The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-12-16
In That of 1912 When The
National Capitol Was
Sacked And in 1861 When
The Federal Strength
Was Measured by the Armed Mob.
lie Would Have Soldiers Given u
Square Deal and he Properly Arm
ed and Equipped-Whieh is all
Right Properly Carried Out.


Washington, Dee. l6.-As the au-
thor OF the famous resolution which
led the war department to admit the
defenselessness of the United States,
Representative James McLachlan. of
California, Is the pivotal center abou.
which one Of the most sensational
contests ever seen I'm Washington Is
being conducted today.
McLachlan this afternoon wrote eX-
,lusiyely for the United Press his re-
ply to those who have opposed the
publication Of the focts contained In
the war departments answer to his
'esolution-especially 10 Representa-
i've Tawney, Republican, of Mime
iota, who Is credited with primlng
President Taft TO oppose and prevent
he purpose of Secretary of War Dick
nson and General Leonard Wood.
rhief Of staff of the army The answer
'OllOws:
Copyright, 1910, by the United Press
associations)
(By Representative Jas. McLachlan)
The charge of representative Taw-
ney that IA conspiracy exists to stam-
lede congress to larger military APP
proprlations, through making known
TO the American people the wretched
condition of our military establish
nent. is too childish to be taken seri.
usly yet carries a too dangerous i'm
preston 10 the people 10 be overlook
I'd.
Representative Tawney. IL the in
erview accredited to him is correct
says that it is "cowardly" to make
ynown our admitted national weak
less either TO our own people or 10
he world at large. He admits that
We are as a fatted capon and would
nave us pose as a gamecock. In other
words, he would that we trust our ma
tional security TO bluff"
We have "bluffed" since the begin
ning OF our national existence, anG
ye have been at regular intervals
called by war" Our appalling pen
don rolls, the great heart scars car
-ied by thousands Of our people bear
Witness 60 the fact that there have
been "Tawneys" in the councils of our
nation before. Alleged patriots have
kept the nation in utter ignorance of
its helpless condition, until war has
come, and then placed unenduring,
unframed and untutored men, armed
with obsolete weapons, In the field 10
uphold the national honor.
Thousands of the best OF our blood
and brain and Drawn have perished
n typhoid camps through ignorance
If the elemental sanitary precautions
The Filipino was better armed in 1898
han our volunteers. The most wick
ed national "cowardice," l can picture,
Is demanding Of our people to come
TO the national defense and then send
ing forth an unequipped mob In dead
Y camps or against a prepared enemy
to be murdered.
The great Washington pleaded
against "Tawneys" in our struggle for
independence, that he be given train
ed troops and after the end of the
truggle. charged such men with the
prolongation of the war. The Disgrace
Of the war of 1912, which eliminated
in the sacking of the national capitol
are chargeable to the same unwar-
anted action Of legislative non-com'
batants who would deny our soldiers
proper equipment and demand thai
| they needlessly sacrifice themselves
or their cOuntry's honor. II was
| such as these who brought on the wal
4 1861, when the federal strength
was measured by an armed mob al
Bull Run, and who were responsible
for over six hundred uncared fol