Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-02

3 of the Union which stand together
| great question are susceptible Of being
led by influences of that sort? Do
you suppose that they are so blind to
sort of profit that they do not know
the influences that are abroad? 1 have
not found the impulse for national de-
| Tense coming from those sources. /
found 1t coming from the men with
whom I rubbed Shoulders on the street
and in the factory; l found it comm 6
from the men who have nothing to do
with the making of profits. but who
of the daily life of this country. And
1t is from them that 1 take my in
spration. But I know the points Of
danger, and from the first. ladies and
Congress urged upon Congress be-
fore this war began-that the govern
ment of the United States supply itself
with the necessary plants to make the
armor for the ships and to make the
munitions for the guns and the men.
l believe and confidently predict that
the adoption of measures OF that sort
will be part of the preparation for ma
| t1onal defense: not in order. for 1t is
not necessary that the government
should make all the armor plate needed
for the fleet or all the munitions need
| ed Tor the men and the guns. but In
order that it should be enough to reg
! ulate and control the price.
I'VE are not theorists in this matter.
We have tried it in one field. The gov
eminent is now manufacturing a very
| considerable proportion of the powder
needed for the navy. The consequence
50 cents to SO cents. And the point is
that 1T can now get its powder from
the private manufacturers of powder at
80 cents. because they know that it can
be manufactured for that with rea-
sonable profit. and that If the govern
ment cannot buy 1t from them it will
make 1t for Itself.
Making Money Out Of War.
"of course. somebody is going to
make money out Of the things manu-
featured privately-manufactu by
private capital. Why, there are men
now in the great belligerent countries
| making, I dare say, vast sums of
perfectly legitimately; and l, for one,
do not stand here to challenge or doubt
their patriotism in the matter. America
Is not going to be held back from any
financial interest Of any sort-because
America, of all places in the world. 10
alive to things Of that sort and knows
how to avoid the difficulties which are
| involved.
IF there is any thought on the part
of those who make armor plate and
munitions that they will get extraordi-
nary profits out Of preparation for ma
tional defense. all 1 have to say is that
they will be sadly disappointed. But
these are things which to my mind go
| without saying. for. ladies and gentle
men. IL it is necessary to defend this
nation we are going to defend It no
| matter who makes money. ana no
81 have heard some gentlemen say:
My constituents do not object to the
program, but they do object to the bilis
that will have to be paid afterward.
count of any constituency In the united
States. / would be very sorry to De-
llieve-and / do not believe-that any
constituency in the United States would
sort OF course, 1t Is going to cost
money to prepare for defense, but
equally, of course. the American peo-
| pie are going to pay for 1t, and pay
for 1t without any grumbling what
ever, because we are not selfshly rich.
We are a very rich people, but we can
not be rich as people unless we main
tain our character and integrity as a
us as a nation If the very issues of life
for the nation itself are put in jeopardy
| by the action which we neglect to take.
Immediate Preparation Necessary.
| And so I have come out on this err
rand merely to get into touch with
you, my fellow-citizens. merely to let
you know. in temperate words from my
own lips, that the men who are saying
| that preparation for national defense
lis necessary-and Immediately neces-
sary-are speaking the sober truth.
And 1 believe that you will credit the
statement that no man is in better po-
sition to know that than am
"One aspect of this matter makes me
very glad. indeed. Party politics, my
| friends, sometimes plays too large a
part in the United States. Parties are
| worth while only when their differences
are based upon absolute convictions.
They are not worth while when they
| are based upon differences of personal
ambition. Parties are dignifed and
worthy of the consideration Of a nation
only when their arguments are for the
national benefit. each arguing accord
| Ing to their genuine opinion. their real
| observation of facts. their real ardor
delightful sometimes. as upon this oc
CASTOR. to find an issue regarding which
no line can be drawn between one party
and another. SO that ! have not the
looSAicHt III DcIOTc you
tonight Of making the impression that
am urging the advantage Of party
or the advantage of an individual.
There are just as many men interested
in national defense on the one side az
on the other They are all actuated by
the same motives; they may differ as
to details. but they do not differ as to
their objects; and l thank God that
there is no party politics when it comes
to the life and welfare of the United
States.
Elimination Of Politics.
DO you suppose II the country were
in danger any man would hesitate to
volunteer on the ground that he be-
longed to this party or to tho otheri
Do you suppose that II republican
administration were in power at Wash
ington any democrat would hesitate te
enlist. or that a democratic admins
tration being there any republican
would hesitate to enlist? Why. thu
whole history of the country gives ar
emphatic negative to that question