The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-02-23
chorus with piano and violin accom-
paniment.
Address by Mr.. SAY

preparing and planning for years for
| just such a war and there was no way
to ward 1t Off. Germany. hemmed in
by neighbors, jealous Of her expan-
sion, was forced to take the step she
did.
LAS long as nations pursue the OBJ
jects that have guided their policies
| In the past. there will be war. Treat
les will not hold, nor agreements stop
| it. knowing this the United States
faces serious problem"
Mr.. Sawyer drew applause when
he said that we must all stand back
of the president.
Wilson Is trying to keep us out OF
cessful But If war is declared every
one must stand behind him and be
ready for any sacrifice required.
Mr.. Sawyer said that some laughed
lat the youth of the members of the
national guardsmen who went to the
border and treated their undertaking
lightly. He pointed out, however.
that in the past, this nations armies
have been made up of boys and that
they were the ones who bore the brunt
Of the fighting.
In closing he said: whatever may
come, let each of us do our part will
lingly and gladly no matter what the
sacrifice may be-"
The audience was next treated to
two readings by Edna Adamson. Mrs.
Walter Hennings read Wilbur Mes
bits patriotic poem. Your Flag and
My Flag" The next number was one
that had not been placed on the even
| ing's program.
Rupert Hughes introduced.
| There was a ripple Of surprise as
Mr.. Hughes, minus the mustache he
wore when he last addressed Keo-
kuk audience, stepped out on the
platform. He was tho cause OF the
little change in program announced
by Captain Evans at the opening OF
the meeting. although the nature of
1.-The change was not divulged at that
time. The speaker confined his re-
marks largely to the question OF
pre- paredness and spoke on what the
cast thinks of the middle ives.
.tEasterners have the impression"
said Mr.. Hughes, that the middle
west is not in favor of preparedness
because the people here feel conn
dent in their own far awayness and
safety The safety of the Atlantic
seaboard and such cities of New
| York stirs them but little and II New
York were blown off the map they
would probably say tn It 1t was
good thing, that the place Is rot
ten hole anyway.
"The east and south want pre-
paredness, but they are dubious OF
the stand OF the middle west. Now
liza the time to drop sectionalism. The
| east is largely settled by westerners
and the west by fasteners, and
every part of the country should
think alike.
West Should Be Interested.
"The middle west should be vital
w interested in the question for war
may be at its doors in the near
future. The United States might
have a war with England and Can
ada. Canada after the present war
will have trained army OF from
500. 900 to million men. Canadian
soldiers may be marching through
the streets OF Keokuk in the future;
submarines may be on the Missis-
sippi river. The middle west is not
invulnerable.
! II am speaking now as an Iowan
and a Missourian, not as a new
Yorker, although my New York nome
would be in easy range or German
guns should we have war with that
country. 1t is not a selfish motive that
imnels the east to seek the aid OF
the middle west in the matter OF
preparedness. 1t is a fact that any
war touching the eastern seaboard
will be felt in the middle west.
| As proof of his statement The
sneaker referred to the last great
panic when the west laughed at inc
alarm of Wall street only to feci
| the throes of the panic itself whue
Wall street laughed back In turn.
Are Not Prepared.
eve are now in the midst of criti-
cal times. The smallest nations or
E,,rope have armies greater than the
United States army. Even ravl5Eeu
Belgium has forces In the field that
greatly outnumber the present army
of this country.
"If YOU wish to fine out how sadly
we are behind in the matter OF pre-
paredness, ask anyone familiar with
affairs: someone who has STUDIED the
proposition and the answer Will be
given YOU OF course the man you
meet in the street, who is uninform-
ed. will tell you that we could lick
any nation under the sun. But the
militia, the army officer and the IN
formed man can tell you accurately
our pitiful condition"
Mr.. Hughes delivered a sound rap
at the law makers of the nation.
"For two weeks" he said, this
country has been in a state OF war
with Germany and yet not one bill
has been passed by congress to put
musket into the hands OF a re-
cruit."
Criticised Calling Out Guard.
The sneaker was unsparing in his
criticism of the calling out the ma
tional guard for the recent Mexican
trouble.
| ut was the cruelest joke ever
played on the patriotic sons OF