The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-02-09
CRITICISM
AS WHOLLY UNJUST
Senator Perkins, of California Issues Statement Denouncing
President Roosevelts Attack Upon His Attitude Toward
Naval Program, Entirely Unwaanted by His Record
as Member of the Naval Committee

Washington, Feb. Sin view of the
attack which President Roosevelt has
made upon Senator Perkins, the senior
senator from California, for his atti-
tude on the Japanese agitation in his
state, friends of the Pacific coast
senator believe he will defend himself
on the floor of the senate. Senator
Perkins consulted with several sena-
tors on the subject today. 1t Is ar
gued that while there may be a diff
ference of opinion between the men,
ber and his colleague as to the rights
of state to take certain action, re-
gardless of treaties entered into by the
federal government, he will receive
strong support on account of the dis
approval of the senators of an attack
upon one of their number by the ex-
ecutive at this time.
Senator Perkins claims that the
criticism of his attitude on the naval
program is unwarranted.
I'm 1S93," he explained, II became a
member of the senate naval affairs
committee. At that time we did not
have single battleship in commits
sion and very few first-class cruisers.
Today we have 81 battleships in COM
mission and five in course of con-
struction in addition to the fleet of
f1rst-class cruisers, torpedo boats and
other modern vessels of war
Big Increase.
THE appropriation of 1893 was only
$23, 900, 900 for the support and building
of the navy and everything else. The
naval bill now pending in the senate
carries more than s125,0O0,00O.
I'm 1893 we had but $1,000 sailors
and marines. Today we have $4,000
sailors and marines.
Il have voted for every increase in
the naval appropriation that has come
before the committee with the excep-
tion of the last proposal to build four
battleships in one year, which / did
not think expedient, believing in the
part of wisdom and wise business pol
icy to profit by our own experience
and the mistakes in naval construction
of other countries.
"As verification of what l say, I
would refer to the congressional rec
ord, which records every vote for and
against any pending measure"
The fact that in the prospective re-
organization of the senate committees,
Senator Perkins of California will sue
ceed Senator Hale of Maine as chair
man of the committee on naval af-
fairs, has had the effect of adding to
the interest felt in the presidents
reference to the California senator as
on hn ho, l.,
the navy.
Subject Discussed.
The subject was discussed today in
both houses of congress, and it re-
ceived special attention from men,
bers of the California delegation.
One of the California members, Rep
resentative Knowland, freely ex-
pressed the opinion that Senator Per-
kins had not deserved the presidents
censure. He said:
Il have been inclined to uphold the
president in his efforts to bring about
an amicable settlement of the Japa-
nese question, but / certainly deplore
his attack upon Senator Perkins, and
believe this is practically the senti-
ment of the California delegation. AS
ranking member of the senate commit
tee on naval affairs, no member in
congress has been stronger or a more
consistent friend Of the navy than
the senior senator from California
Rendered Service.
Instead of hampering the develop
ment of the navy he has rendered
conspicuous service in bringing 1t up
to it's present high standard of effi-
cheney. Senator Perkins, together
with other members Of the California
delegation, has been urging for the
last two years the retention of a for
midable fleet in the Pacific waters. If
a serious situation has existed in our
relations with Japan then 1t would
have appeared to have been criminal
to take the entire fleet from Pacific
waters. The president should be
backed in his efforts to settle the
Japanese matter by diplomacy, but we
must avoid any indications Of undue
fear"
Under the guise Of considering the