New Britain herald., 1916-02-02
GRAND ARMY LEADER URGES PREPARATION
F. Streeter Says European War
 Should Serve as Warning

! in all it's fury, Commander F. V. 1 clared, at a meeting of the Parents 1 and Teachers association of the l Rockwell school last evening, that 1 this should prove a lesson to the peo- l pie of the United States and should l illustrate to them the absolute neces- sity of being prepared for any and all l emergencies. Commander Streeter's l topic was: "Patr otism and Prepared l ness" and he spoke in part as fol- 1 lows:
 1 Tt was with pleasure that l ac- cepted an invitation to speak to you 1 this evening upon the Subject of Pa
 triotism and Preparedness because it | is one of the principles of the Grand
 Army of the Republic to encourage 1 true patriotism in the public schools.
 We are also requested to wear our l uniforms when addressing the schools.
 As commander of the local post and l department commander of the state,
 it has been my privilege to be present | at various gatherings of military, pa | triotic and many other organizations, l and to take part in the exercises. "As a parent and teacher in the 1 schools in times past, l can appreciate 1 your work and interest and am in | full sympathy with you. For a num- Der of years members of the Grand Army of the Republic have been de- tailed by the patriotic instructor of the order to speak upon the subject of patriotism and "reminiscences if de- sired. There appears to be an aWal<-
 ening of patriotism by the people as
 never before since the revolution, to
 save the Stars and Stripes from a
 possible attack by a nation ruled by
 king or emperor. We of the Grand
 Army of the Republic know by ex-
 periences the terrible horrors of
 war. We fought to preserve the
 union, the United States of America,
 which has become an example for liberty and peace for all the world.
 About two hundred and ninety years ago a band of one hundred or more Pilgrims landed on our shore. to
 build for themselves homes anew. The spirit which prompted them to
 brave the seas, to land on a forbid
 ing coast in winter, and to live here
 has made the history of this country
 what it is today. It prompted and fought the revolutionary war; it fought and won the civil war. It has
 furnished the United States the high
 est ideals of moral life and political
 citizenship Such is true patriotism.
 Ours is for country governed by the
 people, for the people. Our patriot
 ism is in defense of liberty, where one from the most humble station in life may rise to the highest in the gift of the nation
 "The birthday of such a man will be February 18th when We shall re- member to honor the lamented presi- dent-Abraham Lincoln. It was my privilege to be in the city of Wash ington at the time of the national en- campment of the G. A. R. last fall, to march in the parade of the Grand Army, witch was reviewed by the presidel ~ the United States, and the commander-in-c chief of the G. A.
 R."
 There followed a description of na-
 tional encampment at Washington and
 a convention of delegates to the Ma
 tional Defense league; also an account
 of a visit to Alexandria and places of
 interest in the city of Washington.
 National Defense League Busy. Continuing, Commander Streeter
 ''The National Defense league of Washington, D. C., is the pioneer National Defense organization of the United States. Because of the in tense interest awakened. and the series of addresses by the president ! of the United States-Woodrow Will l son,-and having been appointed l delegate to the convention held at l Washington, D. C., in October, last, it gives one pleasure to present to you. | a brief sketch of the history of the | Preparedness ropoganda" at this l time. Agitation for larger army navy, and national guard, was renew l ed in the State of Maryland. about seventeen years ago, by Winfield Jones | of Prince George Co. of that State, l now the secretary of the National
 Defense league at Washington, D. C. l MT. Jones served as color bearers l in volunteer regiment in the recent | war with Spain and in the Porto Ri | can campaign. He is a former cap l tain in the national guard, and saw l the unpreparedness of the armies dur l ing the war with Spain. After the
 war he wrote a series of articles for l the papers and spoke of the necessity l for the country preparing for the | possible next war. Senators and rep l resentatives, also men prominent in l the affairs of the nation, became in l terested when finally the National De 1 fense league was organized. Repre- 1 sentative Julius Kahn, of California, l was chosen chairman; Senator Brou-
 sard of Louisiania, vice chairman; and 1 Winfield Jones. secretary. Many sen | atorS, representatives and men of | prominence, throughout the country 1 are members of the order. Out of | the thousands of new members of 1 the organization are nearly 500 civil l ian rife clubs,-the leagues secured 1 last year, orders from practically all 1 the cabinet officers. that civil service 1 employees of the government shall 1 be encouraged to serve in the nation