The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-01-21
WOULD HAVE UNITED STATES
LEAD IN REFORM AS WELL AS
IN PEACE.
MANY WILL HEAR HIM
Flying Squadron Here Today. All
Pupits in City Will be Occupied by
Prominent Men Who Will Speak on
Prohibition.

National prohibition by 1920 and
worldwide prohibition to follow the
European war are objectives for which
Captain Richmond Pearson Hobson.
naval hero, preparedness champion
and former congressman, is working
in his present campaign in OklahO-
ma in the interests of nationwide
prohibition, speaking under the au-
spices of the Anti-American League of
America. He would have America
lead in placing ban upon the liquor
traffic, then call a worldwide pro.
hibition conference to meet at the
same time and place as the peace
conference which closed the present
European war.
Capt Hobson has arrived in advance
Of the flying squadron" of prohibi-
tion speakers which will conduct the
dry Sunday" program in an attack
upon the liquor traffic here today at
the High School Auditorium
Captain Hobson was for eighteen
years in the United States navy, in
the navy construction work, and, al.
though on the scientific side of the
department, it was in that capacity
that he gained renown by bottling up
the Spanish fleet in Havana harbor,
during the Spanish-American war.
While he was on duty abroad, in
France, in 1890 to 1898, the dual al.
lance between France and Russia
was celebrated. Being on intimate
terms with French officers, Captain
Hobson went aboard a French vessel
and participated in the celebration of
the dual alliance.
At that time, he recognized that
the tendency in Europe was for the
nations to group into two great
groups-the central powers on the
one side and outlying nations on the
other The triple alliance between
Germany, Austria and Italy had al.
ready been formed. In a study of the
balance of power in Europe II was
clearly indicated to him that these two
groups would balance each other for
time, but that when the balance
was broken, war would come invov.
ing the civilized world.
II was then that he began a study
of international relations in their
bearing upon national defense and
particularly the application to Amer.
lea. He wrote scientific paper
which was published in the United
States naval institute in 1894. en-.
titled the Coming War in Europe"
one deduction of which was that
America should hasten to develop the
biggest navy in the world. Then when
the war came, he argued European
belligorents would respect our rights
ms neutrals ana America would not be
embroiled; whereas, il we did not
have an adequate navy, either side
and both sides would violate our
rights when they saw II was to their
advantage. This would tend seriously
TO embarass the United States in the
foreign war.
Then he began a propaganda of
preparedness In America, setting forth
the fundamental principle that since
we are not a military nation and the
genius Of our institutions are against
militarism and large standing armies.
therefore, as long as this opinion Of
militarism continues and as long as
foreign nations keep great standing
armies, our security must rest in the
control of the seas, so that these ar.
mics could not reach our unprepared
shores.
Biggest Navy in the World.
"In the Atlantic, our fleet ought to
surpass the German navy" Mr.. Hob.
son said today in talking with an Ard.