Evening star., 1911-01-17
MR.. TAWNEY ANSWERS
HU|DEKOPER CRITICISM
.sfs
Other. House Members Also
RidicuIe Idea Country Is
Not Prepared for War.

Critics Of the United States Army and
Navy and Of the policy Of Congress in
providing for the national defense had
hard shedding in the House OF Repre-
sentatives this afternoon. Several days
ago an article by Frederic I. Huide-
koper of this city. regarding the military
and naval forces of this country and
criticising their condition as lament
able and 'disgraceful." was published
broadcast throughout the country. On
the same day Representative McLachlan
of California, who has personally con-
Quoted the latest war scare. secured per-
mission to print the Huidekoper article
in the Congressional Record.
TODAY the House had something to say
on this subject. Mr.. HuidekOper's COM
ments were ridiculed by Repr, sentative
Hull of Iowa, chairman OF the House
committee on military affairs: Repre-
sentative Tawney Of Minnt sofa, chairman
of the House appropr alton committee
and others. Mr.. Tawney made an en-
phatic fifteen-minute spe ech In denun.
citation of Mr.. Huidekops:'s statement:
His statement" said Mr.. Tawney. land
those of other military experts prove
either that they do not know what they
are talking about, or else that the money
spent in the last ten years by this gov
ernment in preparation for war has been
squandered 4"
eft also means, using their own argu-
ment concerning our present unprepared'
ness, that in order for this country to be
prepared for war as they would have 1t,
this great and prosperous nation would
be made bankrupt
he does not know what he is talking
about
Immense Amounts Spent.
LET us see what we have expended. II
we are now unprepared for war. We
have expended during the last ten years,
in preparation for war alone. within four
hundred millions dollars as much as the
entire bonded debt of the United States
at the close of the civil war.
1--WE have expended during the last
ten years in preparation for war four
times the aggregate loss OF the people
Of the United States and Canada by
fire in the last eighty-ive years. We
have expended an amount that would
build five Panama canals. We have
expended four times the entire cost
Of the Spanish American war.
"If we are still unprepared after this
vast expenditure. who can estimate the
cost of placing this country in the
condition OF preparedness that these
critics desireI
Representative Butler of Pennsylvania
asked Mr.. Tawney il he thought Mr.
Huidekoper's statement was worth an
yes replied Mr.. Tawney. when the
same line Of criticism Is indulged In by
men in high position and when 1t Is pro.
posed to print anything like this Huide-
koper statement in the Congressional
Record
asked Mr.. Tawney to tell the House II
Mr.. H,siekoper possessed any Qualifica-
rions to become critic OF the national
defense. 1.
rupted Representative Butler of Pennsyl.
NO" replied Mr.. rawney. except with
his pen"
power" Mr.. Butler declared. That kind
OF talk is all bosh."
.sWeil," said Mr.. Tawney in conclud.
| ing his remarks, III the United States /.
not prepared for war after spending thes,
vast sums to which I have called atteu
| ton. during the last ten years. then i
would ruin the national credit to have u.
prepare"
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