New-York tribune., 1917-04-29
Calls for Every Energy to
Make United States
Felt in War
Wants No Time Lost
In Sending Troops
Demands That No Grain
Be Used in Making
Alcoholic Drinks


..,-gv Of the entire nation be directed
,.r.rd making the potential might OF
-. United States felt IN the war
..,,,s, Gerany. He demanded that not
: bopr be lost in dispatching troops
:. ~, trenches and that no grain be
- - make alcoholic beverages dur
ins the Var.
VI. first speech was made at
,,,,beon al noon. his second at a mass
-...;,r IN the immense ampithoatre at
-. STOCK Yards, where the thousands
.ho applaudcd his words were numen-
,,uv exceeded by the hordcs turned
80 in disappointment when II be-
-. necessary TO close the doors.
willing To Be Lieutenant
4, tho luncheon, Harry Pratt Jud-
- rrssident Of the University Of CHI
...o introduced a resolution to be for
-,-5ed 20 President Wilson requesting
~, the Colonel be authorized to raise
5;vi,jon and 70 lead it into France.
c,lopsl Roosevelt interrupted to ask If
\, might amend IL.
agsEe e, read that we want the divi-
an sent under any competent officers
"a plesse 10 let Roosevelt go along. ~
certainly" replied DR.. Judson, and
81. resolution was adopted unani-
nously. ,
I'D 20 as a second lieutenant said
colopel Roosevelt, in a digression from
Il, prepared remarks. 81 commanded
,reriment during the lighting in Cuba
headed a brigade before we left the
,,lspd and I have even been the recipi-
snt Of honors from citizens OF the
United States. But I'm willing to 60
IN the train Of any competent officer
Who may be selected. To get the divi-
sion there is the thing
"Put the Flag on Firing Line
"Pu, the American fag on the firing
linz in France. Flanders or the Balkan
D.nip,ula at the earliest possible mo-
msnt and keep it there as long as the
war continues, over a constantly grow
;sr fighting force until the war brings
victory" was his appeal tonight
81 come here to appeal TO the
people Of .he great West, the peo-
ple Of the Mississippi Valley, the peo'
ple who are the spiritual heirs Of the
men who stood behind Lincoln and
Grant" declared Mr.. Roosevelt. "Wher
once walked up to actual conditions, you
have always stood with unfaiterng
courage and iron endurance for the ma
tlonal honor and the national interest
Itppeal 70 the women as much as to
The men, for our nation has risen level
70 every great crisis only because m
every such crisis the courage Of its
women famed as high as the courage
o. the men.
81 appeal 10 you 10 take the lead in
making good the Presidents message
Of April .. in which he set forth the
reasons why il was our unacceptable
duty 10 make war upon Germany. We
can make the Presidents message stand
among the great state papers in our
history, but we can make it good only
II VIC fight with all our strength now,
4. once; il al the earliest possible mo-
nsnt we put the flag on the firing line
and keep it there over constantly
growing army, until the war closes by
peace which brings victory to the
great cause Of democracy and eivillzs-
ton, the great cause of justice and fair
play among the peoples Of the world.
"We Americans are at war. Now let
% fight. Let US make u a real war,
rot a dollar war Let US show that we
have the manhood to pay with our own
bodies, and not merely 70 hire other
men TO pay with their bodies. Let US
sght al once. Let us put the flag at
The front now, at the earliest moment
and not merely announce that we are
gong 20 fight year or TWO hence
Wants an Army Sent at Once
Asserting that America should imme-
oately set about raising a great army
On the principle of universal obligatory
military training and service, and de-
caring that it would require long
ume 70 train such an army, Mr. Roose-
'elt added:
But, most emphstically, We should
not rest content with this. We should
hot rest content with merely preparing
an army 70 act year, or eighteen
nonths, or two years. hence. Let us
put the flag on the firing line at the
ssrliest possible moment. this summer.
Snerever our services arc most needed
In France, or Flanders. or the Balkan
1ehinsuls. II need only be a small
army az first. But even division
would be better than nothing. Then
e can constantly keep that division
tlsd, and other divisions from time TO
me added 20 IL; until, a year hence
ne war continues, we have really
iernidable fighting force at the front,
etghting force which will be steadily
laeressed month by month, year by
'ssr, until the triumph comes.
wish 10 see the system OF obli-
tatory service used in order 10 make
~ men serve who ought TO serve. But
not hinder men who, under con
,enption. would be entitled 20 stay at
one, from volunteering 10 go 20 the
toat n they can render good service.
shcer the bill proposed TO Congress by
As War Department many millions OF
.teelient fighting men would be oX-
saN from service, while long time
.onld elspse before the others are sent
. she front.
Under these conditions, we ought
use The volunteer system TO fill the
tpi u opens 70 US az once great
disability; let IL be used, and used
..aeusiyely. 10 give 20 those who would
s.nerSise be exempt an opportunity 10
,o the front without claiming ex-
tnptioh