The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-12-06

large campaign FUNDS would vanish
, if Congress provided an appropria-
ton for the proper and legitimate ex-
penses of each of the great national
parties, an appropriation ample
enough to meet the necessity for
thorough organization and machin-
cry, which requires a large ezpendi-
ture of money. Then the stipulation
| should be made that no party receiv-
ing campaign funds from the Treas
ury should accept more than fixed
amount from any individual subscri-
Der or donor, and the necessary pub
J licity for receipts and expenditures
could without difficulty be provided.
The time has come, in my judg-
ment, to set to work seriously to
make our ocean mail service corre-
spond more closely with our recent
commercial and political develop
ment. AS the first step in that d.
rection, and the step most feasible at
the present time, l recommend the
| extension of the ocean mail act OF
| 1891. I believe it is the duty of
| first-class Power so far as practica-
| BILE to carry it's ocean mails under its
own flag; that the fast ocean steam
ships and their crews, required for
such mail service, are valuable aux
| iliaries to the sea power of a~nation.
| Referring to the army, the Message
says it has always been too small and
underpaid 1t has never been an APP
preciable tax on the people. The
cry against militarism" is con-
| demned. There are not enough
officers and it is impossible to secure
enough enlisted men. The Message
recommends that we should main
tain in peace complete skeleton of
an army and full medical corps.
Concerning the navy, the Message
says it is not enough to build one bat
tleship year. Four new battleships
are recommended, with coaling sta
| lions and torpedo boats a-plenty. The
coast line on the Pacific demands as
much attention as it's interests re-
quire, and the battle fleet should now
and then be moved to the Pacific.
Then the Message continues: When
| the Isthmian Canal is built the transit
of the battle fleet from one ocean
| to the other will be comparatively
| easy. Until it is built 1 earnestly
hope that the battle fleet will be thus
shifted between the two oceans every
year OF two. The craftsmanship on
all our hips has improved phenomen-
ally during the last five years. Until
| within the last two or three years 1t
was not possible to train battle fleet :
| in squadron maneuvers under service
conditions, and it is only during these
| last two or three years that the train
| ing under these conditions has be-
come really effective. Another and
| most necessary stride il advance is
now being taken. The battle fieet
| is about starting by the Straits OF
| Magellan to visit the Pacific coast.
] Sixteen battleships are going under
| the command of Rear-Admiral Evans
while eight armored cruisers and two
other battleships will meet him at
San Francisco, whittier certain tor
| pedo destroyers are also going. NO
| fleet of such size has ever made sucn
voyage, and it will be of very great
educational use to all engaged in it.
| The only way by which to teach OIL
| GERS and men how to handle the feet
| so as to meet every possible strain
and emergency in time of war is to
have them practice under similar con-
ditions in time of peace. Moreover,
the only way to find out our actual
needs is to perform in time of peace
whatever maneuvers might be neces-
| sary in time of war. After war is de-
| clared it is too late to find out the
needs; that means to invite disaster.
This trip to the Pacific will show what
| some of our needs are and will enable
JUS to provide for them. The proper
| place for an officer to learn his duty
is at sea, and the only way in which
a navy can ever be made efficient Is by
practice at sea, under all the condi-
| tions that would have to be met II
war existed.
In foreign affairs this countrys
steady policy is to behave toward
other nations as self-respecting man
behaves toward other men. The work
of The Hague Peace Conference is
commended and arbitration approved.
| .Cuba is at our DOORS" says the
Message. 1t is not possible to permit
Cuba to sink to her former condition.
The Message recommends accept
ance of the invitation OF Japan to the
exposition to be held at Toxic IL
| April, 1912.
A commission has been sent to Ger
many and the Message recommends
that the information it obtains should
be used to prevent tariff war with
Germany.
The Message asks that the Presi-
| dent shall have authority to reform
| the agreement with China and to
cancel the, indemnity in excess of
$11, 655, 492, necessary for the actual
| indemnity to the United States and
| its citizens.
The Message recommends that this
| Nation should assist in the education
of the Chinese people and receive
Chinese students in the universities.
The Message recommends that the
cordial reception of the Secretary of
State by the President of Mexico
should be reciprocated and no pains
spared to manifest friendly feeling
toward the people of our southern
neighbers.
After commencing the Interna-
tional Bureau of American Republics,
the Message concludes as follows:
That institution, which includes al
tn. American Republics in its mem
| harshin and hrings all their renre-