Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1904-02-24
USES OF LARGE NAVY
Discussion in Congress on War
Matters Affecting Us.


Matters Affecting Us.
The House Friday began cousidera-
| 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
to the head of another great nation.
(which may account he went on. for
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 resembled the Emperor of Ger
many
Mr.. Fitzgerald said further. that "if
the prevailing belief is justified. and if
the President is TO be given four years
of power i'll his own right. now that the
great representative of the conserva-
tive force OF the Republican party. the
late Senator from Ohio. MI Hanna. is
| gone 10 his reward. il may be wise for
us to outdo even Great Britain in our
naval program. Should he (the Presi-
| dent not be made 20 feel that the sen
! ument of the country is for peace and
| rot strife?
Since the Spanish-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 afiliction to the people OF
| France, apparently stalks unrestrained
throughout the land. A shrewdly CON
| Quoted movement vas initiated about
| two years ago to cultivate a public
sentiment in favor OF a mighty navy.
Many prominent men. whose business
interensts were closely identified with
the shipbuiiding industries. then band
ed together for the avowed purpose of
| populari2ing vast expenditures for the
raval 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-
niral Dewey that the sea force should
consist of IS battleships. Mr.. F'itzger-
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 q halt upon such
talk of an iuflammatory character that
is heard throughout this land. declared
MIR. 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
lave great navy merely to furnish
Summer holidays, that big officials may
play at war;"
Mr. Fitzgerald quoted the following
from the report of the naval commit
tee: The rapidly developing complica
tons OF the whole Eastern situation
demand that our navy shall be as ef-
fective 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, emphas!z-
ing le necessity of ship construction
i'll times of peace with the query:
What would Russia give today If she
could call back some of her sunken
ships?" He said. in conclusion that
when it became necessary for this gov
ernment TO strike, it should be prepar
ed to strike a blow like that struck by
Dewey at Manila. Mr.. Foss was
strongly seconded by Meyer OF Louis
lana. the ranking Democratic member
on the committee. who combatted the
statement that the navy was too heavy,
as charged and declared ii indispensa-
lie that we should have strong navy.
Referring to the Panama canal. he
said ne was for the canal and also for
Q 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
med by the farmer, which he asserted
is q burden to the grower.
Speaking OF the Objectionable law.
Mr.. Gaines said it evidently had been
written by some skillful lawyer for the
trusts. and passed without Congress
knowing what it was. The law, as it
now stands. he said. has paralyzed the
liberty OF the grower.
Mr.. Stanley. of Kentucky said in con-
nection with Mr.. Gaines remarks that
an extract obtained from tobacco stems
is shipped to Germany, where leaf
grown there is Immersed in it and then