New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-16
TAWNEY CHARGES
lingo CONSPIRACY
War Department Bitterly At
tackled for Dickinson's Sup
pressed Report.
"WOULD HOBSONIZE NA<lON"
Calls It Cowardly to Admit Un-
preparedness for War-Says
Wood Is Seeking Big
Appropriations.
IErnm The Tribune Rureau. ]

TFrom The Tribune Bureaul
Washington, Dec. 15.-Charging tho
existence of a conspiracy between the
War Department and military enthusi-
asts in the House of Representatives TO
force enormous appropriations for MILL
tary purposes. Representative James A
Tawney of Minnesota chairman OF the
House Appropriations Committee. made
a sensational statement to-day regard
ing Secretary Dickinsons suppressed re-
port on the unpreparedness of the United
States for war
Mr.. Tawney. who opposes the fortlhca-
ton of the Panama Canal. larger in
creases of the navy and the increase Of
the standing army, minces no words IN
discussing what he calls the '-deplorable
and unpatriotic'' efforts that have been
made to secure the publication OF the
national defence document He declares
that the Secretarys report and Repre-
sentative Hobson's lecture on The yell
low PERIL are practically identical, and
accuses Hobson and those who hold his
views of conducting "a propaganda OF
jingoisn.'
1T is a positive disgrace said Mr..
"
pubIicIv to admit inability to compete
with any adversary that may come
along. I may feel confident that an
other mans physical powers are superior
to mine, but I would be regarded as a
coward if I confessed it from the house
tops.
This effort that has been made to get
the report of the Secretary of War be-
fore the American people is simply
part of a propaganda on the part OF the
military enthusiasts to secure support
for larger appropriations
Representative Hobson for the last
four or five years has attempted to scare
the American people by preaching the
doctrine of the yellow peril, and now the
War Department has Joined in an effort
to Hobsonize the whole country
ANY one who has either heard or read
Hobson's lectures and this report will
find it difficult to distinguish one from
the other The chief Of staff Of the
army. General Leonard Wood. and Mr.
Hobson have another motive in endeav-
orine to influence the public mind by
n1isrepresenting our preparedness for
war.
'aThey realize that the Democrats will
control the House of Representatives IN
the 62d Congress. and that apIropria-
tions for war purposes. which originate
in that House. will be controlled by that
uarty. Perhaps they think this is their
golden opportunity for securing large ap-
propriations and making them the basis
for larger appropriations in the next
Congress than they otherwise could hope
TO obtain
mo one but a coward will publicly ad-
nit his inferiority. and what is true OF
an individual is also true OF nation
These advocates of militarism ignore en-
tireIy our chief weapons of defence-our
great natural resources and the spon-
taneity with which the patriotism OF our
people would be aroused in the event Of
assault of any kind from any foreign
foe. They likewise ignore our geographi-
col isolation
House to Get Modified Report.
The reply of the Secretary OF War 10
the McLachlan resolution. which twas
forwarded to the House yesterday in
confidence" and returned by the Speaker
because the House has no means OF
handling confidential documents. and
which has been. in part at least. pub
lished In various quarters. has been the
sensation of the hour in Washington
Early this morning the President called
to the White House Secretary Dickin-
son. Senator Root and Representative
Hull. chairman of the Military Affairs
Committee. and after a long conferences
it was decided TO suppress the report
and that the Secretary of War should
send to the House letter explaining
why his reply should not be made public
After Secretary Dickinson returned to
the War Department he learned that IN
its original form the report had been
printed in several quarters. First. .
Philadelphia paper broke faith last
Saturday aud accidentally printed the
report which was sent out under release,
and then to-day certain New York news
papers reprinted the report from the
Philadelphia publication II was also
learned that Havana newspaper had
printed il several days ago. This led TO
further conferences. and tonight IL was
decided that as the report is already
public it shall be sent to the House. but
without the appendices. which are. after
all. the really important part. and which
IL is deemed essential shall be withheld
from the public
An examination of Mr.. DickinsOn's re-
ply shows that il could easily have been
prepared from the reports of the Secre-
tary of War. the chief of staff and the
bureau chiefs for the last two years. and
there is some question il IL would have
made any sensation whatever had IT
been forwarded to Congress without be-
ing marked confidential" Such alarm
lists as MIR. McLachlan and MIR. Hobson
have seen It's contents. anyway. and are
determined TO ventilate them on the foor
of the House. Army officers are making
a brave endeavor to-day 10 look sorrow-
full. but with little success. They can
foresee nothing but increased appropria-
tions as result OF the supposedly SEN
sational features of the report. the effort
TO keep Ii secret and a wider publication
in the press than il would ever have re-
ceived without that attempt.
General Wood Heard Again.
Major General Leonard Wood. chief OF
the staff of the army. was again before
the House Committee on Military AZ