The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-12
NECESSITY FOR A BIG NAVY.
SENATE BELIEVES 1T SHOULD BE
BUILT AT ONCE.

Questton-Lodge Opposed the Till
man Amendment to Limit the
Price of Armor Plate to 5000 a
Ton-Bacon and Others Want a
Government Plant.
Washington, May 11.-No disposition
has been made as yet of the naval APP
preparation bill by the Senate, but after
an all-day discussion an agreement was
reached to vote on the armor plate sec
ton at o'clock tomorrow afternoon.
During to-day's discussion notable
speech was delivered by Mr.. Lodge of
Massachusetts, upon the necessity of
building up the United States navy with
out delay.
The pending amendment when consider
alton of the bill was resumed was that
of Mr.. Tllman for a straight price of
$500 per ton for armor and a govern
ment armor factory costing not over $4,-
OOO co.,
Mr.. Lodge of Massachusetts, speaking
in opposition to the amendment, said that
for the past three years the senators
from South Carolina and New Hampshire,
Odr. Tillman and Mr.. Chandler), had been
endeavoring to get arnor at low price
The net result of their work had been to
put stop to the construction of navy
He had no prejudice against a government
armor pant, but to stop the building of
all ships until the armor plant could be
erected, would, he thought, be a fatal mis-
take.
My reasons for desiring more ships"
said he, land desiring them quickly, is
my belief that the safety of the United
States depends upon the strength of our
navy. We do not need the navy for the
protection of our insular possessions. The
danger lies in our great coast line and
in the defense of the Monroe doctrine in
the Western continent. For the defense
of this great coast line and the cities
studding 1t we have no adequate fleet
We are about to enter upon the construc-
ton Of an Isthmian canal 10 defend, con-
troll and operate which we must be the
naval master of the Caribbean sea. We
must have far more powerful fleet than
we have to-day The safety of the canal
depends upon our fleet.
Way to Insure Peace.
"A great feet Is the greatest insurance
of peace. We should not close our eyes
10 the possibilities of the situation We
could never allow the Danish Islands to
pass into any other hand that ours The
European nation which should undertake
90 take possession of those islands right
on the road TO the canal and to make of
them great naval stations would by that
very act become an enemy of ours. We
could submit to no such thing as that
The Monroe doctrine is a great protec-
tion to the United. States. Men of all
parties-Democrats Republicans and Pop
ulists-without distinction, adhere to that.
II am by no means sure that some Euro
pean nation (perhaps one whose navy is
4xfre roa .oV,5A f,,0r ~
not test the Monroe doctrine. We may be
called upon to protect that doctrine in
Brazil or in some other South American
country"
Already too much time had been lost If
the Monroe doctrine should be endan-
gered or If our coast should be menaced
we should be prepared and it would be
weak excuse that we had been engaged
in thro1t ing an egregious monopoly.
In a colloquy with Mr.. Lodge Mr.. Till
man said it was well known that the navy
of the United States was superior to that
of Germany.
Mr.. Lodge pointed TO the great increase
that now was being made in the German
navy.
IF the Senator thinks" said Mr.. Lodge,
there is no danger to be apprehended,
fear he undertakes the importance of the
subject-a subject TO which 1 have given
much thought and consideration"
Advocated Government Plant.
Mr.. Bacon of Georgia, advocated the
construction of a government factory, be-
cause he believed it would be protection
of the interests of the United States. He
strongly advocated the proposed increase
in the navy in order that the country
might be prepared to defend the Monroe
doctrine, and its coast. At the same time
he deprecated the fact that the govern
ment was, as he said, al the mercy of the
hrmor trust.
Mr. Daniel Of Virginia spoke.
IL is evident" he said, that the arm
ored battleship cannot be regarded longer
as the king of the ocean. The gun has
superseded the armor. 1t is a question
whether, in view of the wonderful work
OF these soft-nosed shells which not only
penetrate the armor, but go through the
snip and out on the other side we should
pulld any more of these iron candle
boxes"
Mr.. Daniel said all nations should I'M
derstand that the Monroe doctrine would
be defended, even if the United States had
to fight.
NO nation on this EARTH" said he,
would be so fatuous as TO seek to be
treading upon the skirts of the United
states. 1t is a mighty serious business,
IN which any nation is likely to be
wonsted"
Mr.. Daniel said that this government
mace the Monroe doctrine and it would
make any other doctrine that might be
necessary for les interests. But he had no
alarmist views as to war.
would build an armor plant now and
would let the battleships wait for their
arnor until we could make it, l would let
this gigantic trust know that we are not
helpless and submissive"
Defended Manufacturers.
Mr.. Penrose of Pennsylvania offered an
amendment authorizing the Secretary OF
tne Navy to procure the best quality of
erinor for the battleships Maine Ohio and
missouri at S545 a long ton. including roy
alues' He vigorously protested against
turers
mr. Elkins of West Virginia argued
at5iallst government plant, as did Mr.
Allson, who spoke on the score of econ
olny' The latter said 1t would be four
years before a government armor plate
could be put on a ship.
AT o'4O p. m. the Senate adjourned.
SUNDAY GCETnnI. IDICNFC