New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-14
West Is Warlike;;
Supports Wilson and
Universal Service
Stimson. Coudert and Walcott
Find Country Aroused; 10y
atty Drive Ends

Indianapolis, April lo.-HeHfS L'
Stimson and his party finished their
"war tour" of the Middle West tonight
in this city with addresses before 1000
persons in Tomlinson Hall.
The former Secretary Of War, win
Frederic r. Coudert and Frederick l.
Walcott. travelled more than S,o0o
miles through the great Mississippi
Valley region, making their appeal LOT
patriotism, loyalty to President wilson
and universal military service in thir'
teen important cities with total popu-
lation Of more than 100000.
The territory through which they
made their loyalty drive" they found
for the most part just emerging from
a patriotic stupor into which 1t hsd
been lulled by reason Of its remoteness
from either seacoast and because OF the
unrivalled prosperity it has been en-
joying. -,
They left this territory thoroughly
aroused. ready to do its part IN Amer
;ca,s war. stanch in its patriotism and
rosoIved 70 crush any elements that are
working against the truest American
ism.
For the change which men every
where admit has taken place IN lie"
short weeks the actual declaration o.
war bv Congress must be given credi'
IN large measure. II drew the issue
sbsynlv and gave men here their choice
between being Americans or traitors
For much OF the awakening OF the
West. too. the country owes It's tnah"s
directly to Mr. Stimson, Mr.. Cou'er'
and Mr.. Walcott.
Aroused Patriotism
Al the moment when the nation was
rushing TO arms these men were Ap-
pearing night after night in the prin-
c;nsl cities Of the Middle West, appeal
ing 70 large audiences. smashing tne''
nojnts home with a directness and en-
/ orov that never wanted for response
In avery community they left leaders
v.ho will continue to advocate the prin-
ciples for which they PLEADED; IN e'e'E
: CITY they left hundreds OF men snu
Women converted TO the beiier ths' TINS
country's future safety depends upon
universal military service.
Wr. Stjmson to-day reviewed the t0ui
Q T;L,no EALING how the diff
J ferart communities he visited I'M
nrsssed him. pointing out the one dan,
eer from the West that he discovered
and predicting what might De eN-
pected from this territory. lie sala:
! ~ am thoroughly convinced that tne
neonla of the Middle West are no"
rnitedlv behind the government IN tne
war II has been our privilege 10 az
drees all classes, and everywhere we
bavs found strong evidences OF un'
",aIi6ad LOYALTY. We have everywhere
: discussed and Endorsed the recon
{ nendation of the President that Amer
I go ahaU fght this war IN close CO
nnsrat;on With the Allies, and the en-
: ,busiasm exhibited FOR such pro,
,ramme has been marked feature Oh
srsry audience. The desire for Amer,
4 ;ca 70 enter the war as an ally Oh
+ tSrarre in return for what that spien'
aid countrv did for us during the keYo'
+ lutiop has been particularly Pro'
/ nounced
Not Really Aroused
There has also been general reeog'
,ition of the fact that America ssIety
today depends upon the British navy
r,orn, approval OF the success OF tns
Pussisn revolution, and realization OIL
. t1o fact that the war ls now oelns
waoed bv the democratic nations o. ths
world against autocracy.
"The only dangerous symptom nave
! ,o.ed in the Middle West is the ten,
dencv on the part of some 10 regaro
! .Lis "a not a serious war, and 10 mini
r,izs the danger in which our country
lands To this have addressed my
seIf narticulsrly, urging full coopera'
+ t'on With the Allies and the most com
, nlafe preparedness on our own part
especially by raising an army OH th'
prirciple of universal military serV'ce;
4 "This subject, as q whole, eV1dehul
was rev, 20 the people OF this territory
BUT they have responded nobiy 70 II.
Our audiences generally went mucf
forrher than the President himself il
expressing their support o! tne pfOpoSl
ION TO make universal military service
permanent in this country IN times o.
peace as we'll as in times OF war.
ave have spoken to audiences com
) posed OF Gerrnan-Americsns and have
iound these people absolutely unite, e,
with other Americans in unhinehin'
loyalty. Again and again within tnes' %
Two weeks German-Americans ma
+ s,onneJ 70 fell me not only o. their owl
loyaity. but of their belief that the rea
interest Of the German people as ma
lion IS 20 be immeasurably advanced b!
the stamping out of Prussian autoeracy
TO sum up, this tip has clearl.
demonstrated to me that the people o
/ the country are intehigently loysI Y
OF the war, and that in any. ,sectio'
where the matter can be fairly an'
fuily debated, universal military ser
vice will be supported as the iaires