The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-02-01
PREPAREDNESS
Honorable James Republican Leader Of tho
Delivered In Congress Tuesday
Afternoon, 25, 1915

be involved in trouble the money we
spend now will be worth MANIFOLD
that which we would spend after the
trouble began. (Applause.)
l know the gentlemen are sincere
in their belief that there will be no
trouble. l sympathize with those who
prefer to spend the money of the peo-
pie in the way of investment and aid
OF our own people at homo rather
than TOR tho support of idle armies or
n2vIes. But when trouble does come.
II 1t should come, there would be no
dissenting voice against spending all
our means, II necessary, to DEFEND our
country and our homes, and 1t were
wise for US now. 1t seems to me, to
begin our preparation.
do not intend to discuss the de-
tails, though I have reached the con-
clusion myself that 1t were we'll, as an
emergency measure. to increase our
regular army to 100000 or $1,000. or
even half million men applause on
the republican side); that we should
increase or provide our Notifications
so that our coasts may be fairly,
amply protected, and that we should
provide navy which will be able to
defend US on the sea. I have much
more fear in the end of war with Eng
land that have of war with Germany.
(Applause.) ...-
Events Come Rapidly.
Events are coming rapidly in the
world. We may sit ny and walt in
contentment, and yet 1t IL our duty, as
the managers of a great country and
powerful people. to provide for their
protection against possibilities as we'll
as against certainties. think, then,
that we ought to provide these great
forces; that it ought to be considered
as an emergency matter, entirely
pense of government, without regard
to partisanship or party lines. Cap
plause.) II England and France and
Germany and Italy can consider their
problems without party lines, coun-
try like ours ought to be able to sweep
aside mere partisan considerations
and try all to stand together. loyal
to the country, in the effort to aid the
administration of the government.
I think, further, that we ought to
provide in some way for the building
up and the strengthening Of our home
industries, so that If we shall become
involved in war we may be able to
live within ourselves. (Applause.)
And I think as far as possible that
question should be considered entirely
apart from the former partisan
opinion, in the hope that in some way
we may get together in the interest OF
our country, If we should become in
volved in a struggle with a foreign
power. .
I have spoken thus very briefly, not
with rhetoric or fancy phrase, be-
! cause it seems to me that il there ever
was a time in the history of our coun-
try when we ought to invite and re,
ceiye expressions of opinion from all
sides, this is one of the times, with
firm determination that out of it
we will bring results; combination
of the opinions Of all, without ex-
pressing the views OF any. which we
and all OF our people may stand for,
that we may uphold in the future our
national honor and our national fnteg-
rity, and, it seems to me, possibly our
modern civilization, which I fear may
break down on the other side OF the
water. Let us try to think what Is
for the best Of our country, what we
would do If we had, each one, the su-
preme authority and responsibility, II
It were placed upon each one to de-
termine whether he would take the
chance OF disaster in the future, or
prepare now to prevent that disaster.
PROLONGED applause)