The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-05-27
DEBATE !
ON PREPAREDNESS
Interesting Social Session of
Mountain City Lodge
Thursday.

Members Of Mountain City lodge,
Knights Of Pythias, are still eagerly
discussing the debate on the prepar.
edness question which was the central
item on the social night program
which followed the regular session
Of the lodge Thursday evening Of this
week.
The question for the debate was
stated as follows: Resolved, That
within period OF five years the Unit.
ed States should have q standing army
Of 100000 men and navy superior
to that OF any other nation"
The affirmative was represented by
Attorney Rollo ]. Conley and DR.. H. R.
Johnson, while City Commissioner ].
Walter Barnes and P. B. Henry look.
ed after the negative side. Fifteen
minutes was allotted to each speaker
which. of course, permitted but a brief
outline for y speech on such mo.
mentous question.
Mr.. Conley led off with the state.
ment Of a fundamental proposition
that inasmuch as there Is no interna-
tional tribunal for the peaceable set.
Element Of disputes between nations
that was Is always possibility for
nation; that preparedness therefore
becomes an absolute necessity for for
the continuance Of q national life;
that the army required In the circum.
stances Is Of the highes. necessity;
that a trained force is equal to null.
tiples Of unframed force. Mr.. Con.
ley illustrated his remarks by drawing
interesting comparisons between the
fire department trained to fight fires
and police force trained to suppress
violence with the naional defense idea.
Mr.. Conley closed his first speech by
quoting farmer Of good common
sense who said II would rather have
dog and not need one, rather than
need a dog and not have one"
Mr.. Henry then followed and made
plea for the peaceable determine.
tion Of international disputes, quot.
ing from the scriptures, and alleging
that preparedness for war provoked
war; that nations like individuals that
were ready for a fight usually got what
they were looking for; that moral
force and enlightened sense Of Jus.
tice as embodied In the mass of the
American, people is a sufficient guar.
antee Of peace rather than great arm.
les and navies.
DR.. Johnson replying stated that
force Is the fundamental element In
government; that In the nature of
things great people of great wealth
must be ever prepared to defend It.
self against aggression from those who
coyet its wealth; that the RESPONSE.
bilities OF this country with reference
to the Monroe Doctrine are great; that
a mead of preparedness commensu.
rate with the responsibilities of the
nation is essential. DR.. Johnson cited
number Of nations with whom 1t Is
possible ut some future date for this
country to have trouble. He spoke of
the feeling against the United States
among all the present belligerent ma.
tons.
Professor Barnes closed for the neg.
alive with a showing Of the utter fulfil.
1ty OF war; that the Bryan peace trea.
ties negotiated with thirty nations was
the forerunner of an international
peace movement than would put war
out OF the running and that therefore
the extent OF the preparedness of this
country should be limited to reason.
able navy merely and a series of coast
defenses that would make invasion i'm.
possible. Mr.. Barnes quoted mum.
Der of authorities who state that the
coast defenses Of this country are
are very good and that with little
more work could be made impregn.
able. Mr.. Barnes quoted how the Oar.
danelles with small guns In the hands
of a retrograding race, the Turks, beat
off the proudest Aggregation NJ var