Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1904-02-24
NEEDS OF THE NAVY
Discussion in Congress on Wa'
Matters Affecting Us.

The House Friday began considera-
tion Of the naval appropriation bill.
ten hours being allowed for general
debate. During the general discussion,
Mr.. Fitzgerald, Democrat, OF New
York declared that our naval program
was to procure naval force greater
than that OF Germany. He further
said:
"In all sections of the country the
conviction, rightly or wrongly, is firm
that the present occupant OF the White
House is apt to involve us in war with
some other nation adding that the
same belief has been had with respect
tc the head of another great nation,
(which may account" he went on. "for
the fact that at dinner on Lincoln's
birthday. at Grand Rapids. Mich. that
Baron Won Sternberg thought the high
est tribute he could pay to President
Roosevelt. was to declare that he very
greatly resembed the Emperor of Ger
| many"
Mr.. Fitzgerald said further. that III
the prevailing belief is justified and If
the President is to be given four years
CT power in his own right, now that the
great representative OF the conserva-
tive force of the Republican party, the
late Senator from Ohio. Mr.. Hanna, is
gone to his reward, it may be wise for
lis to outdo even Great Britain in our
naval program Should he (ihe Presi-
dentl not be made to feel that the SEN
timent Of the country is for peace and
mol strife?
"Since the Spdnlsh-American war. it
is true, the people seem to have been
carried away with the glamour OF mill
tary achievements. The spirit of the
man-on-horseback, for so many years
so sore an afflction to the people OF
France. apparently stalks unrestrained
throughout the land. a shrewdly con-
Quoted movement was initiated about
two years ago TO cultivate public
sentiment in favor OF mighty navy.
Man, prominent men. whose business
interensts were closely identified with
the shlpbuilding industries, then band
ed together for the avowed purpose OF
populerizing vast expenditures for the
naval service. So stupendous have the
expenditures for the naval and military
establishments become that important
and needed public improvements have
been indefinitely deferred"
Referring to the statement of Ad-
miraI Dewey that The sea force should
consist of 4S battleships. Mr. FItzger-
aid said that confirmed his assertion
that the naval programme is based
upon the theory that our navy should
be larger than that of Germany.
1t is time to call a halt upon such
talk of an infiammatory character that
is heard throughout this land, declared
Mr. Fitzgerald, adding: Public Off
cials are the chief offenders by loose,
indefinite and bombastic statements.
The naval committee in its report are
not entirely free from the disease
In conclusion he asked: "Are we to
have a great navy merely TO furnish
summer holidays, that big officials may
play at WARP
Mr.. Fitzgerald quoted the following
from the report of the naval commit
tee: 1.-THE rapidly developing compiiea-
tons of the whole Eastern situation
demand that our navy shall be as ef-
fectiye as possible.
why, what have We to fear, except
the impetuosity Of our present Chief
Executive?" he asked.
Mr.. Foss made an urgent appeal for
the upbuilding of the navy. emphaslz-
ing the necessity Of ship construction
ir times Of peace With the query:
what would Russia give today II she
could call back some of her sunken
ships?" He said, in conclusion that
when it became necessary for this gov
crnment to strike, it should be prepar-
cd to strike blow like that struck by
Dewey at Manila. Mr.. Foss was
strongly seconded by Meyer Of Louis
lana, the ranking Democratic member
or the committee, who com batted the
Abatement that the navy was too heavy,
as charged and declared it indispensa-
BILE that we should have strong navy.
Referring to the Panama canal. ne
said he was for the canal anu also Ior
navy to safeguard it.
Mr.. Gaines, OF Tennessee. made an
appeal for the tobacco grower, contend
Ing for the removal Of the tax imposed
or stemmed leaf tobacco, when stem
Field Day in the House.
Saturday was field day in the
House. The naval appropriation Dill
was under consideration and the dis
cussion encompassed various topics,
much Of it revolving more or less
around politics. After Mr.. Drayton,
Republican, of West Virginia. of the
committee on naval affairs had pleaded
for a larger navy, Mr.. Hitchcock. OF
Nebraska, declared that there was
gross national extravaganza in the an
nual appropriation bills. He asserted,
too. that the larger items III the army
and navy supply bills went to the
trusts. the armor trust. the beef trust
and the ship-building trust. He gave
notice that on Monday he would at
tempt to amend the bill to provide for
O government armor plate FACTORY. ne
said the armor plate factory had made
enough profit during the past hvc
years to pay handsome dividends. pay
entirely for its plant to have money
left over. He declared that the govern
ment which was supposed to be after
the trusts, was making large con-
x.n@,ont with them