Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1937-05-27

millions of citizens of the United
States come onto
LooR at this earth since
the Facts the armistice Of
1918. Among these
are undoubtedly many who will
learn of the present neutrality law
with a feeling of safety; who will
think that nothing now can happen
and their mothers, wives and sweet
hearts will feel they need not worry
about the time when these younger
generations of men will have to
march away, with drums beating
and flags flying, v to return.
For their peace of mind, the pres
ent neutrality law certainly is help
full. My suggestion is, however, that
they look the facts in the face. When
n of these overt acts is commit
ted, in we will go regardless of the
neutrality law.
I might advert to some of the
things that happened between 1914
and April 6, 1917. President Will
son, a sincere advocate of peace,
did the best he could to prevent
participation in the World war. 1t
was a matter that actually brought
about his reelection in 1916 because
his campaign leaders used the slo-
gan, "He kept us out of war;"
Events came through with such
startling speed, however, that a
month after he was inaugurated for
his second term, he was standing on
the rostrum before a joint session
of congress asking for immediate
passage of a resolution placing our
country in the war on the side of
the Allies and against Germany and
the Central Powers. Two days later
we were formally in the fight and
then, once we were made a bellig-
erent by the decision of our govern
ment, it became "a wal to make
the world safe for democracy"
I think I need not review all of
the various slogans that we're an
ployed in the national propaganda
to solidify our nation behind its mil
itary forces. There were many of
them. The nation was n%inety-fve
per cent behind the government in
a war to end all wars. Hundreds
upon hundreds of millions of dollars
were borrowed from our citizens
who bought, first, liberty bonds and
later, victory bonds. For the first
time in later history of our nation
we had a tremendous national debt,
more than ten billions of which were
loaned to those nations with which
we were associated in the war. The
remainder of these funds was spent
like money in the hands of a drunk
en- sailor, ashore for the first time
in the year. Nor is there criticism
to be made of that spending be-
cause we were not prepared for
war.
So, while I do not now foresee our
participation in any conflict within
the next few years, I am quite con-
WINGED that Mr.. Roosevelt has pur-
sued an absolutely sound program
in advocating a strong navy and a
strong army. 1t will serve us we'll
and will cost is very much less
than if this building up process had
to be accomplished overnight -as it
was in 1917. 1t may be surprising
to a good many people to know that
u army at present ranks as num-
Der II in the list of armies of ma
tions wen though our country is one
of the largest and one of the richest
in the family of nations.
My belief is that if our navy is
made to rank with the greatest and
plans are worked out as Mr.. Roose-
welt is trying to work them out so
that our army will be possible of
expansion, taxpayers money will be
much better spent than through
boondoggling or wasted through
useless development of theoretical
schemes.
AS the battle over President
Roosevelt's proposal to pack the SUI
preme court of the
supreme United States with
Court six new judges
grows in heat, it
becomes increasingly evident that
members of congress are looking to
the political aspects of the situation
to a greater extent than obtained in
the early stages of the fight. This
circumstance certainly is working
to the advantage of those who op-
pose the Presidents scheme and it
is interesting to look at the picture
from that angle.
My observation of congressional
activities in the past leads me to be.
lieve that every President must ex
pect in his second term a certain
amount of detection, a certain
amount Of running away, among the
supporters who stood by him I'm.
f%inchingly during his first term. Oh
course, most of his stalwarts will
stick by him through thick and thir
but it always has happened that E
rather deep fringe of his party will
begin to balk or duck when they
reach the second lap and know tina
the head of their party will no
seek election to a third term. The
reason must be quite obvious. Al
members of the house and one-thire
of tho copata pnpohnrchip boxyo 4,