Evening star., 1916-01-15
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt
Believes National Disgrace
will Follow Neglect.
INCREASE OF THE ARMY
is URGED AS NECESSITY
Tells Council of Women Country Is
Far From Being Prepared
for Emergencies.

I'VE should he willing to prepare our
country for defense without delay. or
suffer the possible disgrace of losing
the independence, liberty and integrity
for which our forefathers fought and
died." declared Franklin d. Roosevelt,
assistant secretary Of the navy, to the
delegates to the National Council OF
Women at the session of that organiza-
ton yesterday afternoon in the Ra-
leigh Hotel.
If this nation Is academic in spirit
willing to enforce its rights by moral
persuasion only-then preparedness is
not necessary" Mr.. Roosevelt continued:
but every great event in our history
points to the fact that Americans have
always been ready and willing to pro-
tect Americans wherever they are. by
force of arms If necessary. IL We are
to maintain this record our army must
be increased and materially strength
ened. because at the present time We
are far from being prepared.
Army Not Adequate.
The whole army of the United States.
IL concentrated at any given point on
the battle front of Europe. would. at
the most. be able to engage in a skir-
mish only. The guns of 1851 will not
do in this year of 1916. as has been
beautifully exemplified by the Euro
pean war.
I'VE need to prepare now. Not a cent
should be cut from the army and navy
appropriations sent to Congress. The
men who made up those estimates are
experts. They should be trusted.
Other speakers were Mrs. Story, Mrs.
John Hays Hammond. Mrs. Kate Waller
Barrett, president of the council; Mrs.
Cordelia Powell Odenheimer. national
president of the Daughters OF the Con-
federacy; Mrs. Carrie Alexander Bah
renburg, president of the Woman's Re-
lief Corps, and A. II. Dadmun, secre-
tary of the Navy League of the United
States. Mr.. Dadmun advocated a gen.
eral staff for the navy, budget sys-
tenn, 10000 more seamen, including Off
GERS, and literal fulfillment of the
building program Of the general board
of the navy"
Demand for Sufficient Defense.
At the end of the session a resolu-
tion was passed by the council call
ing for sufficient national defense. This
resolution, which was introduced By
Mrs. Frank Foster Greenawalt, state
regent of the District of Columbia u.
A. R., met with unanimous favor.
Among the resolutions passed was
one } urging educational campaign
work for rigid censorship of moving
pictures and another "condemning the
publication, distribution and CONNER
cialization of literature which treats
of the subject Of sex in an unscienu6c
or sensational manner"
1t was announced that the council
of women had been able to bring about
a conference between the motion pic
ture board of trade. representing the
exhibitors and manufacturers of Amer
lea, and the national council, at which
a compromise was offered by the coun-
Gil, suggesting that bill be framed
for the legal regulation of omtion pic
ture theaters by juvenile court Judges.
for the legal regulation of motion pic
ture exhibitors and their attorneys.
Convention Adjourns.
The convention was brought to a
close last night with a reception given
in honor of the delegates by the Wom-
ans Benefit Association of the Macca-
bess at the Hotel Raleigh. Lord Aber-
deem presided and addresses were
given by Lord and Lady Aberdeen, Mrs.
La Rue, Mrs. Barrett. Senator Porter
j. McCumber of North Dakota and Rep
resentative Fess of Ohio.
The newly elected officers were in
stalled, concluding the biennial meeting
of the council, which has been in ses-
sion here since Wednesday.