New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-23
TWO BIG BATTLESHIPS
HOUSE PASSES NAVY BILL
Authorizing THEM.
Majority for Conservative Policy
Tall of Var 7cith Japan Rid
cuIed by Mr. Tascney.

tlOrlZeG by the House lO-udS 1hSSC AiiOi'7NN-S
OF 23.OOO tons were opposed by many members.
/ but when the vote came it showed that the
vast ma ioritv Of members of the House are In
favor of conservative naval programme Rep
resentatiye Burton. OF Ohio. stanchly supported
by Representatives Macon. of Arkansas. ana
Finley of South Carolina, made a determined
effort to eliminate the appropriation for battle
ships. but their arguments We're unavailing.
feature of the debate the unanimity with
which the House viewed the Japanese situation.
No one who discussed the question of additions
to the navy suggested for instant that there
is the slightest i'll feeling between The two
countries. The Following sentences from Repre-
sentative Tawney's speech loudly applaud
ed. and seem to indicate the sentiment in the
House:
Il am tired Of these annual wars with Japan,
which always occur simultaneously with the
consideration of the naval appropriation bill by
Congress. All the rest of the time our relations
with Japan are friendly, but we
begin TO consider the naval appropriation bill,
then learn from the press and other sources
that war is imminent
Speaking in support of amendment by Mr..
Finley striking out the batteship provision. Mr..
Bartholdt. of Missouri. who is a prominent
peace advocate, declared that If there ever was
a time when such appropriation was unwise
and unnecessary II was now 1T is unneces-
all the world, and. what is more. we have wisely
managed to safeguard our peace it has never
been safeauarded before" He would have Con
gress provide for the necessities Of the peace
full development of the country. There is he
declared something besides the big stick
which secures our national peace"
WAR IMPOSSIBLE, SAYS TAWNEY.
Mr. Tawney referred TO a recent conversation
,tol ,.-b, had haarn
to Japan and who had told him that there was
no more danger Of war between the United
States and Japan than there of war be
tween the United States and Great Britain. Mr.
Tawney declared that Japan could not go to
war and could not impose farthing more OF
tax than now imposed without a revolution
That however. he said not the only rea-
son. Would Japan he inquired. even II she
was equipped financially. ever think OF sending
a fleet Of warships or battleships from Yoke
hama to attack our Pacific Coast in time OF
WARP" She would, ne said. have TO be supplied
somewhere in the Pacific with naval base.
where she could coal her ships and make nee
esssrv repairs There was no such place in the
Pacific except the Hawaiian Islands, and he de-
clared that when the Notifications provided FOR
were completed the islands would be as impreE-
nabIe as is Gibraltar
MI Tawney said there was no naval vessel
ahoat that could sail from Yokohama 10 the
Pacific Coast and back again with her own coal.
and such a fleet could not be supplied with
enough GOLFERS to meet the requirements. He
spoke of the recent agreement between the
United States and Japan which. he said, we
are told nsures perpetual relations Of peace
with that country" The two oceans, he de-
clared were greater bulwarks Of defence OF the
country than battleships. There is no coun-
try that can strike effectively" he exclaimed.
with the fortidcatons now have and with
the navy now have.
Mr. Tawney predicted a deficit this year Of
S125OO0,0oo and next year OF $143,0O0.Ooo.
The reasons assigned by Mr.. Tawney for OPP
posing the additions 10 the navy in the opinion
of Mr. Hepburn were trivial and dishonorable
TO the people Of the United States" Using as
the basis Of his argument Mr.. Tawney's state
rnept that the sole purpose Of those who wanted
the two additional ships that this country
might excel In naval architecture. Mr.. Hepburn
declared that the Minnesota member had set
aside all possibilities OF war He set aside al
solicitude that patriots may have" he ex-
claimed "for the performances OF their gov
ernnents in case war does come. and imputes
to us simply the ignoble purpose OF desiring TO
build q better ship than some other nation. 1
scout that suggestion" he said with feeling.
las an insult to the American people"
COCHRAN ON RACE AN1AGON Ism
Mr. Cochran, OF New York, took issue with
Mr. Hepburn regarding racial repulsion. Il be-
lieye." he declared lit is impossible for that
repulson to change" All the unbroken story
Of history, he said. was that 1t was innate
uncomfortable progressive" Never. he said. |
had two dwelt together peacefully In actual
contact except under condition. and that. lie
asserted was where one has consented to adj
nit superiority in the other"
Discussing conditions in the West. Mr.. Cock
ran said; You have on the Pacific Coast to-
day two races one OF which won't acknowledge
inferiority and the other won't acknowledge
equality That the alien Is growing IN
numbers some believe" Everybody. he said |
could conceive that its growth meant danger to
American peace. He called attention 10 the |
Presidents negotiations for peaceful methods
by which the excess OF japanese immigration
may be prevented. Sir" he exclaimed, "he
may succeed or he may not. but there is one
ominous fact, he cannot induce the other gov
eminent to sign a treaty of exclusion. and If
this quiet method of obstructing the excess Of
this race to our shores proves ineffective there
IS nothing left but exclusion act" Every |
one, he declared, knew that the passage of an |
exclusion act would be accepted hostile |
act by Japan.
Sir said Mr.. Cochran, we have what |
follows when that government considers act |
hostile. 1t justifes the breaking off of nego-
tiations, but l do not believe that even under |
those circumstances the japanese government |
would make upon us" He specuiated- |
however. what might happen should the anti |
japanese feeling which, he said. uncon- |
querable, take the form that 1t did against the |
Italians in New Orleans.
do you think" he inquired. the Japanese in |
M