The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-20
OUR BIG WAR LORD
If He's Aping. His Ger
manic Majesty, Let's
Have Huge Navy.
(By the Associated Press.)

(by the Associated PreSS)
Washington, Feb. 19.-The House today
began consideration of the Naval Appro-
priation bill, ten hours being allowed for
general debate. During the general dis
cussion Mr.. Fitzgerald Dem, N. ", de-
clared that our naval program was to pro-
cure naval force greater than that of
German. He further said:
I'm all sections of the country the con-
viction, 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 ac-
count" he went on, "for the fact that at
dinner on Lincoln't birthday at Grand
Rapids, Mich, the highest compliment
that Baron Won Sternberg thought could
he could pay to President Roosevelt was
to declare that he very greatly resembled
the Emperor of Germany Mr.. F'itzger-
aid said further that ''if the prevailing be-
lief is justified, and if the President IS to
be given four years of power in his own
right now that great representative of
the conservative force of the Republ-
can party. the late Senator from Ohio,
is EOlle W HIS TtWdTu, II may
be wise for us to outdo even Great Brit
ain in our naval program. Should he (the
President) not be made to feel that the
sentiment of the country is for peace and
not for strife?
''Since the Spanish-American war, it is
true, the people seem to have been car
ried away with the glamour of military
achievements The spirit of the man-on-
horseback for so many years so sore and
afflicton to the people of France appar-
emily stalks unrestrained throughout the
land. shrewdly conducted movement
was initiated about two years ago to cul-
tivate public sentiment in favor of
mighty navy. Many prominent men
whose business interest were closely iden-
titled with the shipbuilding industries
then banded together for the avowed pur-
pose of popularizing vast expenditures for
the naval service. So stupenduous have
the expenditures for the naval and mill
tary establishments become that import
ant and needed public improvements have
been indefinitely deferred
Referring to the statement of Admiral
Dewey that the sea forces should consist
of forty-eight battleships, Mr.. Fitzgerald
said that confirmed his assertion that the
naval program is based upon the theory
that our navy should be larger than that
of Germany.
"It is time to call halt upon much
talk of an inflammatory character that
is heard throughout this land" declared
Mr.. Fitzgerald. adding: "Public officials
are the chief offenders by loose, indefinite
and bombastic statements. The naval
committee in its report is not entirely free
from the disease
In conclusion he asked: 'Are we to
have a great navy merely to furnish sum-
mer holidays that high officials may play
at war?'
Mr. Fitzgerald quoted the following
from the report OF the Naval Committee:
THE rapidly developing complications
of the whole Eastern situation demand
that our navy shall be as effective as
possible
why? What have we to fear except
the impetuosity of our present chief ex-
ecutive?" he asked.
Mr.. Foss made an urgent appeal for the
upbuilding of the navy, emphasizing the
necessity of ship construction in 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 be-
came necessary for this government to
strike, it should be prepared to strike "a
blow like that struck by Dewey at Ma
Mia.
Mr.. Gaines (Tenn.). made an appeal for
the tobacco growers. contending for the
removal of the tax imposed on stemmed
leaf tobacco when stemmed by the farmer
which he asserted is burden to the
grower.
Speaking of the Objectionable law Mr.
Gaines said it evidently had been writ
ten by some skillful lawyer for the trusts
and passed without Congress knowing
what it was. The law as it now stands,
said, has raralyzed the liberty of the
grower.
Mr.. Stanley (KyD, said in connection
with Mr.. Gaines remarks that an ex-
tract obtained from tobacco stems is
shipped to Germany, where leaf grown
there is immersed in it and then used as
tobacco.
The House adjourned until tomorrow.