Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-28
MISSOURI Is LAUNCHED
Fifteen thousand People See the
Biz Battleship Launched at
Newport News.
Distinguished Guests Present at
the Ceremony Secretary
Long Speaks.
ns Makes an Able Argument in
Behalf OF Larger
Navy.

et1lp missouri was successfully lautlCneu
at u:12 a. m. Fully $1,000 people saw
the Missouri go overheard. Miss Mar
ION Cockrell, daughter of Senator Cock
.fell, was sponsor for the ship, and per-
formed the duty assigned to her with
the traditional bottle of champagne. The
number OF distinguished guests present
was larger than ever seen here. After
the launching the guests boarded q
steamer going to Old Point. At Hotel
Ehamberlin this afternoon the custom
ary launching banquet event was
given.
Secretary Long was the principal
speaker. He said In part:
II haze been interested in circular
signed by many eminent citizens. my
beloved friend e. E. Hale at the head.
in which they regret the estimate of
500, ,000, 900 for the increase OF the navy.
The size OF the navy, il there is to be a
navy at all. is a question, like the tariff,
OF adjustment, rather than of priciple.
( OF course, 1t is rather a taking thing to
say AZ matter of theory, as this circu-
sar says, that a hundred millions for the
nnvy means a tax of Sc on ever family
IN the United States, and yet, on the
ether hand, as matter of practical fact,
az that sum is spent. there is probably
not family in the United States whose
future income could be shown to be Sc
less. and there are good many families
Whose income would be Sc more and still
more families whose income would be
many times $6 less II it were not spent
! It is also q rather taking thing to say
that hundred millions could be better
epent for education or charity. And yet
On the other hand a hundred millions
spent in the employment of labor is the
very best use to which 1t can be put The
great question OF the day. as to wealth.
IS its distribution. While few would
say the community should be taxed for
the ppie purpose OF distributing the pro-
ceeds OF taxation. yet 1t is some COM
fort to know of a tax which. when it Is
laid on a community. all returns again
to 1t.
.sYf hundred millions shall be appro-
Friated for the navy by the present con-
gress. a small part will go for the pur-
chase OF raw material. and some small
part for salaries. but the great bulk of
II I0T ldOUr ln every part VI Inc dliiOA.
Somehow II Just now happens that, with
larger revenues than we have ever had
before In time of peace. and therefore
with more direct and indirect taxation,
there Is more prosperity and more
money In the pocket of the citizen than
ever before. Students may speculate
over economic causes, but this is the
sdemnition total Undoubtedly Uncle
Sam ought to reduce taxation wherever
he can. On the other hand, 1t is shrewd
End wise IN him to run things SO as to
keep business good, and If Us result his
income is large he confers much more
benefit by spending It than he would by
hiding It. Whenever the interests of the
country require. 1t should reduce his re-
ceipts, but as they are now excessive,
the great question seems to be how he
shall get the proceeds back among the
people. Another year he may not have
20 muciGmoney to spend. Nor is 1t true.
! as euggsted In the circular, that great
navy necessarily inf1ames a fighting
spirit and leads to war. The recent in
crease In our navy did not induce war
with Spain. which, as things were, seems
10 have been inevitable. On the other
hand 1t is more than likely that If In the
beginning Of 1898 We had even as large q
navy as we have now there fould have
been no war with Spain and that coun-
try would have come to terms. rs she
was very near coming, without battle.
In determining the question what shall
be the size of our navy. there are
great many things to be considered. For
instance, our world relations have ex-
panded vastly In the last three years
In both 8 territorial and international
extent. 1t has not been 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 volume and area and our
American marine is likely to follow suit.
/ n there is to besa navy at all 1T should
!b be commensurate with all these extend
ed relations and demands. We are the
richest nation of the world, with a
larger income than any other. If then
the size Of our navy should correspond
TO our national and international size,
and we have the cash on hand, 1t would
seem the simplest good business sense,
simplest good business care of our own
interests to increase the navy; and
whether this shall cost twenty millions
OF nuuUTcQ InliHOnS, II Ib uol ext ava.
gance to cut our garment according to
our CLOTH especially as last year there
was no appropriation for such an in
crease. 1t is like a rich men grading
his expenditures to his income, and thus
making 1t serve the general welfare as
well as his own. There certainly is a
heap of comfort in feeling that if mil
lions are now spent for the navy the
money is in the till to spend. 1t is
4 case where the people can have their
cake and eat it, too; they can have their
chips and they can have in their pockets
the money paid for building them. A
United States naval vessel carrying our
flag into ports and harbors of the world
I is something more than a fighting ma
chine It means relations with those
ports. It means an awakening and lively
respect there for our country. 1t means
recognition OF the out-reach OF our
civilization. commerce and influence
The Missouri is a sister ship OF the
Ohio and the Maine. Her contract
price waa $2,ss5,0 Her keel was laid
February Z. 1900, and on the latest, CON