Evening star., 1925-10-06
Full Text of Presidents Speech
Before American Legion Meeting

III AOSAoH NACCahlS
ing the past year, under the distin
guished and efficient leadership of
Comdr. Drain, the Legion itself has
undertaken to provide an endowme Mt
fund of s5,000.000 to minister TO the
charitable requirements of their com
rades. The response to this appeal
has been most generous. and the re
suits appear most promising. The
Government can do much. but it can
never supply the personal relationship
that comes from the ministrations OF
private charity of that kind.
Inflated Condition.
The next most pressing problem was
the better ordering of the finances of
the Nation. Our Government was cost
ing almost more than II was worth.
1t had more people on The pay roll
than were necessary. all of whic h
made expenses too much and taxes
too high. This inflated condition con
tributed to the depression which he.
gan in 1920. But the Government ex-
penditures have been almost cut In
TWO, taxes have been twice reduced
and The incoming Congress will pro-
vide further reductions. Defation has
uli ItS toul anu tiit Vi q 'l bhSlIi'S.
activity and general prosperity, ex-
ceeding anything ever before expert
enced in this country and fairly we'll
distributed among all our people, is
already at hand.
Our country has larger Army and
a more powerful Navy. costing an
nually almost twice as much as it ever
before had in time Of peace. l am a
thorough believer in policy of ade-
quate military prepara ton. We are
constantly working to perfect our de-
fenses in every branch. land forces.
air forces. surface and submarine
forces. That work will continue. Our
military establishment Of the Army
and Navy. the National Guard and
the Reserve Corps is far superior TO
anything we have ever maintained he
fore. except in time of war. In the
past six wears we have expended about
-. 600 600. 600 for this purpose. That
ought 10 show results. and those who
have correct Information know that
il does show results. The country can
resI assured that if security lies in
military force it was never 40 secure
before in all its history.
Opposes Competitive Armament.
We have been attempting 70 relieve
ourselves and the other nations from
the old theory OF competitive arma.
ments. In spite of all the arguments
In favor Of great military forces, no
nation ever had an.army large enough
to guarantee it against attack in time
Of peace or to insure its victory in
time of war No nation ever will.
Peace and security are more likely to
result from fair and honorable deal
inss. and mutual agreements for a
limitation of arn,a aments among ma
tions. than by any attempt at competi-
tion in suuadrons and hattalions. No
doubt this country could. If II wished
TO spend more money. make a better
military force, but that Is only part Of
the problem which confronts our Gov
eminent. The real question is whether
spending more money TO make a bet
ter military force would really make
better country. I would he the last
TO disparage the military art. 1t is an
honorable and patriotic calling of the
highest rank. But l can see no merit
In any unnecessary expenditure OF
money to hire men to build fleets and
carry muskets when international re.
lations and agreements permit the
turning Of such resources into the
making Of good roads. the building Of
better homes, the promotion OF educa
tion and all the other arts Of peace
which minister to the advancement OF
human welfare. Happily, the position
of our country is such among the
other nations Of the world that we
have been and shall be warranted in
proceeding in this direction.
Insisted on ECONOMY.
While 1t IL true that we are paying
out far more money and maintaining
a much stronger military establish
thon hof4rA h.,c Of 81,
conditions stated. we have been able
TO pursue a moderate course. Our peo
pie have had all the war, all the taxa
tion and all the military service that
they want. They have therefore wish
ed to emphasize their attachment tc
our ancient policy of peace. They have
insisted upon economy. They have
supported the principle OF limitation
of armaments. They have been able to
do this because of their position and
their strength in numbers and In re
sources. We have a tremendous nat
ural power which supplements our
arms. We are conscious that no other
nation harbors any design to put us
IN jeopardy. 1t is our purpose in our
intercourse with foreign powers 10
rely not on the strength of our fleets
and our armies. but on the justice OF
our cause. For these reasons our
country has not wished to maintain
huge military forces. 1t has been con.
Flnced that II could better serve itself
and better serve humanity by using
its resources for other purposes.
In dealing with our military prob
lens there is one principle that is eX
ceedingly important. Our institutions
are founded not on military power
but on civil authority. We are ire
Vocably committed to the theory Of a
government hv the people We have
our constitutions and our laws, our
executives. our legislatures and our
courts. but ultimately we are govern.
ed by public opinion. Our forefathers
had seen so much Of militarism and
suffered so much from 1t that they de-
sired to Danish 1t forever They he.
lieved and declared In at least one of
their state constitutions that the mill
tdrE power should he subordinate to
and governed by the civil authority.
1t Is for this reason that any oreani
cation OF men In the military service
bent on inflaming the public mind for
the purpose of forcing Government
action through the pressure of public
opinion Is an exceedingly dangerous
Undertaking and precedent. This il
SO Whatever form it might take
whether 1t be for the purpose of infIu.
encins the executive. the legislature
or the heads of departments. 1t is for
the civil authority to determine what
appropriations shall be granted. what
appointments shall be made and what
rules shall be adopted for the conduct
OF It's armed forces. Whenever the
mliltarE power starts debating to the
clvll authority. by Whatsoever mean.
euop,en' the liberties of the country
are beginning TO epd N,,io,,I =
tense should At all times ta sunnor,
cd. hut any form Of militia rism shouts
he resisted.
Mobilization of Resources.
I-ndouhf edl,- nna Of 4La -