The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-01-28
ARMY BILL
Still Under Consideration in
COngress-JOe Cannon
Scores johnson.

washington. Jan. 2.-The oQpposltor
% the army reorganization bill on the
republican side Of The house has become
so strong that today Chairman Hun, af.
ter Mr.. Henderson Of Iowa. one Of the
floor leaders of the majority. had threat
ened to vote to recommit the bill. decld-
ed It would be wise IN order To secure
its passage. to abandon the idea OF pro-
viding directly for q regular army OF 100.
900 men He announced on the floor that
the commission would OFFER amendments
to reduce the number Of enlisted men
TO about sixty thousand but lodge ln
the presidents discretion the auaoritv 20
Increase the army to a maximum OF 100
000. These amendments have been propar-
ed. They provide that the present may.
in his discretion. enlist only sixty men
in the infantry companies and sixty ia
the cavalry troops BY the terms Of the
bill there are to 5o thirty infantry regi-
ments Of ten companies each with
strength of 145 men. and 12 regiments Of
cavalry Of ten troops each with a strength
of 1O6 men. This discretion. If the pres.
ident would exercise It, would reduce the
number of enlisted men about 81 900 and
practically leave t~tact the organization
provided In the bill so far as officers are
concerned. How far this proposed modin-
cation will allay the opposition remaius
to be seen. Mr.. Johnson Of Indiana. who
took prominent part in the fight to-
day after the general debate closed. de-
clared that the purpose of tho bin was
70 have an army Of 100000, either by d.
rect authority or the exercise of the pres
ident's discretion, and ne declared this
purpose TO fight to the bitter end the ma
chinsry which was being favored for a
colonial system.
Mr.. Hull made an extended argument
in defense of the army bin touay He
reviewed the whole war
1t had been charge, he said that the
commission appointed to investigate ,-e
war was stacked" He eulogized all the
members of the commission. Adverting
TO Mr.. Johnson's speech on Wednesday.
no said that never In l6 years experience
had ne heard a speech so deserving of
the condemnation of patriotic hearts
What crime had the president committed?
The president had done everything possl-
BILE to prevent ..le war. Was that a
crime? There was not enough powder IN
the country to last our guns a hours
AAtIt Mfit ltllilti diiiAas silhhhihlNtes sur
gical instruments or other equipment
When war came he quickly set factories
md arsenals in motion. Then he forced
the fighting in two hemispheres and in 113
days he had whipped the enemy on lane
and sea and had wound up the war before
the people Of the country had fully retl
lied that It had begun. Was that q
crIme2 lie had driven the enemy from
Cuba, he had seized Porto Rico end the
richest island Of the Ladrones Was that
crime2 BY the guns Of his country
and by the army he had termmted the
war. Was that a crime? 1ne treaty
dvested Spain of her sovereignty over
the Philippines. After II was ratified new
problems would come.
Until It was ratified the war was legal
iy still in progress. During the war It had
been the duty Of the president as the
commander In chief of the army TO strike
the enemy where the blow would hurt.
He had struck him In the Philippines and
4he echo of that blow would ring through
coming ages. Untn the treaty was rat
fed the president must hold what he had
taken.
but" said he with deliberatlon, "t
say frankly tnat entertain grave doubts
as 20 the wisdom Of holding the Philip
pines against their win"
While this was his present opinion
however. he added that when the time
came TO determine this question he must
know what his duty TO his country was
Mr. Grow, 4.ep.. Pa. argued that tho
future of the Philippines was question
for the future. Neither Filiplnos nor the
Porto Ricans, said he had the right tc
haul down the American flag. Ii had
been planted by the American people and
II must stand until the American people
replaced II.
Mr.. Prince. Rep, his, supported t4e
bin and Mr.. Robinson Dem, Ind, oppos'
ed IT,
Mr.. Cousins, Rep, Iowa, in support Of
the bill, did not touch the philippine
question He said that the milk In the
cocoanut Of the opposition 70 this bill
was its increase In the manifestation OF
federal authority
Mr.. Cousins paid an eloquent tribute. TO
the past deeds Of the United States army
declaring that he had not live- long
enough to learn anything in the history
Of American soldiery to justly that sus-
picion or imputation that the United
states army might be used as menace
to the liberties OF American citizenship
He referred briefly 20 The Valorous
deeds and glorious victories of the revo-
tuition. the war of 1872, the Mexican war
the civil war, to several indian wars
ta. the west and TO the herois struggle at
Santiago. and in conclusion he said:
"In an the years Of toll and strife and
victory that make the history OF our
republic great. the regular army mas
been It's shield and buckler."
Mr. FhzEerald, democrat OF Massa-
c.husetts, closed the general debate In
opposition 10 the bill
CLOSING REMARKS.
Mr.. Hun closed for his side.
The number OF enlisted men provided
!n the BIN, he said, was based not upon
the personal views OF the members Of the
comittee. but the authoritative express
ion Of those who were on the ground
In Cuba, the evacuation commission had
declared that co. 900 soldiers were neces
sary, not necessary to enforce order but
10 insure peace and tranquility without
bloodshed. In Manila the commanding
general thirty days ago mad cabled that
2OOOO men would be enough, bat within
thu last month he had increased that
eazima1e 20 90. The knowledge there.
that pubic opinlop was divided IN THIS
country and the impression that prevail
ed there that the administration might
be turned down had multiplied the dan
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