Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1910-06-01
HEPBURN Sees
need OF navy
Idaho Senator Gives His Reasons for
Voting for Two Battle
ships.

a W &oAAh5bbh NCAAOORSAANAS
his impressions of Senator Hepburn
in the following:
Senator Hepburn of Idaho is
Quaker, but a lighting Quaker" as
shown by his recent vote for two bat
tleships. The Idaho senator is Quak-
er enough to deplore war, but he Is
not the kind OF Quaker who would al.
low his peace views to influence him
into voting to leave the United States
unprepared for conflict If it should
come.
In other words, he regards a big
and modern navy as absolutely es-
sential to the proper protection of the
interests OF this government, and he
SO expressed himself in the senate.
Supporting the provision of the naval
bill authorizing two battleships, Sen
ator Hepburn said:
More Ships Needed.
II have been considering as to the
time when l would think we might
safely curtail our naval establish
ment. am, in my present mood, in
clined to say that that time will be
measured by the completion of the
canal. We are now, with our vast
coast lines and with the interpOsition
Of continent that breaks it in two,
in position where we must have a
larger navy because of the necessity
Of division of,the fleet. But when the
canal is constructed 1t will be all one
navy; we win have little cause to
consider the question of the Pacific
and the Atlantic fleets, because they
can pass rapidly from one to the
other.
II am inclined. until the canal is
completed, to vote for a reasonable
and fair addition to the navy, so that
when that time comes we will stand
in position where we can dictate,
II dictation is wise, and enter or
attempt to enter into some arrange
ment with the world, and we will be
in better position to do that If we
have our country thus connected
shore with shore.
Navy Is Not Too Large.
II do not think our navy is inor-
dinately large. do not think our
navy is out of proportion to the
functions that 1t must fulfn. The
navy in time of peace is not without
very great benefit to the people. As
has been suggested, and as must al
ways recur to the mind Of one con-
siderlng 1t, the building Of our ships
Is largely a question of labor, and 1t
Is a distribution of the wealth of the
country among those who labor. The
remaining per cent represents ma
terials which must under our law, be
American materials. Our ships are
built by our own people, out Of our
own raw material. A vast market Is
created for that which would other
wise not have q market or not SO
good a market.
The field of labor is benefited to
the extent Of hundredssOf millions OF
dollars, which goes Immediately back
into the channels of trade. 1t does
not pass into the hands OF those
who hoard it or withdraw It from
the channels of trade; but the man
who works in the navy yard or who
works upon the ships almost imme-
diately, would say almost within a
month. sends the money back again
into the channels OF trade.
Not Thinking OF War.
Il have not considered, and shall
not, in voting upon this bill, consid-
er the question OF war. regard II
as in keeping with the policy of ma
lions that we should have a navy.
Il regard 1t as In keeping with the
duty Of this country that Its navy
should be adequate to Its defense II
It must defend; that 1t should stand
as pledge of the ability and Of the
disposition Of this country to com
mand the peace OF the world. Sc
that can. without violating any part
Of my conscientious belief In regard
to these matters. support this pro
vision for the building Of two battle.
ships"