The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-04-28
Albert J. Beveridge Attacked
For His Stand by the Presi-
dent for Four Big Battle
ships.
ROOSEVGlTS NAVAL
POLICY CHECKED.
BY Overwhelming Vote 1t Was
Decided by Higher LegisIa-
tive Body That Only Two
Ships Should Be Built.

Washing ton, d. c, April 2s-I.ess
than one-third of the senate stood by
the president in his demand for four
bartle ships Monday afternoon. The
amendment offered by Senator Piles. of
Washington. doubling the number of
such vessels provided for in the naval
appropriation bill. was defeated by a
vote of ~ 10 -. When the Vice Pres
ident announced on this question the
yeas are %" it seemed as though a
shudder ran through the administra-
ton forces in the chamber Was the
number an i'll omen. and what did it
portend for the administration besides
the repulse of the president in his fight
for four DrcadnOughts? Some of the
superstitious of solons inquired OF
themselves. Others appeared to glare
resentfully at Senator Bevcridgc. of In
diana, for leading a fight which culmi.
mated in such a hoodoo climax.
No War Cloud Seen.
In the first place. senators were OPP
posed 10 a spasmodic increase in the
naval strength because there is no such
thing as a war cloud on the interna-
tiOnal horizon. and for the further rea-
son that the expenditures of the gov
eminent are running away ahead OF
the revenues. In the second place.
they look nDpD i~h
for four battleships as an attack upon
the organization of the senate. which
is now in their hands. and they were
determined that legislation should re-
main in the control of the senate and
not be transferred to the white house.
stand by the Naval Committee"
which meant the organization. was one
Of the anti-Administration slogans dur
ing this memorable contest. A glance
through the list of republicans who
stood out against the president also
serves to recall that d contest for the
Presidential nomination has been in
progress for some little time. and il is
to be observed that very few of the
senators who favor the nomination of
Secretary Taft voted for only two bat
tie ships.
The controversy eliminated most
dramatically. The general debate
closed at / O'Clock and then the discus
sion was under the ten-minute rule
| Foraker. of Ohio led off. and in a Wig
OrOus and eloquent speech Contended
| that there was no reason whatever for
the president to ask for four battle
| ships, especially since in 1905, he told
| enough. and new ships should be built
merely TO replace OLD ones.
| Hemenway. of Indiana argued
| against four battleships on the ground
of economy and the necessity of expen-
| ditures for internal improvements.
/ such as waterways. public buildings.
| etc. Aldrich and Hale produced cli-
max TO one Of the most interesting de-
bates in many years.
They administered a rebuke TO Bev-
eridge which haJ no parallel in the re-
cent history of the senate. and their
reprimand of him produced a profound
| sensation. Not in a decade or longer
was there such plain talk from mem.
bers of the senate 10 a colleague. and
what they said was Intended as much
for the president as for the ieadiEg
champion Of his naval program. Bev-
eridge squirmed in his seat and endeav.
ored to reply. but under the ten min.
utes' rule. having had his say. he could
not talk again. But William Alden
Smith of Michigan. rushed TO his de
fense. and in an impassioned speech
protested against this forum being
converted into a slaughter house in or,
der to sacrifice the distinguished and
able senator from Indiana"
This remonstrance. coupled with the
suggestion of a butchers instrument
and blood. made even Beveridge laugh
but il evoked a round OF applause from
the galleries. where the naval contiu
gent was largely represented by the
wives. daughters. sisters and other rel
atives of officers.