Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1910-03-31
Are Finding II Hard to Agree Up.
on Strength. Which Should
Be Maintained.
LIVELY FIGHT IS CERTAIN
Opposition to More Battleshlps Has
Developed streneth-How Voters
Influence Their Congressman
The Open Door Question
IN Manchuria.

Washington within the last few
days strong opposition has developed
to the plan to add two great dread.
naughts to the navy during the CON.
Ing year. President Taft has urged
the members of the house committee
on naval affairs not to withdraw from
Its position in defense of the program
which provides for the two big ships.
but the chairman of the committee on
appropriations and some other power.
ful Republicans. aided by some Of the
leaders of the Democracy. are deter.
mined to fight the appropriation for
the battlesbips until the end.
IT. Is probable that the recent talk
OF the possibility of hostllities with
the far eastern nation will be used to
defend the cause Of those who urge
that no backward step be taken in
the matter Of naval construction until
the opening of the Panama canal. 1t
has been virtually understood up to
the present time that there would be
no strong opposition to the two big
ships. but the opponents OF the bill
have developed remarkable strength
recently and there promises to be a
hard'fought battle both In the house
n senate on the naval increase plan.
If by any chance the men who are
crying economy should win their cause
In the house the senate will be the
scene OF a great struggle. for an at.
tempt will be made when the naval
appropriation bill reaches the upper
house to restore the two-b attleship
provision.
Perkins Wants Ships Built.
Senator Perkins OF California Is the
chairman OF the senate committee on
naval affairs. He succeeded Senator
Hale OF Maine in the craftsmanship
when the Pine Tree state man was
given the craftsmanship Of the com.
mittee on appropriations made vacant
oy the death Of Senator Allison OF
Iowa. Mr.. Hale, however, has kept a
membership In the naval committee
n he Is still a very powerful factor
In that body.
1t Is understood that Senator Per.
kins is now the strongest kind Of an
advocate OF two battleships. Senator
Hale. now. as always, is opposed to
the enlarged shipbuilding program.
The situation is curious. Before the
Californian, Mr.. Perkins, was chair.
man OF the naval affairs committee he
was a subordinate member of that
body and as a rule he followed the
lead OF the then chairman, Mr.. Hale
Now things are reversed and the Call.
fornian has experienced a change of
heart. a change due almost entirely.
Vt is believed, to the position which
one state has taken with reference to
the japanese question
Hobson for Big Navy.
In the house Representative Hob.
son. the hero of the Merrimac. who
holds membership in the committee
on naval affairs, believes that four
battleships should be authorized BY
congress at the present session. II IA
possible that Mr.. Hobson takes this
stand In order that the house NAV
come to the belief that II a former ma.
val officer says four ships are neces.
sary that It may be willing to com.
P'o'hise vi 'Wo' LUIS was the course
President Roosevelt took at one time
He urged four battleships, and con
gress cut his recommendation In half
and gave him two, When the presi.
dent was given the two he chuckled
because he had asked for four, beliey.
ing that It was the only way In which
he could get what he wanted.
Voters Influence Congressman.
Congress Is beginning to feel for
the first time this winter the W of
petition. It is to be doubted II the
country realizes the effect which let.
ter writing has on legislation. The
Influx OF thousands Of letters from
constituents has a far greater influ.
ence. as history has proved, in secur.
Ing legislation than has the private
lobbying Of representatives either of
the people or of the interests.
The interstate commerce amend
ments are before congress. and as a
consequence OF the wide publicity
which has been given the opposition
to some Of the features Of the bill,
senators and members are beginning
to hear from the country. 1t is only
right to say. however, that many OF
the letters, perhaps nearly half OF
them. urge that the administration
side OF the matter is wholly worthy
OF consideration. The fact that the
country In particular seems to be
aroused to the possibility that some