The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-01
WILSON AND pREPAREDNEss.

AS mas been remarked before IN
these columns, President Wilson's pre-
paredness program, on being analysed
closely, is an extremely modest one in
comparison with some of those that
are being urged. His forceful pre-
sentation of it, on his swing around
the central western circle. seems to
have been rather enthusiastically re-
ceived by the audiences that have been
privileged to hear him. Nor have
these been picked audiences in any
sense of the word. They represent at
the several presidential stopping
points, as will the Topeka crowds, all
degrees and classes of the nations
citizenship. 1t is, therefore, only rea-
sonable to argue that the people of
the central west are with the president
on the general principles of his pre-
paredness program, although there
may be differences of opinion from
him on it's details. And this is the
only rational attitude for the Ameri-
can people to assume on this impor-
tant question. We are a nation essen
TALLY predisposed to peace. and the
thoughts of militarism, such as Europe
knows it, are exceedingly repugnant
to us, and far from being in keeping
with the ideals of a democracy such as
| is ours. But at no time. during our
history, certainly not during the last
quarter of a century, have we been
sitting idly by without taking prepara-
tory steps to defend our land in case
of attack and maintain our positions
among the nations of the world. This
is evidenced by our present coast de-
Tense equipment, described by Colonel
Goethals to be the best in the world,
and by our navy. which, despite its
detractors, is assuredly one of the four
best in the world and is held by some
to divide the honors of second rank
with Cermany's. Our army has ever
been confessedly weak, as the armies
of the world go, but has so far been
sufficient for our purposes 1t is gen.
orally conceded on all sides except
among the extreme pacifists, that
the conditions that have developed in
the world today demand that we have
a larger army. a larger Immediately
available armed force in case of need;
and, of course, that there be no let up
in the maintenance and development
of our navy along adequate lines. and
of our coast defenses, as well. With
all other statesmen of discernment
President Wilson all along has pro-
nounced for an adequate navy, which,
of course, because of our seacoasts, is
naturally our first and major line of
defense. Such change of heart as he
| has apparently shown on our army
needs may be set down to the new
light that has come to him through the
developments of the European war
which have shown conclusively that a
nation needs an army to fight its bat
ties and protect itself quite as much as
it does a navy. And President Will
sons present advocacy of a larger
armed force also bespeaka an intelli-
gent courage on his part, one that is
not afraid to change its base at the
dictates of reason. Surely there can
be little protest over his proposal to
increase the size of the regular army
/ from about 100000 to 10000 men. As
to his continental army plan to pro-
vide a reserve force, there can be no
such unanimity. Some reports have
it that this plan is already as good as
killed in congress. But some kind of
a substitute will probably be worked
out for it, and there is much in the
1 Swiss army plan, or a modified form
of it, to recommend it for a trial in
/ this country. At any rate, the whole
preparedness program of the presi-
dents is a modest one, as has been
suggested and that probably accounts
for the friendly reception that has
/ BEN given it on this tour of his
| through the central west. Over and
above all, this is a national question
/ that should be viewed, as President
! Wilson would have it, from a stand
point of patriotism, and not from one
! of partisan politics. And this is the
way that congress undoubtedly pro-
/ poses to handle it, as is evidenced by
! the support that was given it the
other day by Congressman Mann, the
Republican leader in the house of rep
resentatives. There is also the big
ancillary question of providing the
ways and means to pay the bills for
such larger army and navy plans that
may be adopted. Direct taxation, as
against bond issues, is the most de-
sirable method, as it would have a ten
dency to act as a check against the
adoption of unnecessarily exaggerated
preparedness plans both now and in
the future. And some of the sugges-
tions made by the president for direct
taxes on things that would hit hardest
the little fellows" do not seem to be
so forcefal as proposals to increase
materially the income tax and espe-
cially on the larger incomes. The sec
tions of this country that would profit
the most by our naval and military
preparedness in case it were called on
are by far the richest. and it would
seem no more than fair that they
should pay their just share of the bill.