Los Angeles herald., 1907-02-13
SAYS BROWN MEN
ARE NOT READY
Mr.. SLADEN HAS NO FEAR OF
JAPANESE WAR
Without a coallng Station Big Ships
Would Be Practically Helpless
in Pacific Coast
Waters
BY Associated Press.

by ASSuCldtcu ltES'
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-Represent-
ative Slayden. during the consideration
on the naval appropriation bill In the
house today, addressed that body on the
subject of the recent war talk between
the United States and Japan, and
laughed the rumor of war out of the
chamber.
Representative Slayden in part said:
Although we are at peace with all
the world and the rest of mankind as
the president of the United States is
reported to have said, the air is thick
with rumors of war. Senators of the
United States saw the storm clouds In
the east and peripatetic preachers of
unlimited naval construction are de-
claring in public addresses that con-
f1ict with Japan is inevitable.
"Our friends who represent the Paci-
fic coast on the floor of the house are
frightened almost into a state of nerv-
Gus collapse over the visions of little
brown men marching under the banner
of the rising sun. The fact that 5000
miles of salt water lie between them
and the islands of Japan does not ap-
pear to allay their fears"
Mr.. Slayden said the Pacific coast
members are not reassured by the recol-
lection of the fact that President Roose-
welt has recently been honored with the
Nobel prize as the worlds chief cham
pion of peace.
Reviews Russian War
Mr.. Slayden then reviewed the war
between Russia and Japan, which he
said was one of the most remarkable
in the history of the world, but he de-
clared that he would call upon his
nervous fellow citizens of the Pacific
coast to remember that although the
Japanese could march across Manchu-
ria, their legs are entirely too short to
wade the Pacific.
"On this side of the Pacific the Jap
anese have no coaling stations" he said,
land ships of war which cross the
ocean under their own steam would be
comparatively helpless before they
could reach the coast of California"
Mr.. Slayden called attention to the
treaty of peace which brought the
Russo-Japanese war to an end and de-
clared it also should be remembered
that after winning brilliant victories in
the greatest battles of all history, the
Japanese made a treaty of peace at
Portsmouth, which, if not humiliating,
was at least a confession of weakness.
He said the empire has neither paid it's
debts nor filled its war chests since the
summer of 1905.
Would Seek Vengeance
Mr.. Slayden referred to the suggestion
that in a crisis Great Britain would join
Japan to Wreak vengeance on the Unit
ed States for an enmity which no man
can fathOm. He characterized the sug-
gestion as ridiculous.
Arbitration" he declared, "is an hon
orable and inexpensive way of main
tanning peace. 1t is more consistent
with modern civilization than the big
stick or big navy plan, which proposes
to keep the peace by developing a pow
er so great that it may crush the life
out of opposition. Although it seems to
be a long time coming, I still indulge
the hope that the Christian and peace
loving people of this country will COM
pei their own government to write
treaties of arbitration with all the gov
ernments of the world that are willing
to enter into them"
Naval Expenses Heavy
Mr. Slayden took the position that
but for the duty of protecting the Phil
ippine islands, the governments naval
expenses could be cut IN two and the
military budget greatly reduced. The
annexation of these islands he termed
as a monumental blunder Of our his
tory" and declared that the United
States has repudiated cherished princi-
pies by compelling the Filipinos to ac-
cept a government which they did not
want.
In opposing the proposed Notifications
for the Philippines, Mr.. Slayden de-
cared that he believes when the Amer
lean voter once has his conscience and
Judgment aroused he will commend the
abandonment Of this strange and un-
American policy of meddling with af-
fairs Of Asia"