Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-12-29
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

Down STdOAaiiys
BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washington.-Mem Of congress
made a brave effort to counterfeit
astonishment when they were con-
fronted with the report from Secre-
tary Of War Dickinson to the effect
that this country is unprepared for
war if war shall come. 1t was not ex-
pected that the facts which Mr.. Dick
inson sent to congress would be made
public and it was the publicity given
them which made the members coun-
terfeit establishment, for the truth is
that congress has known for three
years that. in the opinion Of the army
officers of the country, If conflict
should come suddenly, the Japanese
could take the Pacific coast, land an
army on it and hold the section west
of the Rockies for long time before
the United States could dislodge
them.
There is a story back of all this.
After the Spanish war there was
founded in the war department what
is known as war college. The navy
department has a similar organiza-
ton. 1t is the duty of the officers
connected with these colleges to study
problems of war in connection with
the possibilities of conflict with all
other countries. One Of the problems
had to do with war with Japan and
it did not take long to set forth evil
dence that the Japanese would have
the best Of it because of this country's
lack of war material and Of proper
Notifications in the right places.
The committees of congress were
told these facts privately and the
members understood it thoroughly,
but under the plea of economy and
also under the feeling that war was
not to come, congress did not act. 1t
f@t, however, that it must express
great surprise when the facts in the
case recently were made public, in
order that the country might not be
led to believe that the members had
been negligent of their duties as they
apply TO the protection of our coast
lines and our island possessions.
Spanish War Severe Lesson.
The war department has in keen
memory the troubles of Spanish war
days. officers say that if this country
then had been on an equal war foot
ing with other countries, hundreds of
lives would have been saved and with
them millions of dollars. Our field
artillery went into Cuba with the old
fashioned black powder while the
Spanish batteries were equipped with
smokeless powder When Captain
Capron's battery opened the battle in
front Of Santiago its position was at
once made known to the Spaniards
by the smoke which enshrouded it.
The Spanish batteries replied, but as
there was no smoke from their guns
the American forces could not locate
the enemy and, while being fired upon
and their men killed, could not return
damage for damage.
Prior to the Spanish war the de
partment had told congress that
money was necessary to properly
equip the army, and congress, econo-
mically inclined as it always is and
certain that there was to be no war,
did not respond Then when war
came effort was made to place the
blame where it in no sense belonged.
1t is probable that the war depart
ment is glad that the present condi-
tons of unpreparedness have been
made public so that if trouble does
come the records can be pointed to
and the officers can say IF we had
had the money to do what we knew
It was necessary to do, these lives
would have been saved and this i'm
mense expenditure in large part
avoided"
Proqressives Turn TO Hughes.
The latest sharp political gossip
in the capital has been to the
effect that the Progressive Repub-
Hcans are thinking of trying to in
duce Associate Justice Charles E
Hughes of the Supreme Court to en-
ter the field as a presidential candi-
date in 1912. 1t is barely possible
that the Progressives who have this
in mind think that Justice Hughes,
though without giving direct assent
thus early, might be induced to con-
slider the proposition little more
readily because it is said that he feels
some resentment because he was not
appointed to the position of chief jus
tice of the Supreme Court by Presi-
dent Taft. There seems to be a par
tial belief in Washington that the JUS
tice was given to understand that he
was to succeed Chief Justice Fuller
There are sevVa1- reasons advanced
by the men who are talking about the
presidential candidacy of Justice
Hughes, though admittedly talking it
in whispers, for the seeming political
wisdom of putting him into the field.
The Republicans have sharp kuowl-
edge of the factional differences which
exist in their party and they think
that New York's former governor
would command all the votes of Pro
gressiye and insurgent Republicans
and the votes of many Of the conserya-
tives. Moreover, they hold that he
would receive the support of thou
sands of voters who admire him and