The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-01-21
u. S. FOREIGN POLICIES
SHARPLY ATTACKED
Various Speakers at Meeting of National
Security League in Washington
Also Refer to Unpreparedness
of the United States.

Washington, ID. c., Jan. 2l.-Attack'
on the administrators foregn policies
pointed references 10 the utter state OF
unpreparedness of the army and navy
and the awakening of public opinion in
the subject of adequate defense featured
the addresses OF prominent speakers to-
day before the National Security league,
Henry A. Wise Wood, Charles G. Cur
lis of New York, George L. Won Meyer
of Massachusetts and p. II. w. Ross of
the National Marine league spoke.
AT last nights session, Robert Ba-
con, former secretary of state, brought
the audience to its feet when he de-
clared:
"The nation is astir with new feel
ing, there is an awakening throughout
the land. The call for America to save
the Americans is sounding from house
to house and from city to city like that
call which on the eighteenth day of April
in rs went through every Middlesex
l.
swer viii be as strong and clear as it
was then.D
Theodore Rooseyelt's name was loud
ly cheered. His sister, Mrs. Theodore
Douglas Robinson, read letter in
which he said he regarded the proposed
army as sham which would
be merely an inefficient rival to the ma
tional guard; that the navy program
was "a paper program entirely made
quate to our needs" and that military
should be required 'as a
favor" of all American citizens. Col. !
likened the United States fail (
ire to take other action than diplomat /
C negotiations over the loss of Ameri- I
,an lives by submarine warfare to a
nan whose wife's face was slapped on
,he street and who took no other action /
han to tell her to stay at home.
Miss Maud Wetmore, chairman of the
section of the National Civic
ederation, told the congress that mo
woman who brings up her children on
policy that she did not raise her boy 4
o be soldier has right to the pro-
ection of another woman's SON."
Luke f, Wright, secretary of war in
cabinet, declared that the
ountry had reversed the policy, "speak
oftly and carry big stick" by Speak
ng loudly and carrying a stuffed club"
1t was time, he said, for adequate pre-
to meet what might come
fter the European war. if for no other
urpose than to make good one recent
aunt of America for the Americans"
nd to uphold the Monroe doctrine "as
roliiic OF fights as barrel of red Ii
uor."
Mr.. Wright said it was possible the
nited States might have TO fight Eng
nd after the present war because "if
lere is anything that makes an Eng
shman peevish it is to disturb his Y
ade." The present preparedness pro- q
am, he said, was a step in the right 9
rection, "but mighty short step" c
"The entire program he continued,
$ based on two fundamental thoughts,
,th of which can make a soldier while
ou wait; the second is the thought that r
Du can get all the volunteers you
ant"
SOl. hoOSeVelt IN MS letter reiterated
S criticism of the administration sub il
arine warfare policy and announced d
5 preparedness program. Il
81 believe" he said, that we should
Sc our military and naval program Ii
'on the retention and defense of Alas il
!, Hawaii, the Panama canal, and all r,
approaches, including all the points b
South American soil north of the n
uator, and of course, including the de- q
nse of our own coasts and the is ce
Ids of the West Indies. To free the in
Wy we need ample coast defense W
lnned by 100000 men and a mobile tr
yular army of 10000 men. ey
The proposed continental army is a it
am. 1t would be merely an inef1i- n,
mt rival of the National Guard. For
year or so, during the period of noyel in
it might attract some men. But we w
mot expect men to sacrifice business bi
,erests and put themselves at disad- h,
ntage compared to their less patriotic
siness rivals as a permanent thing, OF
ey ought not to do it; and it is an Ia
TRACE to ask them to do it. Military in
lining should be required as a matter
right of all" be