The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-02-25
broiled in war with some igreat power
and should be ready for it.

broiled in war with some igreat power
and should be ready for it.
Olive Kelley of Mankato, who was
given second place, declared that a
nation that was not ready to resist
the aggression of other nations could
not keep the wealth it had created
She said the great sea coast of the
United States was pitifully unde-
Tended. A great navy was necessary
for this work. She gave figures, COM
pairing the American navy with those
of other nations, and declared that a
much larger navy was necessary. She
spoke of the theory of maintaining
peace at all times by a friendly atti-
tude as Utopian dream. The ugly
facts had to be faced. There was no
danger of this people being dominated
by fits own military class. Americans
would never submit to that.
Philip Carlson of saltwater said
this nation should be made ready for
anything that might happen. There
were certain American principles
that America must support. Arguing
that preparedness did not make for
war, he spoke of the great prepared
ness of Prussia and Germany, and
the many years that Germany was al
absolute peace. He pointed out China
as nation that was always UMPIRE
pared and always in trouble on ac-
count of the aggressions of other ma
tions. He said Americas navy was
only fourth in strength among other
nations.
Against Preparedness.
Miss Essye Price of Lake Crystal
declared that preparedness caused
nations to lose faith in God. Pre-
paredness promoted the war spirit
and had a tendency to draw nations
into war. She also spoke of the great
expense of keeping up vast arma-
ment. If this money should be spent
in Outstanding other nations, much
could be done to obviate the necessity
of war. America already had navy
superior to that of any other country
except Great Britain. She spoke of
Germany as nation that had turned
it's energies to militarism, created war
and was receiving justice for the
crime she had committed.
Glen Schroeder of Faribault started
out with the declaration that war was
hell. War had always stood in the
way of progress and civilization War
was not necessary and it was not
necessary to prepare for war. This
country was on terms of friendship
with Great Britain and with Ger
many Japan was sending her boys
to be educated in America. An ag-
gressive attitude on the part of
America might in itself lead to war.
Militarism and naValism caused the
present war in Europe. War was the
result of hate. What nation hated
America?
steel Trust GrilIed.
Charles Bailor of WaSeca started
out by asking who started the pre-
paredness agitation. He declared that
it was the United States Steel COR
poration. together with other in
terests that wanted to create a mark
ket for munitions of war. If America
was in.such need of munitions of war
why didn't the government stop the
export of them. There was no prob
ability Of war between the United
States and Japan. Even if Japan
should want the Philippine islands,
the American program was to free
them after five years, and then Japan
could come and take them without
fighting the United States.
At the close of the debate, the
Girls Civic club gave. a reception to
the people in the corridor adjoining
the principals office This place was
decorated with flags and pennants
A talking and singing machine was
two bowls.