In September of 1914 the writer placed the following suggestion on the top of his syndicate athletic article:
AMERICANS AWAKE!
Guard your shores and train your men,
Teach your growing youth to fight;
Make your plans ere once again
Ships of foes appear in sight.
Teach new arts until you hold
In your bounds all things you need.
Then you can't be bought or sold;
From commercial bonds be freed!
If Manhattan rich you'd save,
If your western Golden Gate—
Train a field force, rule the wave.
Every day you're tempting fate!
Build the ships and train to arms,
Make your millions fighting strength
That shall frighten war's alarms
Ere they reach a challenge length.
He was immediately assailed as a militarist, and yet, had we but taken those preparatory steps, millions of lives might have been saved.