The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-11-02
THE LAST ARMY BILL.
when They Voted Last
Year.

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 wnen COM
pared with what they are saying now,
when small politics are doing.
There was Senator Francis M. Cock
rell, of Missouri. On the 25th of Feb
ruary, 1899, he said, speaking on the
army bill:
This measure has been examined
carefully, and l want to say l in
dorse it. / indorse it because l be-
lieve it is right, and just, and prop
er, and necessary; and in addition to
that, it will settle for years to come
the question of the reorganization OF
the regular standing army. When
1901 comes, the army will revert to
what it is provided for in the pending
bill without debate or contention, and
it will remain at that figure, and l
think that is amply sufficient.
81 have been connected with sew
eral efforts to feorganize the army.
We have never been able to get any
thing that could meet with approval,
and l believe honestly and conscien-
tiously that this is the best measure
that has been presented to the con-
gress of the United States for set
Ting the regular army of the United
States since l entered this chamber,
on the 4th of March, 1878. l do not
believe that you will ever get bet
ter one. Therefore 1 shall
endorse the bill. I vote for it heart
lily and cheerfully. / beneve it is
right in the sight of God and man,
and l am Wiling to take the respon-
siblity for it.
Senator Richard r. Kenney, of Del
aware, democrat, said on February 27,
1890:
81 agree with the distinguished SEN
ator from Missouri, Mr.. Cockrell; i
believe it is right in the sight Of God
and man. and, like him, l am willing
to take my share of the responsible
ity for it's enactment.
Senator A. o. Bacon, OF Georgia,
said on February 81, 1899:
81 am voting to furnish the presi-
dent with 1900 men, which he and
his secretary of war say are neces-
sary to enable the president to per-
form the duty imposed upon the ex-
ecutive by the ratification of the treaty
of the annexation of the Philippine
| islands,"
Still more emphatic was Congress
man william Sulzer, of New York,
now Bryan boomer. On March 1,
speaking on the army bill, he said:
ct am in favor of il and shall do all
I can to pass it. Fifty-five members
of the senate voted for 1t, and only
IS voted against it. trust
that every democrat who sympathizes
with the men under arms at Manila,
with our soldiers and sailors in the
Philippines, will uphold at this crit
zeal moment the hands Of the presi-
dent and give him the power vested
in him by the terms of this bill. I am
q partisan, but in times like these I
always subordinate my partisanship
to my patriotism. We should all be
patrlOtS to-udy. we muSe hot loiBeo,
we must not forsake, our brave and
heroic soldiers and sailors who are
unfolding and defending our flag in
| the orient.
''This is no time to 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
IN rlxr ~