Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-04-30
SEESA WARCLOUD
WANTS FLEET KEPT THERI
Aslatic Situation 9 Menace and Clash
May Oceur Al Any Tlme--Sia-
nItleant Words from
the President.

Washington, Apr. 25.-Arguments IN
favor Of the presidents program fol
four battleships consumed most Of the
session of the senate Friday. Sen
ator Piles Of Washington opened the
debate. declaring that the Asiatic
situation affecting the Pacific coast
was menace to that section, as war
clouds might quickly rise there over
some clash between Americans and
the Japanese He wanted feet kept
In the Pacific.
Mr.. Hale laid before the senate a
statement Of battleships and other
features of the American naval pro-
gram which he said showed that as
large a fleet as is now In the Pacific
can be kept there and at the same
time there would be ships for still
larger fleet for the Atlantic.
Senator Beveridge concluded the de-
bate for the day with a strong appeal
to senators to vote for four battle
ships. He was constantly engaged in
exchanges Of words with other SEN
ators. He insisted that peace and not
war would be promoted by building up
the navy.
During the latter part Of the SEES
sion, kilograms were delivered to all
senators from q magazine appealing to
them for four battleships.
III the four battleships appropri-
alton be not granted" the telegram
stated. I'VE shall urge the president to
veto the naval bill"
An earnest appeal was made by
Senator Piles of Washington in favor
Of an authorization for four battle
ships. This, he declared, was a meas.
ure Of peace and not of war. He
came, he said, from the section Of the
country that must be the storm center
of any conflict in the Pacific ocean.
The people of the Pacific were in
favor Of four battleships. He sent to
the vlce-president's desk a statement
Of a vote of 1862 editors attending a
meeting in New York which he said
showed 126 in favor Of four battleships
and the presidents policy for naval
expansion.
While he had never been one Of
those who feared war, It could not be
denied. he said, that there was on the
Pacific coast a peculiar condition and
the time was coming when the people
Of the country would have to face that
condition. The Pacific coast, he add
ed, had by its opportunities attracted
many Asiatics who had been reared
in a different way from the people Of
the United States. There was pos
sibility Of clash between these peo-
pie and those Of the Pacific coast. I'm
der such conditions, he declared, they
sometimes resort to arms. That had
not occurred in the United States, but
1t had occurred In British Columbia.
he added. He suggested the posi-
bility that the Japanese government
might be compelled by popular clamor
to make a declaration Of war even
against Its VIII and II the neet on that
coast should be withdrawn the people
there would, he said, be helpless in
the face Of any attack because Of the
unfortifled and undefended conditions
there. He would vote for four
new ships as a peace measure and
would, he declared, rather be wrong |
in voting for four than right in voting
for two.
"What information the executive has
in his possession no man knows" de. |
clared Mr.. Beveridge in referring to
the presidents message in favor OF
four battleshfps. An Important fact |
was that in no other message had the
president made such recommends
ton on his solemn responsibility"
he added, If this subject
could be discussed in executive SEES
sion there would be. no doubt about
the action Of the senate in respect to
Increasing the number Of battIeships,
the inference being that the situation
Is so grave that II can not be openly
presented.