Norwich bulletin., 1916-03-08
WILLIMANTIC
DEBATE ON PREPAREDNESS.
Negative Side Awarded Decision al
 Board of Trade Meeting.

At the monthly meeting of the Board of Trade and Business Mems associa- ton Tuesday evening supper was served by the Girls Friendly society. After a short business meeting, the debate on Preparedness was held.
 Messrs. Covert. Reynolds and Foss were on the negative side and F'entOn, Costello and Shattuck for the affirma- tive. Each speaker spoke for ten min utes.
 Rev. MT. Covert was first speaker and said in part: We realize that we are on the unpopular side in public opinion, but right is not always on the side of public opinion. Look to the north. Canada doesn't want war with us Look to the south, look at Mexico. Mexico doesn't want to invade us. and we have no right to invade Mexico. Look to the west, towards Japan. Japan does not want war with us, not only because of commercial relation ship, but Japan could not attack us because we have double her population, many times her wealth and five thou sand miles of water between us. Look towards the east, towards Ger many. Germany doesn't want to at tack us- If we are going to increase the army and navy at all 1t means that we must be able to whip all the | countries of the world. that we are not adequately prepared to whip the world. Preparedness never brings peace but war.
 | Frank P. Fenton was the next speak- y CT and spoke for the negative, and call- | ed attention to our unpreparedneSs and | the need for same for the purpose of self defense. He spoke of the lack of men in both army and navy. the lack of ammunition and means of making | them.
 MT. Reynolds was the next speaker for the affirmative and said that after | this war some nation would be spoken I nf a Sna hsa ha1uaH rrN h~f~-g- al E~r peace. But that is this country was all for a large army and navy it would play a very small part in bringing about that peace. That the truest type l of patriotism Is not success at the eN- pense of others, but is the stretching out the hand of fellowship and peace to our brothers across the sea
 Mir. Costello spoke of the need fOI self defense in this country and the need of a large army and navy If we would uphold the Monroe doctrine and protect the Philippines as we should
 Mir. Foss of the affirmative spoke Oi the great burden a large army and navy laid upon the people, affecting not the wealthy but the poorer class He spoke of the large sums Of money that is expended each year for battle. ships and ammunition that if expended for schools and town property. roads etc, how much better or the country would be.
 MT. Shattuck was the last speaker and told of the large and powerful army and navy of Japan. He saIC
 that there was on danger of the cast , of a large navy and army that tn, l militarists would be in control. Ht
 gave conditions after the Civil war ai an example and told how the soldier
 of yesterday became the citizen of to,
 morrow
 The judges decided that the mega,
 tive side had presented the best ar
 guments and awarded them the de,
 cision. There was a very friendlI
 spirit throughout the evening.
 Mir George Taylor. Dr. Tiesing. P
 Merriam and others took part in
 general discussion that followed.