Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-05-31
7. R. MAKES PLEA
FOR OLD SPIRIT
OF AMERICANISM
Roosevelt Tells People of Kansas
City This Is One of Great Years
of Decision in Nation y
Life ~Sa :
HOT WORDS FoBa'@ .vylf1cIsTs
Open Pocketknife Thrown at Car
Colonel Is Riding in, Hitting
Machine.
POLICE REDoUBLE ACTIVITY

Kansas City, Mo, May 3O.-An
open pocket knife was thrown at
Colonel Roosevelt here today as his
motor car turned into Twenty third
street during the Memorial day pa
radc The knife struck the rear Of the
automobile and was found lying in
the street
The incident served to increase the
police vigilance in guarding Colonel
Roosevelt. According to a member
OF the American legion, which was es-
corting the colonel, some one in the
crowd threw the knife just after the
car left the Union station A mem
Der Of the legicn picked it up and
handed it to a policeman.
Colonel Roosevelt was not told Of
the occurrence and the police had no
report on 1t. NO arrests are ex-
pected.
T. {. Shell, a member OF the Amer
car legion, WIS walking by the side
Of the eolonels car. He heard some
thing strike the machine. He glanced
downward and saw an open pocket
knife at his feet He handed il 10 a
policeman. The officer looked into
the crowd, but il was so dense that
he made no effort 10 make an ar
rest.
According TO Shell, the knife had
wooden handle and one blade
Colonel Roosevelt arrived early to-
day 10 act as the city's Memorial day
orator Before noon he had delivered
two addresses, in both urging pre-
paredness Tonight he addressed a
great crowd at Concention hall He
said in part;
My message is a message 10 all
Americans. My appeal is TO the spirit
Of thoroughgoing Americanism in all
our people in whatever portion Of the
land they dwell. come here TO
speak on behalf OF the spirit which,
in the early sixties, burned in the
hearts OF the men who wore the blue
and Of the men who wore the gray.
In what | have 10 say ! shall appeal
with equal emphasis to the soul quail
tiles Of men who followed Lee; of all
who, in the great crisis, proved their
truth by their endeayor and showed
themselves willing TO sacrifice every
thing for the right, as God gave them
to see the right. But ! make no ap-
peal to the spirit Of the peace-at-any-
price men Of 81 to '65. | ask that
we in this generation prove ourselves
the spiritual heirs both OF the men
who wore the blue and of the men
who wore the gray But ! make no
appeal TO the memory Of the copper
head pacifists who put peace above
duty, who put love OF case and love
OF moneys getting before devotion 10
country, and whose convictions we're
too weak to stir TO action their tepid
souls.
Year OF Decision.
This Is one OF the great years OF
decision in our national history he
way in which we now decide will
largely determine whether we arc to
90 forward in righteousness and
power or backward in degradation
and weakness. We are face to face
with elemental facts OF right and
wrong, OF force or feebleness Ac-
cording TO the spirit in which we
face these facts and govern our ae-
tions. we shall determine whether in
the future we shall enjoy growing
national life or suffer a lingering ma
tional decay.
/ wish 10 say, with all the empha-
sis in my power, that if peace in Eu-
rope should come tomorrow Il
ought not, III the smallest degree TO
effect our policy Of preparedness As
a matter OF fact We probably cannot
now prepare IN amy way that will
have material effect upon Tic pres
cnt war Our folly has been such
that il is now too late for Us 10 do
this. AM we can now do Is 20 pre-
pare sn that thc war shall leave mo
aftermath III horror and disaster ior
our nation L we tall SO o. prepare
then assuredlg some day We or our
children viii have bitter cause torue
our folly. and 10 remember too, laIt
ihe words oi old Sir Thomas hrowH
For since we cannot be wise hy
teachings - there Is All unhappy
necessity that we Must smart in OUT
own skins
international Duty
Performance oi international duts
to others means that W International
affairs. u tht commonwealth ui na
tiuus. wc shall not only RETAIN trum
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