Evening star., 1933-01-31
WOMAN PATRIOTS
ASKFOR STRONGER
NATIONAL DEFENSE
Mrs. Brosseau Urges Con.
ference to Bring Pressure
on Congressman.
LONDON TREATY NAVY
is TERMED ESSENTIAL
Representative Chapman Says Ma
ton Should Take Washing
tons Advice

resolutions urging Congress to strength
en- the Army, Navy and Marine Corps
Mrs. Grace Brosseau, Resolutions
Committee chairman, read the names
Of Senators and Representatives upon
whom pressure should be brought to
accomplish increased defense appro-
priations, and asked the women to visit
them this afternoon.
The resolutions included urging upon
Congress that defensive forces be main
tanned in sufficient strength at all
times; that the Treaty of London be
fulfilled in construction of war vessels
that the Navy be built up to a strength
comparable to the navies of other
countries; that the national defense
act be fully carried out and that a
clause in a pending bill providing for
reductions in pay to Army officers be
stricken out.
Chapman Urges Defense.
Representative Virgil Chapman of
Kentucky, introduced by his constituent
Mrs. S. Afford Blackburn, president OF
the American Legion Auxiliary, urged
a strong national defense policy.
Peace is a great ideal, but human
nature has not changed" he said.
Disarmament, yes-when the other
nations of the world disarm.
Meanwhile let us not be lulled into
a false sense Of security in these times
OF ominous rumblings throughout the
earth"
Chapman said If America had main
tanned the defense posture" advised by
George Washington. this country would
not have been involved in the World
War. Illustrating unpreparedness, he
said: mot a single American air
plane ever few over German trench
Maj. Gen. George D. Leach, chief o1
the Militia Bureau. also pointed tc
Washington's famous dictum on pre-
paredness as a model for Congress te
follow.
Princess Protests Move.
Princess Cantacuzene Speransky
granddaughter Of President Grant
made a protest move against with
drawal Of the Daughters of the Aneri-
can Revolution from the Woman's
Patriotic Conference.
The princess invited all the dissent
ing daughters who have come to the
conference, despite the non-participa'
ton Of the organization. to tea thi:
afternoon at the Sulgrave Club. She
SdlO ~ NOu4O VIC al 4lO&lOA Va 34A .
Brosseau and Mrs. Lowell Fletcher He.
bart, the two immediate past president.
general of the D. A. r., WHO are taking
important roles in the conference
Mrs. Hobart will be chairman of the
conference dinner at the Mayaowe;
tonight.
"A respectable defense discourage'
aggression" Gen Leach said in urgint
the STRENGTHENING of the Nationa
Guard, which he characterized as tht
Nations first line Of defense and one
OF its most important military assets
He said he believed Congress wishes II
retain adequate national defense, anc
that economy and defense can bt
reconcled.
Mrs. Oliphant Speaks.
Another speaker was Mrs. o. D. Oil
phant, permanent honorary chairman
of the conference, who told the dele
gates I'VE are here to remind our rep
resentatives in Congress of the pitiablt
condition of our national defense, anc
to petition them to live up to thei
covenant Of the national defense &C
of 1920"
other speakers on today's program
are Senator David I. Walsh Of Massa
chusetts, Brig. Gen. Henry j. Refill,
and Brig. Gen. Oscar Westover. Col
Alvin M. Owsley will deliver the princi'
pal address at the banquet tonight.
Tomorrow's schedule includes meet
ing at the hotel headquarters IN tn!
morning and a pilgrimage to the Toni
of the Unknown Soldier tomorrow after
noon. The convention will close OH
cially with the morning session.
"United States on Powder Keg."
"The need for proper force, the dan
ger of another war, the possibilities anc
probabilities of entangling alliances ane
jealousies have grown until the United
States now is sitting on the proverbia
powder keg," Louis A. johnson, nationa
commander of the American Legion
told the opening session Of the confer
ence last night at the Mayflower.
"Our war debts have been repudiatec
in spirit at least, and the hatred behinc
such action has dropped its mantle ol
diplomacy. Without and within oul
own borders the Communists have be-
come bolder and stronger, with thu
avowed and open pronouncement that
the American Government must bt
overthrown. by revolution" Mr.. John
son said.
"The American Legion Is suspicion.
Of the motives behind the cry for econ.
omy In the excuse to cut down ano
eliminate reasonable and needed &C.
tivities in our Army and Navy" ht
stated.
$3.50 Per Capita for Army.
while we are spending 81 (per
capita) for police and So for fire de-
partments, we are spending only $3.50
for the Army" Mr.. johnson said. zone
dollar more from each person would
give us q real adequate Regular Army
Other speakers on the program last
night were Maj. Gen. Paul B. Malone
commander Of the Sd Corps Area; Brig
Gen. George A. Richards of the Marine
Corps and Rear Admiral F. B. Upham
chief Of the Navigation Bureau. All
three urged adequate national defense
and preparedness.
Mrs Blackburn, president Of the
American Legion Auxiliary and chair
man Of the conference, greeted the
Ia1a~oto~ o~I or,ocfc OF tia ~