Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 239, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 October 1916 — SHIFTY WILSON ON COLONEL'S BODKIN [ARTICLE]

SHIFTY WILSON ON COLONEL'S BODKIN

Elusive Balancer on string ol Words Pinned Down by Proof That In Fifteen Public Utterances He Took FortyOne. Different Positions on Preparedness. EACH STAND CONTRADICTED FROMI TO 6 OF THE OTHERS Democratic Candidate Said That Out Army Was Ample and That We Did Not Have Enough Troopa to Patrol the Border; That Wa Ware an the Verge of a Maelatram and That There Wae No Critical Situation; That the National Guard Would Not Do and Then That It Muet Do.

In the fourteen months extending from December Bth, 1914, to February 10th, 1916, there were fifteen messages, letters and speeches of Presldent Wilson which I have read. In theat fifteen messages,- letters and speeches, during those fourteen months, President Wilson took fortyone different positions about preparedness and the measures necessary to secure It; and each of these forty-one positions contradicted from one to six of the others. iff many of his speeches the weasel words of one portion of the speech took all the meaning out of the words used In another portion of that speech; and these latter words themselves bad a weasel significance as regards yet other words. He argued for preparedness and against preparedness. He stated that our army was ample; and that_rWe"ttid not have enough troops to patrol the Mexican border in time of peace. He •aid the world was on fire, and that sparks were liable to drop anywhere and cause us to burst Into flame; and he also said that there was no Immediate danger. He said that there was no sudden crisis; and then again that he did not know what a single day would bring forth. He said that we were on the verge of a maelstrom; •fid then' that there was no special or critical situation. He said the dapger was constant and immediate; and also that we were not threatened from any quarter. He said 'that there was no fear among us; and also that we were in dally danger bf seeing the vital Interest and honor of the country menaced and the flag of the United States stained with Impunity. He said that we were In very critical danger of being Involved in the great European struggle; and also that there was no need to discuss the question of defense, or to get nervous or excited about It. In one and the same speech, he said that a sufficient number of men would volunteer, and that if they did not he would be ashamed of America; and he also said that he did not know of any law which laid upon them the duty of coming Into the army, if it should be .necessary to call for volunteers. He said that we needed 500,000 volunteers, and that if there was any legitimate criticism of this demand it was becauss It was too small; and as soon as Congressman Hay objected to the plan, he promptly abandoned it. He ■aid that the National Guard was not the proper body upon which to rely; and then not only changed his own mind but forced his own Secretary of War out of his cabinet, because this Secretary possessed less flexible convictions and was unable Instantly to reverse himself when going at full ■peed.—From the Speech of Colonel Roosevelt at Battle Creek, Michigan, in Behalf of Mr. Hughes.