New-York tribune., 1908-04-12
DEBATE ON NAVAL BILL
Burton Rebukes Hobson for Pre-
dieting War.
IRON rhe rribune Buresu !

N
representative Richmond Pearson Hobson who
,rfesses 10 fourteen hundred previous speeches on
tre same subject hCvered oninousIy over the
t;o3se for a short time to-day. but they COM
rleteIv dspe,led by Representative Theodore E.
py-ror of Ohio. Fox hour Mr.. Hobson held
s.r-b on The yellow peril and the encroachnnents
- the Oriental races menace 10 this country
- IS an argument fcr four battleships He gave
r,srv arguments for the enlargement Of the navy
and a. tie close OF his speech loudly ap-
pla@ded
Hardly had he taken his seat, however. when Mr.
Burton arose and presented the ether side Of the
csse with such effect that he aroused a demonstra-
tfon hardly exceIed at the present session. He de-
cls~ed that hysteria concerning a threatened war
deserves the severest rebuke. because il is un-
To,,5ed and misleading. He said that the United
states should all its efforts toward the upbuiId-
Ing Of peace and commerce. ana should strive TO
esir The confidence Of all nations by maintaining
such a navy would serve all purposes without
exci-.ns a suspicion that empire was its object
General debate on the naval appropriation bill con
-s-,ed throuEhout the day.
VI Ecbson said that when Congress ha aggled over
Two battleshrs the safety of the nation was being
rrtaed with, He referred TO the alliance between
Japan ard England and hinte6 ar a possible union
~ The forces q the two nations in Canadian wa
He went 50 far TO say that $50 600 worth
OF bartleshps would have enabled the United
states 70 force Russia 10 evacuate Manchuria when
she agreed 70 do so. and in that case war between
Russia and Japan would have been averted
The wa- clouds are gathering Mr.. Hobson said.
But America could, by carrying our legitimate
national policy. prevent IL II is not vision; It
Is Tot q dream. You and 7 can do it Let's begin
By authorizing four ships this year at the least
Notwithstanding the dire porLents that the war
clouds gathering said Nr. Burton, u am
s-atifed notice that equaniraity and content
rnent prevail n this chamber" He could not he
SAID. listen 10 Nj. Hobson without words Of en-
pha-c dissent may even say Of rebuke" The
United States, he declared was in the forefront OF
cT77f
had made peace between nations. He referred TO
President RoOseveIr's part II bringing about peace
between Russia and Japan. and said that not one
twenty larLeshlps had anything 10 do with that
peace L was accomplished rather through reliance
% his fairness and the justice and dsirterested-
o. the American people, factors which would
have been swept away i he had had those aubi-
fioGs which belong 10 country having q great
navy and seeking 10 dominate the nations OF the
earth" sympathy was more potent than arnla-
ueats. and no nation now could afford TO impose
upon weak people The public opinion Of the
CIVILIZED world was stronger than the armies and
tas nsvies 0t the proudest empire. There is
solidarity CT interests among the nations OF the
ss-th such tzt war viii not be tolerated. Il is
practically impossible to-day, unless some ire
pressible ground for conflict exists as existed IN
lie case Of Japan and Russia"
Regarding Japan, AIr. Burton said no nation
winch had made such leaps and bounds in so short
. tine lad behaved with more moderation than
rTs- county 7. however. Japan had designs on
or L.e " eSJeTD World the
western World would combine against the races
of ASA, any tight in which the United States would
have 70 contend alone. would be out Of the ques-
io- Ire United States should take advantage Of
is magnificent isolation and lead the world II
rTF PATHS Of peace.
~ ~. hlLchin, OF North Carolina opposed build
inE four la-tieships. II MS opinion an immense
navy vas not essential 70 the preservation Of the
Monroe Doctrine
President RooseveIt's treatment OF Rear Admiral
R-cT-son Ess denounced by NIr Gill, Of Mary
land. who said that ne President had repeatedly
Fn0V- disregard for the law and performed illegal
scts 4 great injustice ne said. had been done 10
Admiral Brownsor- We should demand justice
and fzl- play, he exclaimed. not only in precept
RI also II practice He who IS loudest in preach
i-Z rhe square deal should foremost in practs-
r-g r." TIE country. h declared, should demand
administrative respect for the Law. Mr Gil said
1-a- now outstanding the President twice had as
ss-rsd his determination not 10 be candidate Tor
ta--6 -e--r currently reported that his last
message Tzs bid for denomination. He quoted
'-o- -opl-zI song the refrain running
TzST