The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-19
.HOBSON PLEADS
FOR CANAL DEFENSE
ALABAMA HERO POINTS OUT
NECESSITY FOR PANAMA
FORTS--LIBERAL APP
PLAUSE.

WASHINGTON. January t9.-An
impassioned plea for the fertilization
OF the Panama canal was made by
Representative Hobson. Democrat of
Alabama. in the house this afternoon.
answering a long argument by Repre-
sentative Keifer. Republican, OF Ohio.
in favor of the naturalization of the
zone.
Can any one cite any case In the
history of the world where any nation
having an important strategy point
did not IortIy IL" Hobson asked.
The Japs fortified Port Arthur and
the reason the Russian lost II was be-
GAUGE they did not foresee the neces-
sity.
The gentleman frem Ohio talks OF
the inyiolate character of treaties,
but | can cite instances where time
after time solemn obligations have
been disregarded. the british them
selves have violated me neutrality
of the Suez canal and fortified the
waterway.
The Panama canal is nothing more
or less than a water bridge between
two oceans. When completed, If it
| IL 'neutralized' II will put every foot
of ground on the east coast of the
! United States at the mercy of Astatrc
power; and every foot of the wese-
, ern coast at the mercy Of any Euro
pean country,
This proposition of America itser
taking care OF It's own property Is
the fundamental principle of the
monroe doctrine. | am not surt bur
that America ought itself to guaran-
tee use of the canal exclusively to
American republics, II you have i
war In which the Panama canal IL
not involved-in which the enemy
could seize it. then the war would
be on the American coasts. And the
war games show that this would
mean occupation of the Pacific coast.
But If you have the Panama cana
/ through which American ships alone
could pass the war games show that
| the war VIII take place on the Atlantic
4 coast, supposing the attacking power
comes from Asia. The fertilization
OF the canal is a fundamental and
I vital question of defense of Amer
/ lea. ...-..,-z... .....,. .,.. .s
Under the two battleships a year
| plan our navy will steadily decrease
until in 1917 we shall have but 81
| ships of the first line of battle
| How any American can hesitate
for a moment in the face of these
evidences and hold the view that
! we are SO weak that we cannot pro-
tect ourselves is more than | can see.
We might AS well ask the foreign
/ governments 10 protect New York
| harbor,
Evidence shows. moreover. that
the stronger nation will deliberately
/ violate Treaties to accomplish a stra-
Eeuc advantage ! cite as an instance
OF TINS the occupation Of Manchuria
ana the annexation OF Korea When
( representative of Korea came to
America to protest against this vio-
lation of treaty pledges the President
refused him hearing"
Hobsons deep earnestness and inn
FASHIONED utterance, together with
the fact that he spoke without any
notes. even when discussing involved
treaty provisions. produced a deep
impression on the House He took
his seat amid a roar of applause.
Representative Keller. former
Speaker, and general in two Ameri-
can wars. II picturesque old figure
VINO wears evening dress at all times.
made his speech to-day In the ma
ture Of a swan song. for he will not
return to Congress. Naturalization of
the canal zone by international treaty
was tn" scheme Keifer proposed. He
declared that 10 fortify the canal
would he waste OF money