The Washington herald., 1911-02-09

The fight in the Senate for legislation
authorizing the fortification of the Pan
anna Canal was begun yesterday. Sena-
tor Money. of Mississippi, the minority
leader. delivered an address in favor Of
the legislation. which held the close at
tention of the Senate. He was followed
by Senator Root, who advocated the
same course.
Senator Money declared that our rela-
tions to other nations Of the world in
regard to the canal was merely in the
form of An invitation for them to use
the canal We had done this partly be-
Cause we wanted their tolls to help pay
the operating expenses and interest on
the money invested.
But Whenever he added. ''in the
case of war, it is necessary for US to
exercise the powers of sovereignty, we
shall not hesitate to exercise them"
The Senator from Mississippi declared
that the three greatest strategic points
in the world now are Gibraltar, Suez, and
Panama.
nat VIC will never have another
war;. said Senator Money. lis the prayer
of all patriotic men, but with our policy
OF expansion war is a probability of the
future. and / don't believe we will have
long to wait.
Wars Not Yet Over.
WAR is an incident Of all sovereignty.
We will have no universal peace until
nan is resolved by God Almighty into
his component elements and all human
sc!TshncSs and greed are eliminated. That
will not be in my time nor in yours
1t will be cycles before il happens. Then
We will not need fortific atoms. nor even
governments. Nan will he 80 perfect
and will have reached that estate where
his Su0ijmatcd aItruiSm will have car
ried hnn TO plane where he will be
above worrying over such things
TIL. Senator from Mississippi added
thar the only persons wro believed the
elimination Of war possible were cffetc
statesmen. women writer's, theorists. and
dreamerS. H" declared that the prac-
teal sid" of the fortitication proposition
Was presented in the fact that the de-
fense@ will lessen the nations expendi-
lures tor warshipS TO defend the Pa
cific Coast
IF the fortitications are not built
said senator Money. ''onc American war
Shin. with complement of gunboats
torpedo boats and dcStrOyerS. will be
ne, 2!sarN at each end Of the canal. W"
-" fortify tn" canal for an expense less
than the estimated cost of one modern
hattie ship.
Root Fn,ors Fortifications.
Senator Root. of New York followed
Senator Money. whose speech he Compli-
me nted very highly. The Senator from
New York addressed the Senate briefly
III support OF the fortitication of the
canal.
Il think il would be most unwiSe'' de-
Ciared Senator Root ITO leave the Pan
ANA Canal undefended simply because
"" arc in favor of peace. When the
suggestion i mad that We must not
fortlfy the canal because We are in !
favor of Pence. "" must not forget that
all the unjust wars in the world, eSpe-
Tally in modern times. have been waged |
Notwithstanding tn" existence of treaties |
oi peace. No treaty could l,c made with !
more binding effect than those in exist |
enc" to-day.
Senate" Root said il Was visionary and |
absurd to expect hattie ships /" be sta !
toned At either end Of tho canal for it's !
adequat" defense. He stated that l. 600 !
men could not live continually in steel |
construction at the tropics
I he senator from New York declared
thai h" l. unhcsitatnGly for the proper !
l"rtitra1i"n # tn" canal
Gorthnis Before COMMITTEES.
Tn" fortifcati"n Of the Panama Cana! !
WAS the subject of a hearing yesterday |
before the subcommittee Of the House |