Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-01-23
PREPARE DNESS WAS
A THING To TOUCH.
ALL Of THE PEOPLE.

NEW YORK, jan 23-"Probably no
public movement in recent years, start
ing from a very small beginning, in SO
short a time gathered Roadway and
swept with increasing momentum over
the country from East to West, than
the preparedness movement of one
year ago." former Attorney-General
George W. Wickersham said in state
nlent issued today: 1T seemed to touch
all classes of the community with al
most equal fervor, and it awakened ex-
pressions of patriotism and interest in
the adequate preparation of our coun-
try to meet any emergency. never be-
fore aroused except by the imminence
of presence of war. All branches
of the national government felt the eff
feet of this public sentiment and con-
gress, with almost frantic speed, pro-
ceeded to enact legislation appropriat-
ing vast sums for the improvement of
our military and naval forces, while
the Executive advocated, and, under
congressional sanction, appointed a
great council of national defense. Since
tie adjournment of the session of con-
gress at which these measures were
enacted into law, public attention has
been diverted to the issues arising in
the presidential campaign, and in many
quarters the eagerness to do some
thing has been succeeded by an easy
assumption that everything has been
done which the preparedness move
ment was desired to accomplish. But
sober and critical judgment has demon
strated that much of the legislation
vas hasty and imperfect; that an effec-
tive army must be created by men; that
under present conditions men cannot
be procured for the army in numbers
sufficient to satisfy the demands OF
reasonable defensive measure; that the
Hay" army bill is defective, in that it
Sc eHs to amalgamate two fundamental
ly inconsistent theories; and that as a
result of the whole preparedness move
rent. we have as yet nothing tangible
to show, although a vast deal of naval
construction is going forward, the ade-
quacy of which is yet unknown, and
the unsoundness of prevailing theor-
les of military preparation has been
demonstrated.
Movement Far From Accomplishment.
1T is therefore clearly apparent that
the great purpose of the preparedness
movement are yet far from having
been accomplished. There remains be-
! fore us a work of equal Importance
with that which brought the movement
tito being; namely, to direct the forces
OF Public sentiment which have been
aroused to a sense of the inadequacy
of our national organization towards
LUG dCCOLH plloilHl6llb VI a ACOA 5eAANS'IAS4A
ir preparedness for peace as well as
war. so as the better to fit US to
meet the problems now dimly looming
before us out of the mists of the future.
We need a better understanding of the
principles governing the relations of
nations to each other. We need bet
ter understanding of the obligations of
citizenship;-of the duties of prepare
tion for service to the state. We need
a better understanding between the
various classes which compose our cit
izenship. We need to develop that
spirit of giving, which the British
Premier recently said made nations as
well as individuals great. We need in
telligent discussion and criticism OF
public questions, not captious or fault
finding; but not hesitating to analyze
and demonstrate tendencies which are
contrary to the public welfare, as well
as to praise actions which are il the.
public interest. Above all, we need to
stimulate and emphasize the national
deals of America; to consider the prin-
ciples upon which this country was
founded, the main-springs of the great
movements which distinguished her