Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-16
Pacific Coast Members Prompt
to Seize Advantage.
TAWNEY HINTS AT A PLOT
Says War Department Is Trying to
"Hobsonize" Country.
PRESIDENT TAFT WORRIED
Said to Be Apprehensive That Econ
omy Program May Be Smashed
as Result of Uproar.

II became known at the White House
TODAY that the Pacific coast congressman
are TO meet tonight to take advantage of
the latest war scare to further the secur-
ing of appropriations for defense along
the coast.
Representative Humphreys Of Washing
ton. who called at the White House on
a personal matter told newspaper re-
porters that the defenseless condition of
the Pacific coast was no new thing to
the world at large.
1T is known everywhere he said, "eX-
ccpt in Congress. The truth is that the
Pacific coast and the whole western coun-
try is at the mercy of an eastern nation
Of power.
At Mercy of japanese.
Japanese warships and vessels contain
Ing an army of 10000 or more men
would not have the slightest difficulty in
passing through the straits of Juan de
f'uca going right up to Belingham.
Wash. a city of 25,OOo people, and land
Ing direct upon the wharves there. the
water being deep enough for any war
vessel in the world. They would not pass
within seventeen miles of gun OF the
United States.
Landing at Bellingham, they could take
possession of the Northern Pacific and
Great Northern railroads and have the
whole Pacific coast and far west at their
mercy. The rich. fertile country in all
directions would supply them with Suff1-
cient rations and forage. Through the
passes of the Cascade mountains they
could overrun the entire coast
This condition ought to be remedied by
torpedo boats and fortifications. The
fic A.
lively safe by an expenditure of less than
half of the cost of a modern battleship."
Bitterness in the House.
The war scare has the House of Repre-
sentatives in its grip, and bitterness Is
manifested on all sides.
Tire peculiar circumstances attending
the suppression of the confidential report
OF the Secretary of War on the subject
OF the unreadiness OF the United States
for war has famed the flame of discon-
tent with existing conditions. Members
OF both branches of the national legis-
lsiure are now demanding that all the
facts be made public.
IN eXpurgated edition of the national
defense report is now being prepared at
the War Department for publication. But,
although the first report, the unexpur-
gated edition, has not been made public,
In statement issued by James A.
Tawney. chairman of the House appro-
priations committee, the Minnesota rep
Tesentative practically charges the eX-
Department and the military enthusiasts
in the House Of Representatives to force
from Congress enormously increased ap-
propriations for military purposes
Hobsonizing United States.
tary of War and the yellow peril lee
lures of Representative Richmond P.
HoSson are practically Identical. Mr..
Tawney declares that the War Depart
ment is participating in a movement to
''Hotsonize' the United States.
III is a positive Disgrace says Mr..
Tawney in his statement for a man or
for a nation publicly to admit inability
to compete with an adversary, no matter
now strong that adversary may be. 1
may feel confident that another mans
physical powers are superior to mine;
but i would be regarded a coward, l
would consider myself a coward, if l con-
fsssed the fact from the housetops.
This effor: that has been made to get
the report of the Secretary of War for
the American people is simply part of
q propaganda on the part of military en-
thusiasiS 10 secure reports for larger ap-
propria tions.
four or five years has attempted TO scare
the American people by preaching the
doctrine of the yellow peril, by picturinS
the invasion of the United States by
armed horGes from the orient, and the
landing of Japanese armies on the Pacific
coaSt. Now the War Departmcn has
joined in effort To IIobsonize the whole
country.
Sounds Like Hobson's Lectures.
''hny one who has either heard or read
Hohson's lectures and this report will find
il difficult to distinguish one from the
othor. The chief of staff of the army,
Gen. Leonard Wood. and Mr. Hobson
have another motive in endeavoring to in
hucncc the public mind by misrepresent-
ing our preparedness for war.
'They realize that the democrats will
control the House of Representatives in
the SiNty-second Congress. end that ap-
propriations for war purposes will orig
mate in that body. and under the control
OF that party. Perhaps they think that
This is their golden opportunity for Secur-
ing large appropriations. that they
may make those appropriations the basis
for larger aIlotments for military and
naval purposes in the next Congress than
they otherwise could hope 10 obtain.
Il wan: TO repeat that but a
coward will publically admit his inferior
itX. ana what is true Of an individual is
also true of ion. These advocates of
Wilitailsm ignore entirely our chief Weap-
Ons of dcfctSC-otT great natural resources
ard tn" spontan"ity with which the
patriotism of our people would be aroused
In the event of an assault of any kind
from any foreign foe. They likewise
itnorc our GeoGra phicaI ISOLATION
MIR. fawncN also made sharp comment
with reference In the action to those
newspapers which published without
authorization in whole or in part the
SccrFtary of Wars confidential report
In my opinion. he said, newspapers
that have done this think more Of gather
Ing aud printing the news. no matter how
harmful IL may be To our country than
they do of preserving their honor and
cherishing their PATRIOTISM
IL was Mr.. Tawney who had the report
suppressed. But IL has not been known
how he got the Information cor cerning this
confidential document, which impressed
him SD much with the unwisdom of its
publication that he made an appeal to the
President that 1t he withheld.
Hobson Gave It Away.
II was Representative Hobson who
told Tawney. innocently enough. about
the report Mr.. Tawney believes in peace
He thinks the vast sums spent annually
I'm preparation for war that. in his
opinion. will never arrive are absolutely
wasted. Mr.. Hobson believes in a big
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