The age-herald., 1901-12-29
MISSOURI SLIDES
 INTO THE WATER BattIeShip Successfully Launch ed at Newport News LONG SPEAKS ON THE NAVY Says It Is Comforting to Know If Large Amount of Money Is to Be Spent
 We Have the Funds
 On Hand.
LONG SPEAKS ON THE NAVY

Newport News. Va, December 2S.-The battleship Missouri was launched at the shipyard here at Il o'clock. Fully 15,OOO people saw the big defender go over board. The launching passed off without a hitch and none prettier or more sue cessful was ever accomplished here.
 Miss Marion Cockrell, daughter of Sen ator F. M Cockrell of Missouri was spon- sor for the ship and she performed the duty assigned her with the additional bot tie of champagne, using a bottel of Mis- souri product for the purpose. large number of distinguished guests were gathered around the sponsor on the chris tening platform. Among them were Sec retary of the Navy Long, Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock. Judge Advocate Lem ly, United States Navy; Lieutenant-G Gov ernor J. A. Lee, of Missouri, acting for Governor Cookery; Governor Tyler of Virginia; Corwin H. Spencer of St. Louis, representing the Louisiana Purchase Expo sition Company: Senator Cockrell and number of army and naval officers Mrs. Roosevelt, wife of President Roosevelt. came up from Old Point on the United States dispatch boat Dolphin with her guests and viewed the launching from the steamers deck
 At the Chamberlain Hotel this after noon the customary post launching ban quet was given, the guests mentioned above being on the programme as the principal speakers.
 Secretary Long speaks.
 Secretary Long spoke as follows:
 '1 have been interested in the circular signed by many eminent citizens, my be- loved friend, E. D. Hale, at the head, in which they regret the estimate of $100,- 000,000 for the increase of the navy. The size of the navy if there is to be a navy at all, Is a question like the tariff-of ad- justment, rather than of principle. Of course, it is rather a taking thing to say as a matter of theory, as this circular says, that S100, 0,0000 900 for the navy means a tax of SC on every family in the United States. And yet on the other hand, as a matter of practical fact, if that sum is spent there is probably not a family in the United States whose future income could be shown to be $6 less and there are a good many families whose income you'd be s6 more, and still more families whose income would be many times $6 if it were not spent. It Is also rather a talk ing thing to say that S100, GOO, 900 could be better spent for education or charity.
 If s100, 100000 shall be appropriated for the navy by the present Congress- a small part will go for the purchase of raw ma terial, and something for salaries, but the great bulk of it for labor in every part of the Union.
 Should Spend It JudiciousIy.
 Undoubtedly Uncle Sam ought to re- duce taxation wherever he can. On the other hand, it is shrewd and wise in him to run things so as to keep business good; and if, as a result, his income is large. he confers much more benefit by spending it than he would be in hiding it.
 ''1f this year, having a surplus, he spends $1000O0.0O0 for the navy, let us remember that while 1t Is spent under that name, it is really spent, as I said before, in the employment of the peoples labor and in the purchase of the material they have to sell, and the people get it all back again.
 Nor Is 1t true, as suggested in the cir cular. that great navy necessarily in- flames the fighting spirit and leads to war The recent increase in our navy did not induce the war with Spain. which, as things were, seems to have been fn- evitable. On the other hand, 1t is more likely that if in the beginning of 1898 We had even as large a navy as we now have-certainly a large a one. as now proposed-there would have been no war with Spain and that country would have come to terms, as she was very near in coming without battle.
 Many Things to Be Considered.
 'In determining the question, what shall be the size of our navy, there are great many things to be considered. some of which have referred to.
 ftaaf lave expanded vastly in the last three years in territorial extent and vastly more in International extent. It has not Teen an extension upon the continent. but upon the ocean itself and the islands Of the sea in both hemispheres. Our commerce has greatly increased in vol ume and area and our American marine is likely to follow suit If there Is to be navy at all 1t should be commensurate with all the extended relations and de- mands. and whether it shall cost 2OOO0.- GOO or 900 or $1O0, GOO 900, 1t is not ex- travagance to cut our garment according to our cloth especially as last year there was no appropriation for such an in- crease.
 Have the Money to Spend.
 'There certainly Is a heap of comfort in feeling that if millions are now spent for the navy the money Is in the till to spend. It is a case where the people can I ave their cake and eat it. too they can have their ships and they can have in their pockets the money paid for build ing them. "A United States naval vessel carrying our flag into the ports and harbors of the | world Is something more than fighting | machine. It means relations with those | ports; it means an awakening and lively | respect there for our country; it means | recognition for the out-reach of our civili- | zation, commerce and influence"
 lNMENSE FERTILIZER PLANT.