Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-05
FOR CONSUMPTION
TO build UP ARMY
Former President Taft Urges
Action for Nations Defense
: Now and For Future.
SPEAKS IN BROOKLYN

| NEW YORK, February 5.-Conscrip-
ton to build up an army for the coun-
| try's defense now the war is on us and
for the future as we'll was advocated
| here yesterday by former President
| Taft in an address on The League to
Enforce Peace" before the Brooklyn In
| stitute of Arts and Sciences.
! Stirred as the people are by enthu-
siasm at the break with Germany, they
would support CONSUMPTION measure.
Mr.. Taft believed, not only to meet the
| present situation. but for the future
| after the war shall end Consumption
until now, he said, has been of doubt
! full expediency," because popular oppo-
sition might have halted all plans for
| reasonable preparedness.
| Now the war is on US, however,, he
continued. nov that the people see
| the necessity, why should we not take
| advantage of this state of public mind
and do what justice and real democracy
require. Military duty is part of every
citizens duty. In this country, in the
happy homes of prosperity. l fear many
| of the people have lost the vital sense
of their obligations to the government.
Gives Reasons for CONSUMPTION.
I
been enacted from the great body of
| the people. Consumption is needed to
discipline our native young men and
to teach them respect for authority. 1t
| is needed to teach our millions of newly
created citizens loyalty. Stirred as they
are by enthusiasm, spurred as they are
| by immediate necessity, they would
support Congress in enacttng con-
scription law making provision not only
| for the present, but for the future after
| the war shall end.
4 wholly volunteer system. he said,
| takes the flower of the country's
youth anxious to sacrifice themselves.
and leaves behind those who can only
be dragged in by ultimate resort to
law"
"Why not equalize the burden at
once he asked. place it on all. Re-
quire at least a years service with
the colors from every man between
nineteen and twenty-four. This need
not interfere with capable men under
forty Such CONSUMPTION would FUR
nish a permanent trained force from
the body of the entire people to supply
an adequate defense whenever defense
is necessary.
In opening his remarks on conscrip-
ton, which were in the nature OF
preface to his prepared address. Mr..
Taft said he had been asked to talk on
constructive peace.
Should Look to Future Welfare.
as this topic out of place when this
country faces war. as 1T does today!
he said. 81 do not think So While all
deplore our being forced into war and
appreciate the sacrifice and the suffer
ing it will entail. We should make It's
hard necessities a reason for wise &C
ton looking not only to the immediat
exigency of the war itself. but also TO
our future policy as country ana the
future welfare of the world.
The present situation, he said. should
teach the absolute necessity Tor mill
tary preparedness for seAf-protection.
We have no desire, he said, for DIM
culties with Germany and have done
her no wrong, yet she. in violation OF
our rights. proposes to do that when. II
we value our honor and our vital inter
ests, we must resist by force" There
is nothing else for self-respecting
nation of moral principle to do. he de-
clared.
What would be our situation today
if the English navy were not between
us and Germany" he went on. Can
we afford to rely on the protection OF
another nation always? Would we wish
to do SO? We ought not TO make this
a temporary matter. We ought to
adopt measures to make us independ-
ent.
Argues for Big Army.
There is danger that even now the
sense Of protection that the forces Of
the allies afford US as barrier to Ger
man offensive may lull US into a false
security and weaken our sense Of duty
to ourselves. The navy we shall doubt
| less increase in power and efficiency
! with all dispatch. But the army is
| likely to be of mushroom growth I'M
| less we look ahead. 1t is said we can
| not we'll use an army in this war. OF
/ all guesses. that limiting the extent or
| demands Of war is the least reliable.
| We must resolutely form strong
| army"
| Another lesson Of the situation. he
| said. is that general European war Is
| certain to involve US, and that for
| avoiding war an international police
| must be organized, of which the United
/ States must prepare to assume Just
! share of the burdens.
This war is a notice 10 US that a
| change In our policy with reference to
our international relations is at hand"
| he said. and that the isolation which
| we have heretofore enjoyed Is thing
| of the past, and that in our preparations
| TO meet the needs of this present war
| we should have constantly in mind a
! preparation to take our proper part in
| the councils of the world and in the
| worlds joint action to prevent the re-
currence of another such disaster to the
| hmm n ~