South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-01-26

ciples OF the American democracy in
unmistakable terms. the 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 the principles up
on which they were made"
Cheer Universal Service Plea.
The speakers plea for universal
service and his denunciation of Ger
many brought his hearers 10 their
feet cheering, time and again. His
address was the feature Of a day
filled with vigorous appeals for uni
versal military training and service.
theme OF the congress although a
long program in which other ques-
tons OF national defense will be
treated has been mapped out.
Alton r. Parker of New York
presided today and Sen. Sutherland
Of Utah. at the night session. the
speakers including S. StanwOod Men
kin, first president Of the Security
league, Lawrence F. Abbott, Mrs.
William Cumming Story. William
Roscoe Thayer. Henry l.. Stimson,
former secretary of war; George
Won L. Meyer, former secretary Of
the navy, and Rear Admiral Bradley
A Fiske, retired. Every speaker en-
dorsed proposals for universal mill
tary service, which will be formal
" recommended in resolutions lat
err
Gives Daniels Credit.
Mr Menkin declared that despite
two years of effort, the defense prob
lem was unsolved. He credited Sec'y
Daniels with having exercised every
effort 10 build up the navy; but de-
clared the Hay bill, known as the
national defense act, contained
Reasonable" measures of pork Z"
He demanded that congress meet in
extra session to work ont an ade-
quate military policy.
Mr.. Root began his address by
reading the militia act of 1892, in
which every able bodied citizen be-
tween Is and 45 was required to be
enrolled for military duty, and re-
hearsed the gradual lapse of the old
militia system and the experiment
with the national guard undertaken
10 years ago. Certainty had now
come. he said, that the guard plan
could never produce more than a
comparatively small number of men.
Satirizing suggestions that a million
men would spring to arms over
night. he said:
I'VE would be if engaged in war
with our million patriots in the pO-
sition of a helpless savage, fighting
against the trained forces of civiliza-
ton"
Says People Real Obstacle.
The real obstacles in the way of
preparedness, Mr.. Root said, was
the refusal of the people to see that
danger threatened.
IF they thought" he continued,
that there was any real danger of
somebody attacking us, they would
wake up soon enough and get ready.
But they don't. No. they turn the
COWS out 70 pasture and are no more
disturbed about things than the
COWS.
We'll, let us look at the condition
of affairs in the world. The pres
ent war which is raging in Europe
was begun upon an avowal of prin-
ciples of national action that no rea-
sonable and thoughtful neutral
ought TO ignore. The central prin-
ciple. was that a state exigency, state
interest is superior to those rules of
morality which control individuals.
Now that was not an expedient. an
excuse. seized upon to justify the
beginning of the war; it is funda-
mental.
Right Begins With Individual.
The theory Of the modern re-
public is that right begins with the
individual. II was so stated in the
declaration of independence.
The ancient theory, the theory
Nf monarchies and alike of the
ancient republics, upon which they
went down TO their ruin, was that
the state is the beginning. the foun-
dation OF right and that individuals
derive their rights from the state.
and therefore the exigencies of the
state are superior TO all Individual
rights.