Evening journal., 1910-12-16
WAR SCARE TALK
BY K'LACHLAN
California Cen reSSman Re-
plies to Interview Of
Mr.. TOwney
THINKS UUR MILITARY
In WRETCALD CON = -ITl0N

AAN VANA O&AAO 0VAN = AAAOAN
By United Press Leased Special Wire.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 16--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 about
which one of the most sensational con-
tests ever seen In Washington is now
being conducted to-day McLachlan
this afternoon wrote exclusively for
the United Press his reply TO those
who have opposed the publication OF
facts contained in the War Depart
ment's answer TO his resolution-espe-
cially to Representative Tawney IRE
publican, Mimi who is credited with
priming President Taft to oppose and
prevent the purposes Of Secretary Of
War Dickinson, and General Leonard
Wood, chief of the army. The answer
follows:
Copyright. 1910 by the United Press
Associations.)
BY Representative James McLachlan
The charge OF Representative Taw-
ney that a conspiracy exists 10 STAN
pede Congress to large military ap-
preparations. through making known
TO the American people the wretched
condition Of our military establish
ment is too childish TO be taken seri-
ously, yet carries a too dangerous inn
preston to the people to be over
looked
Representative Tawney, II the inter-
view accredited to him is correct, says
that II is "cowardly" TO make known
our admitted national weakness either
to our own people or TO the world at
large. He admits that we are as a
fatted capon aud would have us pose
as a game cock. In other words he
would that we trust our national Sc.
curity to bluff"
eve have bluffed" since the begin
ming OF our national existence, and we
have been at regular intervals called
by war Our appalling persion rolls
the great heart scars carried by thou
sands OF our people bear witness tc
the fact that there have beer
'Tawneys In the councils OF our ma.
ton before. Alleged patriots have
kept the nation in utter ignorance Of
its helpless condition, until was has
come. and then placed unenduring, un-
trained and untutored men, armed
with obsolete weapons in the field C
uphold the national honor.
Thousands OF the best Of our blood
and brain and brawn, have perished IN
typhoid camps through ignorance Of
elementary sanitary precautions. Tue
Filipino was better armed In 1896
than ou- volunteers. The most wick
ed national "cowardice" | can picture
is demanding Of our people to com'
TO the national defense and thel
send them forth an unequipped mo
to deadly { mps or against a pre-
| pared enemy to be murdered.
, The great Washingto pleade
"Tawneys" In orr struggle for indc
, pendence. that G be given t-aine
, troops and after the end Of the strue
gle, { larged such men with the pro
longation of the war. The disgrace
Of the war of 1912. which culminats
in the sacking Of the national capito
p are chargeable 10 the same unwar
b ranted action OF legislative non-com
, batants who would deny our solo e.
= proper equipment, and demand tina
they needlessly sacrifice themselve
, for their country's honor. II wa
such as these who brought on tn
war Of 1861. when the Fedora
strength was measured by an a-me
mob at Bull Run and who were re
sponsible for over 500 uncared 70
wounded still remaining on the nel
at Second Bull Run. seven days afte
3 that battle was fought. though owe
5 year in which to ufepa-e had inter
vened, since the beginning OF the wal
? / demand that our soldiers be give
+ square deal-that the army b
> placed on a basis of military organ
zation. At present il is PRACTICAL
unorganized. The army can be il
creased in numbers, perfected in ol
, ganization and properly equipped 0
the same appropriations which al
now made.
What does Mr.. Tawney know aboI
the needs of the army? Nothin
5 Neither his honor nor his life will
b at stake, I'm case of war. Our soldier
2 honor and lives are both at issue.
' will fight until our soldiers are give
= A SQUARE deal. / will fight until
' know that in case of war they wi
!. be placed In the field equipped and o
; ganized along military lines; thu
= their bodies are not 10 be wrecked
: fever camps. poisoned with unwhol
n some food and that in their hands al
b weapons unequalled in the world
armies.
If this be "cowardice" count n
coward"