Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1901-01-16
SUPREMACY OF THE WORLD.
Senator Lodge Outlines Probabilities OF
the Next Decade.

Washington, Jan. IA notable
speech was delivered in the senate
today by Mr.. Lodge OF Massachu'
sets. Addressing the senate on an
amendment to the army bill striking
out the provision OF a veterinary
corps, he discussed briefly and prin.
.cipally In the form OF acolloquy with
Senator Bacon of Georgia the Phil.
ippine question and the necessity OF
an army Of 100, 900, In connection
with this he drew a brilliant word
pic ture of the commercial future OF
the United States, declaring that the
trade conflict with Europe, already
begun, could result only in the com
mercial and economical supremacy
of this country over theentire world.
In this industrial conflict he appre-
hended M danger from a material
contest with any Of the world, but
he urged the necessity for a strong
and scientifically organized army
and a powerful navy in order that
the United States may be prepared
to- defend itself against any possible
foe.
Discussing the general features of
the measure. Mr.. Lodge said that he
did not think that any American cit
izen honestly believed that the liber-
ty OF the American people was men,
aced by an army Of 100000. AS to
the situation In the Philippines, Mr..
Lodge maintained that "organized
rebellion has ceased and the local
George Washington IL in hiding"
SIN a short time" said Mr.. Lodge,
81 firmly believe there will be peace
and order throughout the Philippine
islands" He did not think. how
ever that the probability Of out
breaks of the Moros and the uncivil-
tribes of the interior ever would be
eliminated.
Mr.. Bacon inquired how long Mr..
Lodge thought a large army might
be needed in the Philippines. Mr..
Lodge believed that in n short time.
comparatively, there would begreat-
err peace and order in the islands than
they had ever known. After some
sharp sparring. Mr.. Bacon put the
question to Mr.. Lodge:
From your knowledge as chair
man Of the Philippine committee, of
the conditions in the islands, will the
army of 10000 he needed there for a
short time, Or for an indefinite timer
Mr.. Lodge-What il n short time?
Mr.. Bacon-WeN, say two years.
"My Judgment is" replied Mr..
Lodge, ''that at the end of two years
we will be able to reduce very largely
the army in the Philippines. That
is my belief. Spain had an army of
$1,000 men and kept very bad order
"And occupied little territory" III
terjected Mr.. Bacon"
"Yes, and occupied little territory"
assented Mr.. Lodge.
He maintained, however, that
with a force of $4,000 in the Philip
pines the United States have kept
better order In the islands than has
ever been known there. With that
force in the Philippines, there could
be $1,000 men left to man the fortiii-
cations of the country, a force which
he believed TO be inadequate. In adj
dition that force would be called up.
on to guard the ~Nicaraguan canal
which it was proposed 500 to build,
On that canal there would be en-
ployed 10000 laborers. They would
have to be guarded. In his opinion
at the end of two years the force In
the Philippines could be reduced ma
.erially and at the end of four or five
years the force probably be reduced
safely to 10000 In conclusion,
Mr.. Lodge drew a brilliant word pic
ture OF the future OF the United
States.
II am no alarmist and / have no
fears that we are in any danger OF
war with anybody" said Mr.. Lodge,
land | do not believe there ia a nat
ion on earth that has any desire to
attack US. But no man can tell
what may happen at any time.
"We have come in the process OF
our development until we have *
banded far beyond our own markets
commercially and we are breaking
into every market in the world. 1t
is a part OF u economic develop
ment. We are marching along to-
ward the economic supremacy Of the
world, in my Judgment. Look at
Europe and then compare it with
the United States. 1t has been
worked over for a thousand years at
least in the endHavor to draw out all
it's resources. We are beating Eu-
rope in iron and steel; we can turn
them out ut a price Europe cannot
meet. We are going to surpass her
in other articles. She has to take
coal from us. 1t IL n mere question
OF time when her last stronghold. the