The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-06-04
Are Finding 1t Hard to Agree Up
on Strength Which Should
Be Maintained.
LIVELY Fight IS CERTAIN
Opposition to More Battleships Has
Developed strength-How Voters
Influence Their Congressman
The Open Door Question
In Manchuria.

udyS SlTOuS OppOSlllOu LAS uefSiOpSu
to the plan to add two great dread
naughts to the navy during the COM
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
full Republicans. aided by some of the
leaders OF the Democracy. are deter
mined to fight the appropriation for
the battleships until the end.
1t is probable that the recent talk
of the possibility of hostilities 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
and senate on the naval increase plan.
II 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-battleship
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
by the death of Senator Allison of
Iowa, Mr.. Hale. however, has kept a
membership in the naval committee
and he is still a very powerful factor
In that body.
1t Is understood that Senator Per
kfns 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 CALI
fornian has experienced a change of
heart. a change due almost entirely,
II 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. 1t is
possible that Mr.. Hobson takes this
stand In order that the house may
come to the belief that II a former ma
val officer says four ships are neces-
sary that 1t may be willing to COM
promise on two. This 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 chuckied
because he had asked for four, believ-
ing that it was the only way In which
he could get what he wanted.
A good many of the members of
congress are willing that enough bat.
tleships shall be added to make It Ger.
tain that this country will keep its
relative position of naval strength
They do not want Germany. France
and Japan to overtop us in sea force.
Voters influence congressman.
Congress is beginning to feel for
the first time this winter the power OF
petition. 1t is to be doubted IL 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
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
OF the provisions of the bill will not
meet the ends intended means that
there will be no rushing of the meas
ure through without full and ample
discussion by the representatives of