Ichusetts' advocating preparedness, de-
clared:
THE dove of peace is no bird when the
hawks are abroad. There is only one
bird that can master the hawk and that
Dlrd Is the America eagle backed by pre-
paredness"
Representative Nicholas Longworth.
speaking at the luncheon. declared the
United States is approaching a point
where compulsory service OF some kind
VIII be necessary. Preparedness he said,
means not only protection of the shore
line OF the United States. but protection
Tor every American citizen wherever he
| may be.
Hits Defense Opponents.
bitter attack against opponents Of
preparedness was launched by Assistant
Secretary of War Breckenridge in advo-
eating the continental army plan OF Sec
retary Garrison.
The opening session Of the ninth annual
meeting OF the woman's department Of
the federation. held at the New Willard
yesterday was devoted entirely to re-
ports OF officers.
Oficers of this department are: Miss
Maud Wetmore. national chairman; Mrs
Rogers Bacon, New York, secretary, and
Miss Anne Morgan. New York, treasurer.
The resolution urging upon Congress,
the enactment Of an equitable retirement
system for Federal employees was intro
dpced by John J. Deving, president Of
Plate Printers Local No. 2, and was
unanimously adopted.
The strength OF our right arm alone
will prevent the antagonisms and hates
of Europe from finding Judgement on this
continent after the war;" declared Seth
Low I'm his opening address. Advocating
preparedness he urged the adoption of a
slight compulsory service, such as a
modified Swiss system.
ANY plan OF military preparedness
which makes the flag under which we
live the emblem of our life, our all, and
corpse from which the spirit has fed, well
come, asserted Miss Maud wetmore,
national chairman.
1 Welfare Work Explatsed.
The history and extent of welfare in
the-UBited States wasroutiined In the re-
| port Of William G. Mather. Of the well
fore survey committee. He said that
more than 100 employees are actively
| engaged in voluntarily improving the
working and living conditions Of men and
women laborers.
August Belmont Of the workmen's COM
pensation department told of the efforts
that are being made to secure the enact
ment of legislation for worlmen's COM
| pensation.
DR.. Woods Hutchinson, public health
committee. declared that the length OF
| life I'm America has increased from about
| . years to 81 years plus. during the past
thirty years. The average death rate. he
said, has decreased from q per 1000 to
IA per 1000.
The provision by municipalities of CEN
trail abattoirs, at an efficient system shall
| be maintained for the inspection of the
product of slaughter houses, and the
prohibiting of the sale of meats which
has not passed Federal. State or munich
pal inspection, were urged by DR.. E. E,
| Smith.
| A. J. Porter presented the report OF the
| minimum wage commission. He also
presented special report of the wage
| situation from a worldwide standpoint
prepared by Miss Marie L Obenauer.
Labor Conditions Described.
| Hayes Robbins yesterday afternoon
| graphically described the improved labor
| conditions of today as compared with
those of a generation ago.
4 The session of the federation this morn
ing will be devoted entirely to the dis
lcussion of the question What Is Ade-
quate Preparedness for National De-
Tense" among the speakers will be:
Senators James w. Wadsworth and NJ F.
Phelan. Samuel Gompers, John Hays
Hammond. Emmett O'Neal, Arthur H.
| Dadmun and Talcott Williams.
| Immigration will be the subject OF dis
cussion at the afternoon session.
/ Representative Roberts, of Massachu-
sets: Representative KeIl, OF Michigan,
and Mrs. Lyndon Bates will be the prin-
cipal speakers at a meeting this after