The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-02-25
NEEDS OF THE NAVY
Discussion in Congress on War
Matters AZ citing Us.

|
ton of the naval appropriation bill,
ten hours being allowed for general
debate During tic general discussion,
NJ Fitzgerald. Democ:at. OF New
yGri; declared th&t our naval program
w&s to procure a naval force greater
than that Of Germany. He further
! said:
In all sections OF the country the
conviction. rightly or wrongly, is fin
that the present occupant O. the White
House is apt 10 involve rs in war with
scme othe- nation" adding that the
same belief has been had with respect
tC the head Of another great nation,
which may account" ne went on. FOR
the fact that at dinner cn Linco!ns
birthday. at Grand RAPIDS. Mich, that
Baron Won Sternherg thought the high
est tribute he could pay to President
Roosevelt. was TO declare that he Tery
greatly reSembled the Emperor CT Ger
many"
Mr.. Fitzgerald said further, that IF
the prevailing belief is justified. and II
| the President is to be given four years
| O. power in his own right, now that the
| great representative of the ccnserra-
tive force of the Republican party, the
late Senator from Ohio, Mr.. Hanna. is
! gone to his reward. it may be wise for
US to outdo even Great Britain in our
| naval program. Should he (the Presi-
Geut) not be made to feel that the SEN
timent 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
terry achievements. The spirit Of the
horseback, for so many years
so sore an a9fliction to the people OF
France, apparently stalks unrestrained
throughout the land A shrewdly con-
Guctei movement was initiated about
two years ago to cultivate a public
sentiment in favor of mighty navy.
Many prominent men, whose business
irterensts were closely identified with
the s;liDbuil5ing industries, then band
cd together for the avowcd purpose OF
;,cpularizing vast expenditures fer the
naval service. SO stupcnGouS have the
expenditures for the naval AID military
establishments become that important
and needed public improvements have
been Indefinitely deferred"
Referring to the statement Of Ad-
riira! Dewey that the sea force should
consist of IS battleships, Mr.. Fitzger-
aid said that confirmed his assertion
that the naval programme is based
upon the theory that cur navy should
be larger than that of Germany.
1t is time to call halt upon such
talk of an inflammatory character that
is heard throughout this land. declared
Mr.. Fitzgerald. adding: Public OFF,
cials arc 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 ell
fective as possible
why, what have We TO fear, except
the impetuosity Of our present Cher
Executive?" he asked.
Mr.. Foss made an urgent appeal Tor
the upbuilding Of the navy. emphasiz-
ing 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 sunkea
ships?" He said. in conclusion that
when it became necessary for this gov
ernment to strike, it should be prepar-
cd 20 strike a 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 combatted the
statement that the navy was too heavy
as charged and declared it indispensa-
hle that we should have strong navy
Referring to the Panama canal. he
said he was for the canal and also lot
a 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 a field day in the
House. The naval appropriation bill
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 in the army
... .,,ooly hil1c won't tO the