The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-12

r. O. Dor 2H, Mew York City.
NEW YORK. HALL & RucKeL. LONDON
a poor reply. when, short OF ships. to say:
Well. at least we have kept an egregious
monopoly out of an extortionate proft.
1t is better to be forehanded In sucn
things. 1t is better to take the part
which will lead to an immediate oonstruc-
ton of the Navy, and that means the
adoption of the amendment reported by
the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Under that amendment We have an op-
portunity to get armor anywhere If
reasonable price be accepted, and If not
we will build our own plant. Therefore l
sincerely trust that no man will try to
arrest the building of ships"
MIR. Tillman asked Mr.. Lodge whether
the American Navy was not superior to
that of Germany and whether the Danish
Islands question was not mere scare.
THE Germans have now eighteen bat
tleships and eighteen more battleships
have been authorized said Mr.. Lodge,
so that it is expected that in 1908 Ger
many will have thirtysin battleships.
The Danish Islands question may be
scare, but II the Senator from South Car
DINA thinks that there is no danger of
interference with the Monroe Doctrine he
differs widely from the conclusion / have
formed"
Il do not say that there Is no danger"
said Mr.. Tillman. Il want to meet 1t.
want the Government to build all the ships
that are needed. and to get them at rea-
sonable prices
Strong Navy Imperative.
Mr.. Bacon said that the tendency Of the
time made the construction of a strong
Navy imperative, and he believed that the
construction OF an armor plate factory
was the right step in the right direction.
1T is conceded by everyone that the Gov
eminent is being fieeced by the armor
plate Makers he said. ''Mr. Hale him
self Acknowledges it and says that there
is no doubt about II. He says that these
corporations have put the knife into the
Government
Yes" said Mr.. Tillman. "and now, Mr.
Hale wants to hold the knife while these
corporations turn it around
Mr.. Bacon added that Mr.. Lodge had
stated that the Carnegie Company had
openly cheated the Government by selling
it blow hole armor plates.
AT some future time l will take Mr..
| Bacon to task for making these charges
| against honest Senator'S" said Mr. PEN
rose.
Il acknowledge saying that the plate
| people put the knife into the Govern
ment.' said Mr.. Hale.
And l acknowledge that said that the
| Carnegie people had cheated the Govern
ment,' said Mr.. Lodge.
Mr. Penrose read some figures to show
| that the profits of the Carnegie people
were not remarkably big.
| Mr. Bacon continued his argument for a
| Government armor plant showing that the
armor companies had paid for their plants
| in profits from the Government
Mr.. Daniel said that to his mind the
| discovery of new projectile that could
penetrate any armor would have a good
effect on the peace of the world.
1T is well known" said he. that we
| viii fight to maintain the Monroe Doc
| trine. and the other nations of the world
| have sense enough to avoid trouble with
| US, which could only result destructively
| 10 them. The armor plate trust has the
| Government by the throat. 1t has knife
| in one hand, while the other is plunged
deep into the pocket of the nation which
has fostered and protected it. Suppose
war was to come tomorrow. We would be
absolutely at the mercy of this trust, and
yet We are still unprepared for just such
an emergency. We have passed the De-
riod of temPorizing and must build an
armor plant Of our own. / will not con-
sent to buy one more plate OF armor from
this trust. Our worst enemies are at
home with us and the trusts are the
worst of these. We have reached the
point where We must take stand and
defend ourselves against trusts, and espe-
cially this trust
Now is our time to take action in the
matter. We are at peace with all the
world. and should take the opportunity to
look out Tor our interests. If it goes out
that trust found in Washington Con-
gress that surrendered to it, may all ar
chitecture cease and the sound of the
hammer stop. II will be an object lesson
for the people. 1 shall vote to construct
the armor plant.
No Nation Seeking Wur
The United States will always defend
and execute the Monroe Doctrine. and the
better that fact is understood and the fur
Their the knowledge of that fact permeates
mankind the better for mankind and the
better for the country. / do not think that
knowledge Of that fact is likely to provoke
war. To my mind it will act as a pallia
tive. l do not believe that there is any
nation on this earth so fatuous and so blind
TO its interests as to be seeking to tread
on the skirts of the United States. There
is no fact better known to all mankind
imam tHe lacl lnat thlS nation VIII light
for the Monroe Doctrine. There is no other
fact better known TO all mankind than that
fight with this nation is a very serious
business. The nation which gets into a
fight with us is pretty sure TO be worsted.''
Mr. Gallery asked whether the action of
the United States In the East was not a
violation of the Monroe Doctrine
Mr. Daniel replied that 1t made no diff
ference whether it was or not. and he
added: Whatever this country does 1t is
going to stand by. and any nation which
thinks it is going TO get the better of this
country by criticising and opposing the
Monroe Doctrine will find itself most grave
ly mistaken. ] do not believe that any war
with this country is imminent / do not
believe ii because ! have confidence in the
intelligence of other nations and because
that any war with this nation will be de-
structlve Of the interests OF any nation
which complicates itself in that way.
confide in the craftsmanship and good
sense OF other nations to avoid war with
US. And for that reason l am not in haste
to do those things which are not wise in
themselves to be done. / think that this
nation occupies such position of impreg-
inability in self-defence and of such power
as an aggressor that | can afford TO have
some contentment in the consciousness of
lis might of all its vast resources, of the
absolute union of its whole people, Of the
inventive genius o; the country and of its
industrial capacity. and l am willing to
20 slow in order TO go sure in the right
direction"
Mr. Daniel spoke at some length and