New Britain herald., 1916-01-18
EMINENT SPEAKERS
 APPEAL FOR DEFENSE
Closing Session Of National Civic
 Federation Hears Stirring Pleas FAVOR GREATER ARMAMENT
Paramount Duty of America Is Pre- parcdness Says Ex-Governor O'Neal -''No Progress Without Resist ancc' Is Gompers' Statement.

-.No Progress Without Resist
 ancc" Is Gompers' Statement.
 Washington, Jan. 1S.-Stirring pleas for national preparedness and vigor- ous attacks on "peace at any price advocates were made by speakers of national prominence at the closing session of the annual meeting of the National Civic Federation.
 The speakers included Samuel Com pers president of the American Fed eratiop of Labor, John Hays Ham, mond, Senator Wadsworth and Phelan former Governor O'Neal of Alabama, Arthur H. Dadmun, secretary of the Navy League of the United States, and Talcott Williams cf New York, dean of the Pulitzer Schoo1 or Journalism
 Defense Imperative
 We are forced to the conclusion, however, opposed we may be to the profligate expenditure of the nations wealth, that military and. naval de- fense, even in the case of peace loving nation, is imperative in the present status of international rela- tions, declared MT. Hammond He said that only two objections could be
 
 The peace at price class because they fear the development of mili- taristic mania. Second, the questions of costs. MT. Hammond urged that the proposed expenditure of a billion dollars beyond the countrv's present naval and military budget be looked upon "A business investment, an insurance, not always effectual against war; but which will at least minimize the distress incident to war"
 Need Great Navy.
 "1f in pursuance of Pan-American- ism," he said, We are to extend our sphere of influence we shall need a navy of far greater strength than that of any other power, With the sole eX- ception of Great Britain. With Japan we have other issues in addition to open door in China policy that might bring crisis. Military experts have urged the utter defenseless position of our Pacific coast against an invasion by the Japanese"
 In conclusion MT. Hammond aX- pressed the belief that Panama canal bond issue to meet the cost of national defense would be less Obiec- tiorable than any sytem of direct tax atiOn.
 Ex-Governor O'Ncal Speaks.
 Former Governor O'Neal declared it was difficult to believe that the Peace at any price" advocates realize the "debasing and demoralizing doc Urine they preach"
 The paramount duty of America. is preparedness" he said. The most serious opposition in congress to the preparedness program, he continued. is to be expected from those members who oppose any reduction in the size or capacity of the pork barrel"
 The speaker urged the creation of an adequate navy as a first line of de- 1ense, an efficient standing army of several hundred thousand men and the adoption of the Swiss or Aus tralan plan of universal service to make up a reserve army
 Indemnity of Ten Billion.
 Declaring that the United States, if ever, defeated in war, would have to pay an indemnity reaching as high as ten billion dollars if the tribute laid on France by Germany in 1871 may be taken as a measure. MT Williams said interest on this enormous sum would be as large as any expenditure TOW proposed for increasing this country's army and navy. For all time, he added, this interest charge would be met by all the industries of the land, and any attempt to throw this aside would destroy national solvency.
 The crowning reason for an ade- quate army and navy of the United States" said Mr. Williams. lis not h1 Ho of the country need defense, but no more than it's duties need discharge
 MT. Dadmun urged the adoption of a naval policy that would ultimately furnish the United States with navy second to none. He also advocated a general staff for the army, an inn proved personnel law and an increase of 100000 seamen and naval appren- iices to fully man all useful ships.
 Samuel Gompers on Subject.
 AdeQuatc preparedness for national defense was advocated by Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor in speech be- fore a session of the annual conven- tion of the National Civic Federation While he insisted that military or ganizations must be democratic and the nation must be safeguarded against theevils of militarism, MT. Gompers declared that pacifists failed to understand that quality of the human race which made men willing to risk their all for an ideal.
 Little Progress Without Resistance.
 ''rhere is little progress made in the affairs of the world in which resist once of others Is not involved" he said ''rhough We may realize the brutality of war, though we may yallp of life. vet wa know,