Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-03-01
EDGAR PIPER MAKES
TELLING ADDRESS
Made Profound Impression In
Showing COuntry'S
UnpreparedneSs

Edgar B. Piper, managing editor Of
the Oregonian, is empnatically in favor
of preparedness. In an address last
evening before the largest attendance
of the winter of the members of the Six
o Clock club of the First Methodist
church he gave reasons for his prepared
ness opinions by citing general world
conditions of today and then referring
to our military history.
AS to the military achievements Of
our country, he referred to them as dis
astrous and disgraceful in the sense
that legislators had failed to under
stand what should have been done to
prepare the country for wars that could
have been forseen, or had been brought
on by the legislators themselves.
Following the history of the Japan
Csc nation and its rise to world prom
inence within the past so years, ne not
ed the fact that the japanese were now
asserting their rights to take a place
among the nations, and that their in
terests and ambitions are sure to ulti-
mately cross the United States. Refer
ence was made to the japanese trouble
in California few years ago, in which
crisis with Japan was averted only
by the federal government asserting its
power and compelling California to
make peace with Japan.
Great Britain Grabbing.
Reference was also made to tine fact
that Great Britain was surely taking
all the strategical positions in the world
in order that it may eventually control
the commerce of the world, and to the
fact that finally this country will run
counter to the ambitions of England.
Gas far as our relations with Ger
many are concerned, l00,000,000 million
people have been walking over pow
der magazine" Mr.. Piper declared
|" Right now our relations with Germany
depends on whether we back down, OF
whether Germany backs down. Should
Germany back down and be crippled in
this war by the stand taken by the
United States, day of reckoning was
coming and the same will happen should
Germany win.
"Hurt, restricted, damaged and in
censed by the stand we have taker
against submarine warfare and oul
manufacture of munitions, does any one
imagine that Germany will not fee
angered against this natiOn2 Personal
Ily, think that if Germany is victOriou!
we will be held to strict accountability
at the close of the war and that possibly
we may asked to pay damages
Have Angered Germany.
Scnool histories tell of the wonderful
valor of American troops and of Amer
lean militia, but Mr. Piper BRANDED
school histories as false and to a grea
extent, responsible for the unprepared
ness Of the country, from the fact tina
every man was taught that our inexperi
enced militia had won wonderful victor
, les. In reviewing history, Mr.. Pipe
told the other side of the actions of in
experienced troops, in which they no
only ran away but even refused t
fight. "Ameriea is always ready bu
5 never prepared to fight, " he said
= A militia differed by competent me-
/. not political appointees was favored b.
2 Mr.. Piper, provided the militia was un
q der federal control and acting in uni
? son for the country and not a particula
{ state. He believed that such a federal
, lied militia would be equal TO any task
In the formation of the new army pro
| posed, and new militia, he was in ia
! vor of having it under federal control
In a few preliminary remarks, MI
Piper said that he had been in Saler
30 years ago, as student ut William
/ cite university. The $50 men presen
gave the closest attention to the speak
err, urging him to continue after the eS
piration of the time limit. His remarl,
, were frequently applauded when url
ing preparedness. The address made
. deep impression.