Arizona republican., 1916-06-02
Preparedness Programs

feature of the celebration of Memorial Day all over the country this year was the preparedness parade. Where and how the idea originated we do not know It may have been borrowed from the great New York demonstration it may have been spon- taneous, self-suggestng. We only know that there was universal expression in favor of preparedness which has become the foremost of the present time and will be the foremost throughout the pres dential campaign. It is recognized by all parties that Colonel Roosevelt is the chief, in fact only advo- cate of it. It is known too that his advocacy is not recent that it began ten years ago
 These Decoration Day parades which came with so great suddenness recall recent utterance by the New York Times, not Roosevelt paper but a sup porter of President Wilson:
 No other voice is potent as Mir Roosevelt's to rouse the country to put itself in a state of self defense, to assail the fatal doctrines pacifsm to urge united American loyalty and patriotism to de- nounce divided allegiance and alien politics. It is the supreme honor of his usrious that apart from and above political ambitions hopes stands as citizen and patriot, not afraid to make enemies careless of personal consequences. proclaimng United States the disasters it invites by it's helpless ness, proclaiming preparedness and Amercanism. He has done much to key up the democratic party
 Not only has the democratic party been keyed up but the whole country has been keyed up. Prepared ness is the theme and other In vain will men attempt to crowd other issues to the front People cannot be moved by the cries of the protection lsts, the tariff reformers other reformers Pros perity adjunct of politics will be without mean ing when shouted into the ears of voters next fall They will care little about the trusts way or the other for the people have learned that the trusts have been equally home under the domination of both parties
 The foremost thing will be preparedness against war; readiness preserve the peace and at the same time to uphold the dignity of country and guaran tee the safety of it's citizens This the of pre- paredness first advocated by Colonel Roosevelt There are other preparedness programs. Mir Wilson has one quite different essentially SO from that of Colonel Roosevelt and it will figure prominently in the coming campaign whether against that of Roosevelt or against that of some other presidential candidate
 We will say for President Wilson's program bad and inadequate it is that next to the Roosevelt plan it is good and definite any that has been suggested by any of the favorte sons or other candidates of the reactionary leaders of the repub- can party It will appeal strongly to the voters as any preparedness program that may now be put out by any of them It is too late now to issue or amend preparedness programs. The candidates must stand the records they have already made with reference to preparedness
 This is something for the republicans to hold in mind when they a candidate for the presidency and announce platform next week. There is only preparedness plank that will serve them and that was long ago formulated by Colonel Roosevelt Unless they adopt that and show their adherence to it by nominating Colonel Roosevelt to stand on it. they might well leave the platform silent on the subject of preparedness --s .- |