The Weston leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 189?-1946, 1916-02-04
ASKS QUICK ACTION
ON DEFENS[ PLANS
President Wilson Urges People
to Preparedness.
ulAAeD CONDITIONS Mf MHAuNG
Cleveland Speech Unusually Grave
and Warning Of Nations In
pending Danger Is Given.

Cleveland, o. New circumstances
have arisen, President Wilson declared
Saturday, which make II absolutely
necessary that this country should pre-
pare for adequate national defense
I'VE are In the midst Of Q world
that we did not make and cannot al
ter" the President said. "Its whole
atmospheric and physical conditions
are the conditions Of cur own life. al
90; and therefore a. your responsible
servant ! must tell you that the dan
gers are infinite and constant.
II should feel that I were guilty Of
an unpardonable omission II did not
70 out and tell my fellow countrymen
that nsw circumstances have arisen
which make II absolutely necessary
that this country prepare herself for
war, not for anything that smaeks In
the least Of aggression but for ade-
quate national defense"
Whenever the ordinary rules Of
commerce at sea and Of international
relationship arc apt 70 be thrust aside
or ignored. he continued, there 10
danger Of the more critical kind Of
controversy.
America 10 not afraid Of anybody.
know l reflect your feeling when !
say that the only thing am afraid Of
Il not being ready 10 perform my
duty. I am afraid Of tho danger Of
shame. an afraid Of the danger Of
inadsquacy; am afraid Of tho danger
Of not being able 20 express the cor
rect character Of this country with
tremendous might and effectiveness
whenever we are called upon 70 act In
the tleld Of the worlds affairs.
He was applauded frequently and
when be spoke Of defending the na-
tion's honor the cheering was tremsn-
dous.
II do not wish 70 leave you with the
impression that I am thinking Of some
particlar danger. merely wish 20
tell yon that we are daily treading
amidst intricate dangers. Ths dam
Fers that we are treading amoung ara
not Of our own making and not under
our control. think no man In the
United States knows what single
week. q single day. single hour may
bring forth"
The President spcke Of the navy and
the coast defenses, saying:
"Tako for example the matter OF
our coast defonses. Il IL obvious 10
every man that they are Of tho most
vital Importance 70 the country. Such
coast dafenses as we have are strong
and admirable, but we have not got
coast defenses In enough places. Their
quality Ia admirable but their qunatity
II insufficient.
sAnd the navy Of the United Statesl
You have been told that it 70 the sec
ond In strength In tho world. ! am
sorry to cay that experts do not agree
with those who tell you that. Reck-
oning by lts actual strength l believe
Il 10 be- one of the most efficient navies
In the world: but It's strength ranks
fourth, not second. You must reckon
with the fact that Il Ia necessary that
that should bo our first arm Of defense,
and you ought 10 insist that everything
should be done that II IL possible for
us TO do 10 bring tho navy up 70 an
adequate standard Of strength and efii-
cheney.
.sWhere We are lacking more par
haps Ii on land and In the number OF
men who are ready 70 fight. The
characteristic desire Of America e not
that she should have great body OF
men whose chief business is 70 tight,
but q great body Of men who know
how TO fiRht and are ready to fght
when anything that 10 dear to the ma
tion is threatened. You might have
what We have. millions Of men who
have never handled arms Of war. who
are mere material for shot and powder
II you put them in the tield, and Amer
lea would be ashamed Of the ineth-
cheney Of calling such men TO defend
the Nation.