The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-03-03
AN EXTRAVAGANT POLICY.


made that the Secretary of THE Navy
desired the sanction of Congress for
the construction of two gigantic bat
tleships to cost $11,O0O,OOO each. IL
commenting on this proposal Chair
man James Tawney of the House APP
preparations Committee says:
81 have read of the Governments
tentative naval program with pro-
found astonish.aent. One reason for
my surprise at the more than ambit-
ious naval program, which is sug-
gested is the fact that it involves a
great increase in our now enor-
mously large appropriation for naval
purposes, without basing it on any
necessity whatever as a means of ma
tonal defense
"lf our naval policy is to be de-
termined by our ability to compete
with other nations in the number and
size of our battleships then the ma
val policy in question should be
adopted and carried out without refer
ence either to our necessities for
national defense or the adequacy of
| the public revenues to meet the eX-
penditures necessary to crafty our
national ambition.
"In view of our geographical loca-
ton which as reason of national
defense is worth more to us than the
largest naval fleet any nation in the
world possesses and also in view of
the fact that in the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1909, we expended II per
cent of our government revenues on
account of wars we have had and
wars we are preparing for, it is rath-
er amazing to find naval program
proposed that will so greatly increase
our appropriations under this head.
How long are we to go on heapins
ever higher and higher the millions
spent for great engines of war? Is
there to he no limit TO the pouring
out of Treasure for ships that become
obsolete in a very few years? If the
United States, now one of the great
powers Of the world, should earnest
ly and persistently, seek to enlist the
nations of the earth in a gradual dis
armament plan, who shall say that
the policy would be a failure? The
vexed question of the British budget,
which caused the recent general eiec
ton grew out of the necessity for
raising more revenue for the purpose
of building more and larger BATTLE
ships. There is reason to believe thai
the great majority of the taXpaying
citizens Of the various countries
would welcome an opportunity of end
ing this various competition in the
building of warships.
The St Adams Messenger well says;
| 1--WE of adj nations who profess the
highest civilization have only to con-
slider calmly what this immense trea-
sure and effort now being concen-
trated annually for the dread pur-
pose of DISCRIMINATING one another
if need be could do for our mutual
uplift and benefit if it were only
spent upon churches, asylums, hos
pitfalls, schools, and scientific, literary
and cultural institutions of all kinds
yes, If it were devoted to industry
and the arts, to the making of high
ways and homes, to the restoration
of the waste places of the earth to
| fruitfulneSS, to the increase in the
worlds food and clothing supply, to
/ the reducing of the countless forbid
ding obstacles of earth to the COM
fort and pleasure of men. What a
life this would be if all this treasure
could be devoted to the benefit OF
mankind in all these directly prac-
ticable ways, instead of annually be-
ing poured out in perpetual menace
to them in time of war and always al
their expense in time of peace.
Think of the mockery of millions
upon millions of money wasted upon
grandly terrible instruments of dealt
that waste millions more upon the
waters or that rot at the wharves
while countless starving cry fol
bread and countless suffering die FOL
want of succor!"
I'VE are at peace with all thu
world. There is not even a prospec
of our becoming involved in wa
with a foreign nation. 1t seems al
most incredible that anyone would
suggest the adoption of naval pro
gram which will involve the eXpen
: diture of more money than we hav'
under existing revenue laws and
policy, too, which will virtually pu
out of commission at least half o
: our war vessels by making them in
| ferior in size and efficiency by com
, parison with these giant battleship
now proposed.
Not only are more costly battleship'
desired but more millions are asked
for THE construction of an aerial wa
fleet. 1t ought to be entirely posi-
BILE to call an International Congress
that would agree to amend the rule
of war by forbidding the use of al
craft in hostilities. Such step woul
prevent a particularly barbarous forr
of warfare and would save annual
vast sums of money. Once let the gres
powers become fairly launched upo'
this new policy of flying warships an
G the expenditures will mount highe
@ and higher. The time to stop is bt
: fore serious beginning has heo
made.
If the courts can settle every forT
: of private dispute the policy of al
n duration could settle every form of in
: ternational dispute and do it with fa
+ greater justice than by means of
peace treaty, following a bloody wa
Y In private affairs we abhor the do