The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1916-02-03
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after the trouble began. (ApplaCse.) .
| know the gentlemen are sincere /
in their belief that there will be no /,
trouble. | sympathize with those who !
prefer to spend the money of the peo- /
pie in the way of investment and aid
of our own people at home rather
than for the support of idle armies
or navies. But when trouble does
come, ii it should come, there would
be no dissenting voice against spend
ing all our means, if necessary, to
defend our country and our homes,
and it were wise for us now, it seems
to me, to begin our preparation,
do not intend to discuss the de-
tails, though l have reached the con-
clusion myself that it were we'll. as
an emergency measure, to increase
our regular Army to 250,000 OF
5000, or even half million men
applause on the Republican side)
that we should increase or provide
our Notifications so that our coasts
may be fairly, amply protected, and
that we should provide Navy which
will be able to defend us on the sea-
have much more fear in the end of
war with England than l 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 our duty,
as the managers of a great country
and powerful people, to provide for
their protection against possibilities
as we'll as against certainties. I
think, then, that we oght to provide
these great forces that it ought to
be considered as an emergency mat
ter, entirely apart from the ordinary
routine or expense Of Government,
without regard to partisanship or
party lines (Applause.) If England
and France and Germany and Italy
can consider their problems without
party lines, a country like ours ought
to be able to sweep aside mere par
tisan considerations and try all to
stand together loyal to the country,
in the effort to aid the Administra-
tion of the Government.
l think, further, that we ought to
provide in some way for the building
and the strengthening of our home
industries, so that if we shall become
involved in war we may be able to
live within ourselves. applause
And | think as far as possible that
question should be considered entire
ly apart from former partisan opin-
ion in the hope that in some way we
may get together in the interest of
our country, if we should become in
volved in a struggle with foreign
power
have spoken thus very briefly,
not with rhetoric or fancys'phrase,
because it seems to me that If there
ever was time in he history of our
country when we ought to invite and
receive expressions Of opinion from
all sides, this is one of the times,
with a firm determination that out
of it we will bring results; COM
bination of the opinions of all, with
out expressing 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 our
national integrity, and, it seems to
me, possibly our modern civilization,
which | fear may break down on the
other side of the water. Let us try
to think that is for the best of our
country, what We would do If we
had, each one, the supreme authority
and responsibility, if it were placed
upon each one to determine whether
he would take the chance of disaster
in the future, or prepare now to pre-
vent that disaster. prolonged ap-
plause.)