Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-07-01
HIS CREED One OF PEACE
WILL WIN OR LOSE ON IT
Not Right To Carry Self De-
fenSe to Point Of Debating
Other Folks Affairs
By Robert j. Bender.

Omitted Press staff correspondent)
Washington, July President Will
son has taken his Mexican policy for a
campaign issue and put it up to his
political adversaries.
This is the opinion of political and
official Washington today, following
the presidents return from New York,
where he spoke last night.
Taking the issue which his republican
opponents had threatened to make the
principal object of attack, the presi
dent has adopted it as his own.
The question he raised last night in
his speech before the New York Press
club were believed directed primarily
at those contesting his reelection. The
questions were:
Would the glory of America be en-
hanced by war of conquest in Mex.
ico2
Would an act of violence by a pow.
erful nation like this against a weak
and distracted neighbor reflect distine.
tion upon the annals of the United
States2
Is it our duty to carry self defense
to the point Of dietation in the affairs
of another people7
VIII Stand Pat.
From this and other utterances along
the same line, the president is said by
his friends today to have indicated
clearly he will not countenance war be.
tween the United States and Mexico
save as an unavoidable resort in set.
tling border troubles.
For the second time in as many days,
he said he would stake his personal
fortunes upon the ideal he is following
in Mexico.
For the first time the president indi-
Gated what may be in his mind as to
the immediate purpose of concentrat-
ing such large armed forces on the
border.
"FOrce" he said, "can some times
hold things steady until opinion has
had time to form No force ever
exerted except in response to that opin.
ion was ever conquering and predomi.
mating force"
And thus the president last night,
throwing off his customary restraint,
eXpounded his creed. 1t is one of
| peace, supported, he said, by vast ma.
jority of the letters and messages sent
to him from men and women in all
parts OF the country urging and pray.
ing that he avoid hostilities in Mexico
The president intimated he would &C
to the extrtme lengths of diplomatic
recourse before he will resort to the
use of arms in forcing Mexico to CO.
operate with this country in protecting
! its own people.
Moose Compliments Wilson.
The president dwelt also on his cf
forts to serve the whole people, thou
sands Of whom, he said are appealing
to him to maintain peace as long as
| possible
81 have constantly to remind my
self" he said, "that 1 am not the serv
ant Of those who wish to~ enhance the
value Of their Mexican investments, but
that ! am the servant of the rank and
file of the people Of the United
/ Statesn
| Bainbridge Colby, who placed Theo
dore Roosevelt in nomination for the
presidency at the progressive conven
tion at Chicago, paid President Wilson
high tribute, but did not declare un
qualifiedly that he would support him
in the coming campaign, as it was re-
ported he would do.
| President Wilson arose from his seat
and shook hands with Mr.. Colby as he
finished speaking. Mayor John P
Mitchell, Ralph Pulitzer and Irwin s.
Cobb also spoke. The presidential
party, which included Mrs Wilson, oc
cupied seats in the balcony. President
Wilson did not begin to speak until al
most II o'clock.