Omaha daily bee., 1916-08-11

sworn into the regular army over
night for a service that they had not
contemplated and which do not
think the National Guard should be
called upon to render-for those boys
| have unstinted praise. But | con-
denim the system which brought mat
tiers to that pass.
Then what a spectacle was pre-
sented. They were not properly
equipped when they started; sup.
plies were not ready for them and
some of them suffered in the mode
in which they were transported to
discharge their new duties. Why, it
was spectacle showing ;nefficiency
of the first magnitude.
"The rights about which there has
been so much discussion are in the
main plain rights, generally recog-
nized. But we live in world in arms.
1t would be the rankest folly for US
to invite insult, for US to invite the
disregard of our word by having an
obvious condition of unpreparedness.
Preparedness that is reasonable
and adequate is not militarism. There
is no militarism is this country. But
adequate and reasonable prepared
ness is an assurance of our peace. 1t
is the very buttress OF our self-re-
spect. 1t is for US to say what we
mean and have our word regarded. 1t
means that when such a situation
arises as there is on the border Of
Mexico that we are ready to dis
charge our duty without calling men
from their peaceful occupations. from
the shops and the factories and Of
fices all over this land.
Preparedness Duty.
Reasonable, adequate prepared
ness is a primary and national duty,
and If l am elected ! propose to see
so far as in me lies the power, that
duty will be discharged to the credit
of the American people. And I am
not talking simply or even primarily
of numbers. Efficiency is only a mat
ter OF numbers to a certain extent;
thoroughness, the absence Of waste,
up-to-date methods, the availing Of
scientific investigation, the determine
ton to go forward sensibly and ex-
pertly with the very advice, cutting
out dry rot, insisting upon men equal
to their jobs.
This is the kind of preparedness
believe in which will make our ap-
preparations for military purposes
properly spent so that the public will
get the benefit of the dollars it gives"
Mr.. Hughes then reviewed the ad-
ministration's Mexican policy from
the days of Huerta and continued:
I'VE had wonderful speech the
other day in the senate from spokes-
man of the administration. He did
not like what said in my answer to
the notification. 1t distressed him.
am glad of it. That was the intention.
But there was not a word in it that
he or anybody else could answer. He
said am not attempting to quote
him, but l am sure / am doing him
no violence-that we ought to have
supported the executive in establish
ing Villa on a throne, a government
founded on principles of American
liberty and justice. Think of that.
Then the learned senator condemned
the republicans because they had not
rushed to the support OF the admin
istration in making liberator out Of
this desperate, Villa.
II want to refer for a moment to
the embargo on arms. | do not know
that it is rash statement. think it
is well warranted by the facts to say
that any American soldier killed in
Mexico is killed by American bullets
that we have let pass over the
border"