The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-17
House |s Reused to a Tunu|t By One of sstSpeeches
 Ever Heard
ROBSON GETS LAUGH
 WHEN HE INTERRUPTS
Mississipplan Traces History of Naval Construction and Derides Idea of Japan Making War Upon
 United States.

Washington, April 16-Just before the passage by the House today of the naval appropriation bill, Representative John Sharp Williams got the floor and deliv- cred one of the wittiest speeches ever , heard in that chamber. He seemed at his best, and he threw the House into 0 lumult. Availing himself of the 20 min iutes allowed for discussion, he was never out of place to read lessons upon civic righteousness to the republican party. He then proceeded to declare that wood pulp and print paper were germane to the bill, because 1t was of the very highest neces- sity to the navy to procure intelligence in justice of the people so that they might know how much of a navy was necessary for national defense.
 Mir. Williams proceeded to discuss the naval bill. He traced the history of naval construction of the world, beginning with battle canoes, and declared that rom that day the genius of mankind in war fare, in the management of ships had been directed to getting away from one another when they were fleeing, or or catching one another when they were de- sirous of fighting
 He convulsed the House when he sad that the question was whether an Amer ican navy in the present day can get away from an enemy as rapidly as one could in the distant day to which he had been referring or the American today could get at an enemy as effectively as in those remote periods.
 DepIores War.
 MT Williams deplored the horrors or war and said when human science and progress had advanced the civilization of the world, had degraded 1t by teaching 1t more effective ways of killing one an- other. "cannon loaded with vile saltpetre and with bullets were put upon the decks of ships and fired broadcast at one an- other. regardless of women to be made widows and children to be made orphans' while man, dressed in a little brief au- thority. most ignorant of what he was most proud, was seeking the bauble repo- tation in the cannon's mouth.
 He spoke of ships being at one tune built of iron and said it would have been foolish to have built too much of navy "plated with railroad, iron for fear an inlnrOVemPnt 1n1SnJ make lnt SliipS ObSO7 lete." Therefore, he said, 'our wise an oestors" held only few of them. about two at time, so they could keep up with new types as new types arose.
 Hobson's Inquiry.
 l Mir Hohson interrupted Mir. Williams ; with the inquiry whether, in full con I sideration of all the history of naval | architecture. the gentleman from Missls- lsinni. rhnally finds himself on the side of the Merrimac or the Monitor.
 MT. Williams replied that "a little cheese box on raft" had won a great hattie. and that once more the lesson was taught of not making appropria- tions for too many battleships at the same time He was. he said. solemnis declaring upon his legislative responsipli- itv my idea of what is good Ter the American navy. ..,,,,,... MT Williams declared that if "Tiberius seofld hear that America had construct' cd some of those 20000-ton ships, IT hertus would construct some or 2o,oU ions and then the United States wouio have to construct some of the same kind War lords must keep on grounos of equality with one another
 ',When ships begin to sail through tns air he said, fit will not be long before we are eauipping and officering and man ming oirigible balloons for e purpose o1 destroying, not to destroy anytnlng, nor for making war at all but Tor the purpose of preparing for peace, filling the mindS of the world with the idea that II IS ,ne ardent desire of the American people t' 20 armed. in order that tney may haVs no ocacsion or opportunity to attack any body"
 Tire Punctured.
 Mr Hobson inquired if MT. Williams on meeting an enemy. "in his own loits altitude and his tire should be puncturee at 10000 feet he would not prefer te have balloon ships of little oinereh than the other?' He asked MT Will jams if there would not perhaps ne .more hot air diffused than there IS to day" ,,,
 More than there Is today" MT. Will Hams declared, but not more thaf there was yesterday" This sally Was intended for MT Hobson MT. Will Hams said he dTd not want the House to think that because of the questions of MT Hobson, 'I am up in the air because am not" He had only beer referring MT. Hobson, he said, to tn proposition that if they were ever tt fight battles in the air. 'the eloquenct and oratory of my friend from AlabNna would keep pace with the other fellow I tell you, when he described, sait he. ito me that the Japanese are yearn ing for my blood and the blood ant property of my children how the vel low race is prepared to inevitably con duct a war upon the great white ract and how we must provide to take care of ourselves, do you know that after he got through with that argument feared very much for them, and had tS retire to the cloak room or 10 min utes to smoke in order that my fright ened magination would settle dowr and my reason to take cool possession of me-"
 Williams Protest.
 After MT. Hobson had referred to [ "poor yarn related by MT. William: yesterday" MT. Williams said:
 MT. Speaker, I decline to be inter rupted and further. When a man criti cises my reasoning powers I do no mind it. When man criticises my sanity do not mind it. When inai criticises my personal pulchritude can reconcile myself to that; but whei a man tells me that have told poo S joke, it makes me hot under the col