The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-04-17
PRESIDENT ASKS FOR
FOUR MORE WARSH|PS
IN SPECIAL MESSAGE
President Send. Message to
Congress Urging ThI.
Provision.
NO TREND TOWARD PEACE
Failure of Hague Conference to Limit
Armament and Great improvements
of Batt,eships Cited as Reasons
For Emerging Navy.

Washington, April 15.-Compressed
into what would not be more than a
~ten-minute speech OF. the floor of Con-
grtss, President Roosevelt today urged
hat body in a special message to pro-
vic for the construction OF four battle
ships OF the largest and most improved
type at once.
The arguments OF the president to
Impress his insistence on this naval
program We're few, but calculated to be
effective. China WAS held up as an ex-
ample OF the peace at any price" doc
trine. and Great Britain rs having a
naval policy tn be emulated.
The result OF the last Hague confer
ence made 1t plain, he says, that ma
tons would not forfsome time, IL ever,
agree on a plan for the limitation of
naval armament. Arbitration, the
president holds, cannot be relied upon
as an effective remedy, though 1t
should be utilized to it's fullest extent.
No Insults Wanted.
Dlsclaiming any intention on the
part Of the United States to eve en-
gage in a war of conquest, the presi-
dent makes 1t plain That this country
could i'll afford to relax into IL place
in silence.
The president says in part:
Let me again urge upon congress
the need of providing for our battle
ships Of the best and most advanced
type at this session. Prior to the re-
cent Hague conference 1t had been my
hope that agreement could be reached
between the different nations to limit
III increase of ava ornaments, es-
pecially to limit the size of wurships.
Under these circumstance I felt the
construction OF one battleship a year
would keep our navy up to its then
positive and relative strength. But
actual experience showed me that it
was impossible to obtain such an
agreement for limitation of ornaments
among h various leading powers. but
hat there was no likelihood whatever |
Of obtaining 1t In the future within
n reasonable time. Colncident with
this discovery occurred a radical change
In the building of battleships among
the great military nations. in accord
sarce with which most Of the modern
battleships have been or are being COR
structed, of a size and armament,
which doubles or more probably trebles
NllClt GJlcCLtSNISSS. EL
Others Are Building.
Every other great naval nation has,
or is building a number OF ships of this
n we have provided for but two,
therefore the balance of power is now |
inclining against us. Under these con
ditions. to provide for but one or two
battleships a year is to provide that
this nation instead of advancing. shall
go backwards II: naval rank and rela-
E{NyA re sN,ny. 81 80, A1n ,.-- i
such a course would be unwise for US |
II we fronted merely On n ocean, and
It Is doubly unwlse when we front on
two ceans
"As chief executive of the nation
and as commander In chief Of the navy, !
there is Imposed upon me some re-
sponstbiltty III advising congress Of
measures vitality necessary to secure
the peace and welfare Of the public in |
the event OF international complica- |
tons. which I regard as even remotely |
possible.
Having In view his solemn respon-
ability ! earnestly advise congress now
to provide four ba%ttleships of the most
advanced type. ! cannot too emphati-
cally say that this Is q measure of
peace and not Of war. I can conceive
OF no circumstances nde which this
republic would enter into an agrees
stSe war to extend Its territory, or in
any other manner to seek material ~
Erandizen1ent.
Safeguard Of Peace.
4 advocate that the United States
build a navy commensurate with its
powers and its needs. because I feel
sure q navy will he the surest guar
anty nj safeguard Of peace. We are
not q military nation. Our army is so !
small as to present almost an absurd
contrast to our size. It is properly
treated as little more than a nucleus
for organization in case OF n serious
war. Yet We are a rich nation and UNI
defended wealth invites aggression. The
very liberty Of individual speech and
action, which we so prize n guard.
renders 1t possible that at times un-
expected causes of friction with foreign
powers may suddenly develop"
Powers May Develop.
Powers may suddenly develop. At
this moment we are negotiating arbi-
tratton treaties with all other great
powers that are willing to enter them.
usefulness because in the event of some
sudden disagreement they render it
morally incumbent upon both nations
to seek first to reach an agreement
through arbitration and at least to Sc
cure q breathing space during which
involved may get the upper han over
any momentary burst of anger. These
arbitration treaties are entered into not
only with the hope Of preventing wrong
doing by Others against us. but also as
proof that we have no intention OF do
ing wrong ourselves.
..Yet 1t is idle to assume, and from
the standpoint of national interest and
honor Il Is mischievous folly for any
statesman to sun that this world
In yet reached a stage. or has come
within d inca surable distance of stage.
when a proud nation. Jealous of its
c,icc |