The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1916-01-07
PUTTING IT UP TO THE PEOPLE.

Qulry 10 the peOpic u thC 'eh'Sb AN'
INFLATED by Senator w. L. Jones. Mr..
Jones Is either crawling into the
pacificist class with MIR. Bryan, who
believes that the country should tame
Iy submit to any insult or exaction
from any other nation, or he fears
criticism from his constituents If he
follows his own Judgment upon the
questions propounded. This is hardly
like the Wesley L. Jones OF former
days, II we have not been mistaken in
the man. This is not time for wishy
washy sentimentalis'n. If this country
Is not prepared for defense against an
enemy, then prompt measures should
be taken to provide that defense. All
normal men believe IN pace and alb
hor war They feel that taking up arms
is the very last resort. Certain insults
may be passed over in silence even to
avoid war, but he is a poltrOon indeed
who believes in peace at any price.
The trials and ha~dships of the civil
people of the north Ecen even in "A
slight degree prepared for war. II the
young men had had some experience
as trained soldiers, could the north
have put even a comparatively small
army of experienced soldiers in the
field at the first sign of hostilities, the
contest would have been of shorter
duration and the suffering that much
less.
Had France and Russia and England
been as well prepared for war as Ger
many and Austria does any one believe
that the present bloody war with all
its horrors would have dragged on as
long as it has? So long as nations will
continue to depend upon the arbit-
rament OF battle to redress real or fan
cied wrongs, so long will it be neces-
sary to be prepared for an emergency
and the nations that have made no
preparations for such an event will be
at the mercy Of those who are always
ready. God grant the day may come
when war is impossible, but in the
meantime the wise course is to invest
in the best killing machines invented,
and so strengthen coast defenses that
an invader can not get foothold in
the country.
Mr. Jones, nor no other man, should
be blinded by the fallacy that all
European nations will be In no finan-
cial or physical condition for more war
for years to come. Should Germany
win, the other nations would be forced
to pay such an indemnity as to recoup
that country for all its losses, and 1t
would possess hardened army of vet
Grams almost invincible. 1t is no
stretch of the imagination to believe
that in such an event the United States
would be called upon to put up de-
tense against an invasion in very few
years. Then, If this country were no
better prepared than at the present
time the invaders would soon be die
tating terms of peace from the whit"
house at Washington.
That there should be some steps TAX
en- toward preparedness no reasonable
man can deny. The nature and extent
of those preparations may be matter
of opinion. Since the submarine can
sink the largest vessel almost at will,
and that arm of present and future
warfare is bound to be greatly i'm
proved, 1t would seem like throwing
money away building great floating en-
gines of war. What is more particular
ly needed is improved coast and har-
Dor defenses. Mr. Jones is familiar
with conditions in Western Washing
ton. He surely must feel some alarm
over the inadequate defenses on Puget
sound and the Washington coast line.
Besides the coast defenses enough
thoroughly trained men should be pro-
vided to garrison these defenses in
case Of need, and take charge and
whip speedily into shape volunteer
army II the occasion should arise for
a call. Some provision it seems to us,
must be made for greater national
safety and the people should be ready
and willing to make sacrifices to OBJ
tain that end Reasonable preparedness
may save the country from a bloody
and disastrous war, unless the major |
ity favors crawfishing under all cir
without any provision
for protection this country Is at the
mercy of. any third rate nation that
might fancy taking a fall out of us.
Mr. Jones is rather unfair in one
feature OF his interrOgations. He files
his questions and then expresses his
own views thereon. as IL inviting en-
dorsement. Some of these views as ex-
pressed, II not evasive, are far from
positive. He evidently is leaving him
self margin for trimming to meet the
expressed opinion of his constituents.
For one. we cannot endorse entirely
Mr.. Jones' answers to his own quiries.
He tries to brush ASIDE the prepared
less issue by injecting that of good J
'oads. Good roads is praiseworthy
hobby on Mr.. Jones' part. but in case
var chouId hraaL o,,t With n foroie,, |