Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-11-02
THE LAST ARMY BILL.
Favored by Democrats In Congress
when They Voted Last
Year.

The democrats were not so fear
fully afraid of -our large standing
army" when they voted last year that
more men were needed in the Phil
ippines. With few exceptions they
voted for the increase, and when the
question was pending they made ut
terances that look queer when COM
pared with what they are saying now,
when small politics are doing.
There was Senator Francis NJ. Cock
reI, of Missouri. On the 25th of Feb
ruary, 1892 he said, speaking on the
army bill:
This measure has been examined
carefully, and | want to say / in
dorse it. / indorse it because / be
lieve it is right, and inst, and prop
er. and necessary; and in addition no
that, il will settle for years to- come
the question OF the reorganization of
the regular standing army. When
1901 comes, the army will revert to
bill without debate or contention, and
it will remain at that figure, and L
think that is amply sufficient.
~ have been connected with sew
eral efforts to reorganize the army
We have never been able 10 get any
thing that could meet with approval,
and | believe honestly and conscien-
tiously that this is the best measure
that has been presented TO the con-
gress of the United StStes for set
Ting the regular army Of the United
States since | entered this chamber.
on the 4th of March, 1875. | do not
believe that YOU will ever get bet
ter one. Therefore | shall
endorse the bill. | vote for il heart
lily and cheerfully. / beueye it is
right i'm the sight Of God and man,
and | am Wiling to take the respon-
siblity for il.
Senator Richard Z. Kenney. OF Del
aware, democrat, said on February %,
1890:
81 agree with the distinguished SEN
ator from Missouri, Mr.. Coclrel; It
believe ii is right i'm the sight of God
and man. and, like him, | ann willing
10 take my share OF the responsible
itv for its enactment.
Senator ~ O. Bacon, Of Georgia.
said on February ~, 1899:
~ am voting to furnish the prcsi-
dent with 1900 men, which he and
his secretary Of war say arc ueces-
sary TO enable the president TO per
form the duty imposed upon the eX-
ecutive by the ratiiicationof the treaty
Of the annexation of the Philippine
islands,"
SdU more emphatic was Congress-
man William Suzer, Of Now York.
now a Bryan boomer. On March I,
speaking on the army bin, he said:
81 ann in favor Of il and shall do all
/ can to pass it. Fifty-tvc members
of the senate voted for it, and only
~ voted against il. ] trust
that every democrat who svmpathi2cs
with the men under arms at Manila,
with our soldiers and sailors in the
Philippines. will uphold at this crit
ical moment the hands Of the presi-
dent and give him the power vested
In him 10y the terms of this bill. ] am
partisan, but i'm times like these |
always subordinate my partisanship
10 my patriotism. We should all be
patriots to-day. We must not forget.
we must not forsalle, our tbraye and
heroic soldiers and sailors who are
unfolding and defending our flag in
the orient.
This is no time 70 be captious.
This is no time to split hairs or play
small politics. We should do our
duty. We should do what is right,
and the people will Judge us accord
inplv"