New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-04-26
WAR TALK DEPRECATED
B4TTLESHIP DEBATE
Aldr7ch and Lodge Reply to Beue-
ridge-Vote To-morro7r.
TFrom The Tribune Bureau1

fFrom The Tribune Bureaul
Washington, April 25.-The Senate devoted an
other day 10 debating the our-battleship amend
-nent and incidentally the elder statesmen pro
ceeded 70 chastise Senator Beveridse whom !,
r-tvate conversation they describe as the .'enfant
terrible of the Senate. and whose speech yester-
day they characterize as 'perfervid and dangerous
10 the international relations of the United States
Senator Aidrich deprecated strongly Mr. Beve-
ridges intirnation that war was TO he apprehended
II the immediate future. and Mr.. Lodge referring
N the Indiana Senator's declaration that If il
were possible TO discuss the foreign relations of the
United States in executive session there would be
no question about the passage of the four-ship
amendment, and similar intimations. turned to Mr.
Beveridse With supplcating gesture, and ex-
claimed, Rest. rest. peTturbed spirit
Messrs. Aldrich and Lodge and others of the
older Senator's were disposed ridicue the appre-
tensions Of the Senator from Indiana and to coun-
teract as far possible. by kindly sarcasm and
gentle irony. the effect the foreign relations Of
the nation they feared might result from the in
situations he made yesterday
Nr aldrich described the arguments advanced ae
absurd. He resented. almost with bitterness Mr.
Beveridges assertion that, could the amendment be
considered in executive session, it would pass
unanimously, and declared that in the Sem
ate had right 10 speak for the President
Il venture 10 deny for the President Of the
Tinted States. for the administration and for the
members Of the Foreign Relations Committee that
there any facts affecting relations with
snv friendly power which If known would precipi-
taie trouble OF affect the result in the Senate
said NJ. -Aldrich The President n DESTROYS Of
This legislation. but deny that he desires ii for
any reason not perfectly apparent
There is objection" he continued. Ito the
Presidents believing that four battleships should
he authorized or that he should send for Senators
and endeavor TO impress his view upon them. but
I 90 not propose that the Senator Indiana or
any other Senator shall declare that those who do
not vote the President wishes not patriotic
Senators and good citizens No such question is
involved. II purely an administrative problem
referring further Mr. Beveridge-s remarks he
said Nothing could more injurious than such
remarks They have their effect all over the
world
Taking I'D the financial side Of the question. Mr..
Aldrich predicted serious deficit year say
ins that this year il would amount $50 orooo
while The present prospect that the total ex-
renditure for the coming fiscal year would show
CT increase over this year Of sI2a"i1.esa Finally
he said:
II committees instructed deal with the
revision Of the tariff. their principal duty will be
20 devise new sources of revenue Instead Of re-
ductions there must be increased taxation"
Senator Lodge said he would vote for four battle
ships. but not because he entertained any appre-
hension Of war. He declared that as a member of
the Committee on Foreign Relations he knew OF no
threat or menace of war. Il am aware of no war
cloud the horizon he said No has in
formed OF any danger Of war, either in my
capacity as Senator or member OF that
committee. II is no answer TO my statement to
say that suddenly Men can Judge only
f-oun conditions known 10 them. ! should be very
sorry 10 have il supposed that / was voting for
four ships because 1 expected thought the
country n7enaced by war"
Mr.. Lodge denied that the navy was inefficient or
that there were eleven obsolete ships in the new
navy. He declared that ships Of the Drea drought
class had Yet been proved 10 be the best type
e~S
that they would as willingly command ships Of the
South Carolina and the Michigan type Of the
fo-u-r- He declared his policy be that OF main
tanning navy better than that of any other nation
than Great Britain. but not OF attempting to com
pete with that country.
Finally. Nj Lodge said that his for four
ships would be based not on the nef1ciency of the
present navy. bur the that we not up
other powers in the construction Of ships OF
TIE Dreadnought class. He said there were two
D,eadroughts building and he would be glad TO
sse four instead Of TWO more authorized
Nr. Lodge quoted Mr.. Beverage saying that.
were there no danger of war. appropriate so
much money for ships would be TO fitch II from
the pockets Of the people. and strongly contro-
Ve-ted the statement. pointing out that were there
danger il would be the height Of folly TO sit
debating z naval programme which II would take
three years carry out
The Massachusetts Senator declared that the fact
,hst the President recommended four battleships
should carry great weight not because the kxecu-
ttas meant intimate that there was danger OF
var but because he the President and nnaliy
Re made z strong argument for four ships, on the
ground that adequate navy was the greatest pro-
r1oter and p-eserver Of peace
Senator McCunber spoke against the four battle
snip amendment belittled the power OF Japan
ard The likelihood IF trouble with that nation tilA'
h caused almost as much discomfort TO the elder
stzresrneu~ as had Nh Beveridge- Senator BUT
rows made Z calm and dispassionate argument
against The four ship amendment
An agreement was reached TO hnl; ofpa'e ai'e'
O'Clock on Monday 10 ten-rninute speeches anu "
vote on The amendment and the entire bill before
adjournment that day