The Oskaloosa herald., 1908-04-30
THE ALLISON PLAN
SUITS CONGRESS
BATTLEsHlP CONTROVERSY HAP
PLY SOLVED BY loWAN.
CONSTRUCT TWO EACH YEAR
President Is Said To BE Delighted
., over the outcome-The Nestor
of the Senate Is Compli-
mented.


the senate yesterday afternoon when
II is believed will end the battleship
controversy between the president
and congress with honors even. Inc
president has wanted four ships built,
congress favored two, and 1t remained
for Allison to solve the problem by
proposing that two battleships be or
dered annually until the American
navy has attained the desired strength.
Senator Allison was at the White
House. again this morning in confer
ence with the president on the SUD-
ject, and it is understood this solu-
dion is satisfactory to Mr.. Roosevelt,
1t is the first time that fixed annual
naval construction policy has been
advocated with such influence, and
Senator Allison is being given much
credit for the excellent idea Follow
ing his speech, the senate adopted
the two battlesbip program by a vote
of 80 to 90. e.. xxi al
ii. All Anxious to Hear Allison,
1t was generally rumored after Sen
ator Allisons visit to the White House
that he would have Il, compromise plan
with the presidents approval to offer
on the battleship question, and his
speech was awaited with much inter
est. Nearly every senator was Jpn, his
seat when Allison arose to speak,and
the galleries were packed. The sen
ator was in excellent voice, and could
be heard in the most remote parts of
the galleries.
He showed his old time yigor, and
from the way he pounded his desk to
emphasize his argument, Speaker
Cannon will have to look to his lau-
rels as noise maker. At the con-
clusion of his address, a number OF
senators came forward to congratulate
Mr.. Allison. Senator Beyeridge, the
leading four battleship advocate, was
among the first to grasp Allison's hand
and compliment him.
Senator Hale Endorses Plan.
Senator Hale, chairman of the naval
affairs committee, arose as Mr.. Allison
ment, which is an unusual occurrence
on the floor of the senate: Before
the senator takes his seat, 1t is to me
a matter of great satisfaction to hear
the veteran experienced senator from
Iowa express so clearly his views in
this matter. That is my view, and
am glad to agree with him" In his
speech which practically closed the
debate on the naval bill, Senator ALI
son said: Il have thought and still
think that there is no present disturb
ance which ought to lead us to the be-
lief that now is special and exclu-
sive time when we should increase
the number of battleships!
Two BattIeships Each Year.
Il believe that we ought under our
present situation, and the circum-
stances that surround us, to make
provision for two battleships each
year, for at least some years to come.
When found that the committee on
naval affairs had undertaken to facil-
itate the construction of the battle
ships proposed by the home by an APP.
preparation of seven million dollars
as | am now content with IL, and
would be willing as I think most of
the senate would, and think there
would be no serious objection to it.,
to provide at the next session of con
gress for two additional battleships,
and to do that year by year until our
modern navy is sufficient for the
needs of our country, and efficient in
all its provisions. Wherever | have
been and have had an opportunity of
reading and studying the conditions of
the world at his time, | have been led
to believe that there is no danger of
war at present or in the near future.
or even in the remote future.
Il should be glad If it could be gen
orally understood in this chamber
and in the upper house and In the
country that we have entered now up-
on the production of two battleships
per annum instead of one because of
the present situation that that is to
go on without alarming the other ma.
lions or our own people, and that we
do not intend to become.a warlIke ma.
ton surrounded as We are by all the
conditions of peace. In my view this
simply resolves itself into question
whether we are to proceed now with
four battleships, or now with two. and
seven months from now with two
more, Mr. President, | do not regard
II as question OF such enormous
magnitude as to distress and disturb
the condition Of our relations as re-
tpects the navy"