Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-01-30
MUST STRfNCTHFNTHF
COUNTRY'S DfFENSES
In Stirring Address Deliv-
cred at Cleveland Presi-
dent Wilson Says No Man
Can Tell What the Nor
row May Bring Forth.

Cleveland, Ohio. Jan. 2s.-In a STIR
ring address, before nearly 1000 persons.
packed in Gray's armory. tonight, Pres
ident Wilson urged the people of the
country to strengthen the military de-
fenses of the country in order that he
might maintain the honor of the coun-
try. The president boldly asserted
that the United States is not afraid of
any nation, but that in case of national
peril he feared for America because OF
the inadequacy and inefficiency OF the
military arms of the country. .....
Let me tell you, gentlemen the
president stated. emphatically. "You
can't afford to postpone adequate pre-
paredness
Il do not know what the next day
will bring. | do not mean to point to
any particular danger. but we are be-
ing swept along in things over which
we have no control. No man can say
what the next day or the next week
may bring.
you may count on me to keep you
out of war. but you must help me in
maintaining the honor of the nation"
Says He Is Union Man.
After the address to the Chamber
of Commerce members, the president
returned to his hotel, where nearly
5000 persons had congregated. He
spoke a few words OF appreciation,
but did not make a speech.
Il am a union man." said the presi-
dent, and l must not work over eight
hours a day"
He was roundly cheered.
AS Mrs. Wilson appeared on the plat
form at the armory under escort of a
delegation of prominent Cleveland
women, there was great volume of
applause. Immediately afterward the
president appeared and when the big
armory rang with cheers, he was
finally forced to stand and acknowl-
edge the greeting before it subsidized.
Mrs. Wilson wore a heavy black
coat with corsage of pink orchids.
Bascom Little. president OF the
Cleveland Chamber of Commerce. in
troduced the president.
Should Take Common Counsel.
THE times are such. gentlemen" the
president began, that we should take
common counsel together. The things
that no man has anticipated have hap
pened. Congress cannot know what to
do unless the nation knows what to do.
so I feel l should go out and inform
my countrymen what should be done.
What are the elements OF the case?
1.-TWO thirds of the world is involved.
Everywhere there seems to be creeping
on the nations disengaged, the spirit
and the threat of war
This Is a struggle which will deter
mine the history OF the world for
more than a century. In the mean
time we, the peopls of the United
States. are the one neutral power and
finding il little dildcult to be neu-
tral. We have interests which we see
drawn slowly into the maelstrom OF this
great conflict. 1t has been hard to
keep cool. But all the while Ameri-
cans could not help but feel that Amer
lea wished to remain at peace. And
all the while the nations engaged
seemed to be looking to us for SYM
pathy. 1t is as IL we were a great au
dience asked to look upon this great
drama.
But all the while our own life
touches this conflict The carrying
trade of the world is now for the most
part in the hands of nations embroiled
in this great struggle. All the sensi-
tive places Of our life touches this con-
flict
Nation Dedicated to Righteousness.
What Is 1t that we are called upon
to do? We are peculiar in this. how
ever. that from the first we have dedi
Gated ourselves to justice. righteous
ness and peace.
America has done more than care
for her own people in this matter. She
has said she was trustee of the ideals
to protect the western hemisphere.
She therefore, must not only keep this
conflagration from the United States,
but also from all countries on this
side of the seas"
The president then said ne regretted
(Continued on Page Two)