New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-19
CIVIC LEAGUE
URGES DEFENCE
Committee of Federation
Will Investigate Plans
for Preparedness.
PHELAN EMPHASIZES
JAPANESE MENACE
Wadsworth Says Intervention in
Mexico Would Require
Five Months Notice.

u,
applause greeted advocates of national
preparedness at to-day's session OF the
National Civic Federation. At the
close OF the discussion resolution was
adopted unanimously favoring adequate
nreparstion for defence and authoriz-
ing an investigation OF methods by a
special committee.
Senator Phelau. OF California, char
acterized the Japanese on the western
coast as IAN enemy within our gates,
against whose expansion we must pre-
mare" asserted that japanese exclusion
was a question ,.ich would press Tor
solution by force Of arms almost be
fore America could mako up her nina
to prepare.
Senator Wadsworth, Of New YORK
sketching what he called national mill
tary absurdities, declared that, al
though the people Of this country had
been face 70 face with Intervention In
Mexico for several years, they MAD
been so backward in preparing that, II
Congress were 10 order Intervention TO-
dav. il would take three, four or I'VE
months" to get sufficient soldiers Tor
the task.
Urge Great Navy.
Representatives Kelley, OF Michigan,
and Roberts. OF Massachusetts, mem
bers of the House Naval Committee,
argued that a great navy and com
N n
try's needs. Mr. Kelley said that the
twenty miles of sea separating Eng
land from Europe had kept for
thousand years even single hostile
foot from Great Britain's shores" and
that 1--WE have three thousand miles OF
the same sort Of water 70 protect Us.
Democracy in whatever preparedness
policy is adopted was urged IS prime
necessity by Samuel GomperS, president
of the American Federation of Labor,
who declared that labor would support
a policy based on equal opportunity
for leadership, equal educational ad-
vantages and prohibition Of the use
OF the militia for strike duty.
Dr.. Tslcott Williams, director OF the
Columbia School of journalism. argued
for defence on the ground that 1t was
insurance against the gigantic indem-
nifty billions, was his estimate
which the United States would be
forced to pay if i, WAS defeated in war.
Phelan Cites Okuma.
Ia his appeal for greater navy and
more fOrtlfications on the Pacific Coast
Senator Phelan quoted Count Okuma,
the Japanese Premier. as saying that
the colored races would show that they
we're the equal OF the whites. Japanese
industrial competition IN California, he
declared. would lower the standard Of
living. A condition" he added. which
do not think the people living in Cali
fornia would consent 70. nor tolerate.
md that would bring about friction in
cyitably which would lead TO war
The GROWING reason for an ade-
quate army and navy for the United
States Is not war. but peace said Dr..
Williams. ats boundaries need de
fence, but no more than its duties need
discharge.
"Undefended land, invite predatory
assault. as wooden buildings invite fire
and spread it, The credit system OF
the world has not only made this as
sault profitable, but continuing bur
den. France paid Germany 100000
900 IN 1871. This was done by trans
fer of credit from Paris to Berlin
based on bonds issued by France. These
bonds are still outstanding, a mort
gage OF the French people.
"Once defeated. the indemnity the
United States would pay would reach
$4,000 900 ,0o0-if the tribute OF
France be a measure and the interest
on this alone would be as large as any
expenditure for an army and navy now
proposed. For all time. this interest
charge would be met oy all the indus
tries of the land, and any attempt 70
throw this aside would destroy ns-
tional solyency.
THE Teutonic Alliance entered this
war with one-seventh of the united
debt OF the Allies. For twoscore years
It has had this advantage, since Ger
many laid the cost of its victory on
France. As German newspapers, even
under a military censorship, have point
ed out, the yearly interest charge Of
the Teutonic Alliance is already as
great as the annual expenditures OF
Germany and Austria together in 1913.
met by drastic taxes 20 avoid issuing
bonds.
Gould any temptation be greater
70 the victor or the victims OF drawn
battle than TO shift interest charge
by a swift. merciless war on the United
States. at once the richest and least
defended Of lands -
Seth Low. OF New York, was reflect
ed president Of the federation. The
other officers are:
Samuel Gompers. president;
Benjamin lde Wheeler. president:
Isaac y. Seligman, treasurer; Ralph u.
Easley. chairman executive council;
John Hays Hammond. chairman indus
trial economies department.; Louis A.
Coolidge, chairman welfare depart
ment; Miss Maude Wetmore, chairman