New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-09
Washington Fears
"I'll Serve Too
WE'LL" Says T. R.
Tells Brooklyn Audience
He Wants a Chance to
Make Words Good
Cheered 3 Minutes
Permanent Foundation of
Peace Is Demanded as
the Price of War
Cheered 3 Minutes

Theodore Roosevelt. speaking 10 a
boisterously sympathetic audience Of
5000 Brooklynitcs last night was
cheered for three minutes when he
told them that Washington's fear that
he might serve his country too well
was the principal reason for the OPP
position TO his taking an ARMY to
France. Four thousand men and
women. denied admittance TO the hall.
stood in the street and echoed the
cheers.
"All that want from Washington.
said Roosevelt. after ne had urged his
hearers to fight. "is that they give me
a chance to make my words good 1t
won't be my fault if | am put in
position of saying, Go and send your
sons while look on. want to be in
position 10 say: Come; I'll 60 with
you | want 70 be able TO render the
service I know can render and which
nine out Of ten OF those who oppose
my rendering it, oppose me only be-
cause they believe I'll render it too
we'll"
The address was delivered in Kis-
met Temple. Herkimer Street. before
the Kings County Republican Commit
tee.
Alfred E. Vass. county chairman.
presided, and United States Senator
William VI. Calder introduced Roose-
welt as "the nations greatest re-
source
States T~ofold Duty
With even more than his usual We
hemence the Colonel stated what, in
his opinion. was the twofold duty of
the nat.on-frst, to meet with every IN
strumentality available the immediate
needs OF the war; second. TO shape per
manently our policy in military, social
and industrial matters so as 10 place
the country on permanent foundation
Of peace. justice and strength. Inc
hrst duty. he declared. could be met
only by Immediately introducing the
principle of obligatory universal mill
tery training and service as perma-
nent principle of government.
"All that counts is the way an enun.,
cjated principle is reduced to action
ne said. For that reason let us tight
AZ once. We've carefully avoided dur
ing peace 20 prepare for war. Now
we've got 70 do the best we can. we
must send our people 20 the trlng me.
Germany has been al war with US Tor
two wears, but it wasn't until January
81, when she sent an ulumatum-ah
ultimatum differing from some OF our
ultimatums, of course-that we rear
led she was at war. We are stu IN
the stage Of conversation -
He was stopped by the applause ana
then, deprecatingly, he eXplained;
I'm simply talking for all OF inc
people and not trying 10 apportlonate
the blame. ] think we have come to the
time when we shall act ask the
chance to see if We can't do now IN the
interim before our great army under
the selective draft is organized what
is necessary. TO see that we don't owe
our safety TO the Allied fleets, but to
our own courage and strength.
Wants Chance to Help
"A man who talks as do ought 70
be able to say just what he means.
will; I say let me help By raising an
army corps Of two divisions, taxing
Only such men as arc thoroughly NJ 10
20. won't bother you with figures
Let me make them understand that II
won't be child's play-that there Will
be strict discipline, but not the fuss
and feathers sort. Any man who
comes with me under the impression
that he'll have a soft snap will get left;
don't expect any mercy myself, and
IN sec that there1l be no soft-pedal-
ling
Then, with the greatest irony OF
which his high falsctto note is capable,
he put the Red Cross where 1t be-
longs"
1--WE declined 20 take part in Red
Cross and other meetings for the pres.
ent on the ground that there seemed