The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1917-09-27
PARRYING NEVER.
WON ANY FIGHT,
SAYS ROOSEVELT
Former President Deals
With Pacifsts And
-. Preparedness
lBv Associated PressO

(By Associated PreSS,)
Camp Grant, Rockford, Ill. Sept
27. - Preparedness and pacihsts
claimed equal shares Of Theodore
Roosevelt's attention in an address
here yesterday to the nearly 10000
men Of the Eighty-s sixth division of
the national army. Included in his
camp headquarters where Colonel
speech was the plea that his helpers,
when they have finished the task
they are about to tackle in Europe,
become apostles of universal military
service.
During his stay Of less than two
hours. the colonel was whirled in a
motor car through nearly ten miles
Of cantonment streets, viewed one OF
the barracks, inspected several
amusement places built for the re-
cruits, delivered a fervid half hour
speech and within ten minutes OF its
conclusion was aboard his special
train, bound for Chicago.
Military efficiency. described as
extraordinary" by army officers who
accompanied the former president.
marked the handling of the thou
sands Of raw recruits as they were
marched to the little valley behind
Roosevelt spoke. Newly commission
ed officers from the first officers re-
serve training camp maneuvered
their companies into position with
scarcely a hitch, while the elaborate
preparations for the reception Of the
colonel were carried out with equal
lsmoothness.
With the First Illinois infantry
acting as guard OF honor and keeping
clear the route TO the speakers stand.
the colonel reached the stand amid
great burst Of cheering, and. after
! Ia hPi hxyM
Thomas II. Barry. camp commander,
plunged into his address.
No Fighting, No Vote.
mo man ever won fight by
! parrying blows" Colonel Roosevelt
said. only hitting wins fights. The
nation that can hit not only wins its
fight, but wins the respect Of other
nations. This country will fulfill it's
aspirations and ideals only in pro-
portion as it develops the spirit to
hight for them"
With respect to pacifists and con-
scientious objectors to war. he de-
cleared:
mo man is entitled to vote in this
country unless he is willing to fight
for II in time Of war and prepare
himself TO fight for it in time oF
peace"
RevertinE to unpreparedness, he
asserted that condition never vet
has kept any nation out Of war, but
on the contrary, was a provocation
to aggression by military nations.
Before the war the paCifist crew
ranted that preparedness would bring
us into the war. We were unprepared
and we are now at war. We have
been in a state Of war for eight
months and no German has yet been
discommoded by anything we've
DONE"
Three to One Ratio.
There are about 5000 rifles avail
able for drill purposes at Camp
Grant, he asserted, or. roughly, three
men to drill with one gun.
To the pre-war assertion that "a
million men would spring to arms be-
tween sunrise and sunset" he count
cred with the claim that I'm eight
months that number has sprung to
broomsticks," as men in many camps
had only this article to aid them in
learning the manual Of arms.
I'VE have not. after eight months.
an army capable of coping with a
German force of $4,000 or 10000
men," he said. 1T will have taken
a year before the United States
equals the force that little Portugal,
with her 100000 people. has on the
battle front.
No Pity For Soldiers.
Il envy you the chance you've got
on Uncle Sans team. We don't pity
the men on any athletic team: we
envy them. Our pity is for those on
the side lines. You who are going to
fight, will not have to explain to your
children and your Childrens children
why you did not answer your coun-
try's call. But those who did not
will have to do lot Of explaining.
ANY man who asks why the Unit
ed States is at war is capable of ask
ing why you knocked a man down
who slapped your wife's face.
Good luck to you" he concluded.
"You have the task Of giving Ameri-
cans chance to hold up their heads.
Americas position during the next
fifty years depends on what you will
do"