Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-25
j. s. PREPAREDNESS
ISSTR0NG[Y URGED
Extra Session of Congress to
Pass Wilson Measures,
S. S. Menken's Plea.
SECURITY LEAGUE MEETS

Urging that Congress be convened in
extra session to carry out "Presiuent
Wilson's demands for adequate pre-
paredness measures" S Stanwood Men
ken of New York. vice president of the
National Security League, TINS AFTER
noon enunciated the 'foreword OF
congress of constructive patriotism
in the ballroom of the New Willard
Hotel, which is to continue for three
days. with the presence and assistance
of some of the most prominent men of
the United States.
Urges Increased Preparedness.
After reviewing the recent history of
the world briefly, Judge Alton B. Par
ker, who served as chairman of the
afternoon meeting. urged Increased
military preparedness. saying that as
one of the necessary steps in the as
surance of the accomplishment "of the
task we have set ourselves we propose
to insure the lives of the youth of the
country and our families and their
homes against destruction by war: just
as we insure the homes in which we
dwell against loss by fire
Judge Parker declared the outbreak
of the European war had shown to
thoughtful amen the utter impotence
of the United States to defend itself
against a first-class power
1--WE cont 5nued to muddle along. ne
said, until the people at last succeeded
In making their protests heard above
declamations of those who urged that to
avoid war we need only to follow IN tne
footsteps of Righteousness and cultivate
method. Now she wishes she had done
more. For who can tell what the future
has in store for herr?
Cites Presidents Victory.
Declaring that President Wilson was
the real leader of the preparedness move
ment and had taken the subject to the
people last year when Congress failed to
act. Judge Parker said I'VE all know that
his appeal to reason won the first great
victory for the great cause.-the cause of
peace for ourselves, to be secured by
such thorough preparation as VIII assure
us against attack by any power on earth.
Robert Bacon, the president of the
league, laid stress on the two great
objects to be accomplished by the
league, namely, the enactment or legls-
lation for universal military training
and service as the basis for physical
measures of defense; and the inculca-
ton OF patriotic spirit throughout the
country by means of lecture courses
on patriotic topics.
Prominent Men Here.
Gathered here from all over the coun-
try. men like Mr.. Parker. Elihu Root.
Henry L. Stimson. former Secretary of
War; George Won l.. Meyer. former Sec
retary of the Navy; Mr.. Bacon. mem
bers of the naval consulting board.
college presidents. governors of states
and others. are taking part in what is
expected to be the largest convention
in point OF numbers ever helo IN w ash-
ington.
Democrats and republicans, laymen
and clergy from Washington and other
communities joined hands in the con-
vention which began at o'clock this
afternoon to urge upon Congress the
necessity for increased military pre-
paredness. for universal obligatory mill
itary training and other measures
which might carry out the slogan.
Admiral Bradley A. Fiske. L. S. n.
which is one of the placards decorating
the convention hall.
Events on Program.
Rt. Rev. Alfred Harding, Bishop of
Washington, delivered the invocation
for the convention. which was called
to order by Robert Bacon, president of
the Security League. under the auspices
of which the congress of patriotism is
being held
Senator George Sutherland of Utah
will serve as chairman of tonight's
meeting. which Will be held in Cont
mental Memorial Hall. and will be called
to order by Mrs. William Cumming
story, president general Of the Daughters
was read at this afternoons meeting
from Joseph H. Choate of New York,
one of the leaders of the American bar.
and Lawrence +. Abbott will present
later this afternoon "A report from the
committee on rules. Former Senator
F.lihu Root will address the convention
late this afternoon on "AmerIca's Pres
ent Needs.
1t is believed that the congress Will
take steps to establish what has been
informally described as "a national
patriotic university through sys-
TEN of lecture courses throughout the
country on such subjects as the dlplo-
matic position Of the United States.
Industrial safeguards, lessons of ma
,ional history, mobilization of indus
tries foreign trade. and methods of
foreign governments
Plan National Campaign.
Before the convention began. meet
ines of nationally known educators
,yho are here for the convention were
held. and a subcommittee to plan a
nationwide campaign of patriotism
through education was named, to con-
.ist of Prof Albert Bushnell Hart of
Harvard. Arthur L. Bestor. president of
the Chautauqua Institute: J. A. c.
chandler. superintendent of schools of
richmond, Va: Prof. Thomas F. Moran
NJ purdue University and S. Stanwood
Wenken of the Security League.
This campaign plan is to come up in
the resolutions which will be laid be-
fore the convention. Mrs. Douglas Rob
insop of New York. sister of Col.
theodore Roosevelt, is to read an a7I-
dress ty the former President Of the
United States: motion pictures of the
piattsburg camp in action are to be
ebown by the Military Training Camps
Association, and there are to be other
Interesting features during the three
dav program of the convention, which
is 10 conclude with "A big banquet Sat
urday night
Extra Session of Congress
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