The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1900-04-11

II Is likely that before many days SEN
timent will crystaliEe on one Of the
candidates and there will be a deter
mined effort to bring about his nomi-
nation.
There will be good field Of candi-
dates for these two nominations for
ongressmen-at-large at the Harris
burg convention. From the western
section OF the state II is announced
that Congressman Davenport, OF Erie,
will not be an aspirant for renomina-
ton as congressman-at-large. DR.. I.
L. Flood, Of Crawford county. Is being
backed by the Republicans in his sec
ton Of the state and J. B. Steel, OF
Westmoreland, carried that county for
the same honor over former Congress
man Robbins. Then Mr.. oliver,
manufacturer of Allegheny, is highly
spoken OF and two or three others have
been mentioned from the western and
northwestern counties. The fact that
Senator E. B. Hardenbergh. Of Wayne.
has gotten such long lead in the race
for the nomination for auditor gen.
eral has not been relished by those
who are advocating another term for
ongressman-at-Large Grow. who halls
from the adjoining county of Susque-
hanna. Mr.. Grow has not been able to
get about much of late on account OF
illness. There has been no personal OPP
position to him, but the demand for a
younger and more active representative
from the Quaker City business men
has, of course. had its effect upon Mr..
Crows candidacy for denomination.
What the outcome will be at the
state convention 1t is difficult to say.
ARMOR PLATE PROBLEM.
II congress removes the price limit
on armor plate, which now appears al
together likely. the present naval ap-
preparation bill, the same measure OF
the previous session, and the work now
under way will set the shipyards of the
country at work on navy which, in
point Of efficiency, is not excelled In the
world.
Philadelphia, through the great
Cramp plant, should profit much by the
creation of this new navy, for with
vastly increased space and facilities the
big Delaware river yards will be fully
capable of undertaking any or all OF
the new work for which contracts may
be secured. The present naval pro-
gram contemplates the construction OF
two seagoing coast line battleships OF
approximately 13, 500 tons each, to cost
about SO, soc, 900 apiece, exclusive of ar
NOR and armament; three armored
cruisers of $1,000 tons each, costing not
over $4,250 900 each, and three protect
ed cruisers of 5000 tons, TO cost about
$500 900 each. Added to these eight
ships must be the three similar sized
battleships, Pennsylvania, Georgia and
New Jersey, and the three great cruis-
ers, West Virginia, Nebraska and Cali
fornia, which were authorized in the
last bill, but which have never been
contracted for, because Of the $500 a
ton limit placed on the purchase Of ar
NOR plates.
Thus, If the restrictions are all re-
moved, there will be contracts to let
for IA tremendously powerful fighting
ships, each of the very best Of her
class. What kind of ships these will
be and how they will be armored is just
now engrossing the attention of naval
authorities all over the country. 1t is
admitted that with such models as the
Alabama, Iowa, Indiana, Kearsarge and
Maine in the battleship class, and the
New York and Brooklyn in the cruiser
line, the new productions can not vel
be anything but the very highest devel
opment of the ship Of war.
Pennsylvania great iron and stee
industries await with some anxiety the
outcome Of this issue In congress.