The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-26
WILSON PEACE TALK
IS INTERPRETED
BY ROOT
Sees in 1t Admission Only
Way Out of War Is
Preparation for 1t.
ADDRESSES NATIONAL
SECURITY CONGRESS
German Denunc;atlon for Vi
olating Belgium and
Serbia Is Cheered.

Washington. Jan. a5.--Thc world
peace address of President Wilson 10
the senate was interpreted by Eithu
Root in an address here tonight as an
admission that there is no way out OF
war except by preparation for war and
as denunciation of tho course OF
Germany. He said he was in full sym
pathy with the purposes Of the reports.
which contained much noble ideal
ISM"
Mr.. Root spoke before the National
Security leagues congress Of construc-
tive patriotism, beginning q three day
session. He appealed for n return TO
the basic principle upon which this
government was universal
military service"--as the only adequate
measure OF defense. American free
dom was threatened, he declared. by
the principle of liberty of national
evolution" as asserted by Germany,
the application of which had meant
the overwhelming of Serbia and Bel
ginm and which II approved by the
world will mean that our American
freedom will surely die, and die while
we live" H
construes Proposai.
The former secretary of state con-
strued Mr.. Wilson's proposal for a
league of nations for peace as meaning
the formation of a convention under
which liberty of action would be left
to every signatory power to determine
it's duty towards the maintenance Of
peace.
But observe" he added. "that that
agreement Is worthless, mea ninsless.
unless the nations that enter into Il
keep their power behind it, II will
he n worthless agreement on our part
IT we haven't a ship or n soldier that
we can contribute to the war, II war
there ought to be. or to the mainte-
nance of that peace
Mr. Root turned also to the presi-
dents suggestion that the present war
must end in a peace without victory"
Expresses American arissn.
Now. ! sympathize with that" he
declared. But the peace that the
president describes Involves the abso-
! lnto destruction and abandonment Of
the principles upon which this war WAS
begun, 1t does not say Serbia, 1t does
! say belgium, but there the chosen
head of the American people has de-
clared the principles of the American
democracy i'm unmistakable terms. And
every word of that declaration. which I
believe truly represents the conscience
and Judgment Of the American people,
| denounces the sacrifices Of Belgium
and of Serbia and OF the principles
upon which they were made"
The speakers plea for universal
service and his denunciatlon of Ger.
many brought his hearers to their
feet. cheering, time and again. Hts
address was the feature Of II day fllled
with vigorous appeals for universal
military -training and service. which
promises to be the central theme Of
the congress. although a long program
in which other questions Of national
defense will be treated has been
mapped out.
i Root Satirizss.
Mr.. Root began his address By read.
ing the militia act OF 1899 In which
every able bodied citizen between u
and 45 was required to be enrolled
for military duty and rehears rsed the
gradual lapse of the old militia system
and the experiment with the national
guard undertaken Is years ago. Ger.
tain it now had become, he said, that
the guard plan could never produce
more than comparatively small num-
ber of men. SatirizinG suggestions
that a million men would spring to
arms over night ut need. he added:
I'VE would be. II engaged in war
with our million patriots in the posi-
ton OF helpless savage, fighting against
the trained forces of civilization"
The real obstacle in the way Of pre-
paredness. Mr.. Root said. was. the re-
fusal Of the people to see that danger
; threatened
, III they thought" he continued. .that
/ there was any real danger Of somebody
, attacking us they'd wake up soon
. enough and get ready. But they don't
State Above Individual.
We'll, let us look at the condition
of affairs in the world. The present
war which is raging in Europe was
begun on an avowal Of principles OF
national action that no reasonable and
thoughtful neutral ought to ignore
The central principle was that q state
exigency, state interest. - supexlor to
those rules Of morality which control
individuals. Now that was not an, OK
CONTINUED on page Three.l