The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-14
MEYER ASSA|[S THE !.
HOUSE DEMOCRATS.
Democratic Senators Have
Knocked Out Plans of Ma
tional Convention

Washington August 13-Seeretary of the
Navy Meyer, just returned to his duties
from a protracted illness, assailed the
naval policy OF the democrats of the
House in a statement made public today.
| Whether the pork barrel is more I'M
! portsnt 1haA the nnyN in The minds of tte
democrats. the secretary declares, remains
to be ascertained after another caucus OF
the democratic members tomorrow.
.erhe proposition which has been ad-
vanced by a democratic senator" says
Secretary Meyers, ito have the United
States build the greatest battleship ever
constructed Is nothing more than an at
tempt to distract attention from the de-
linauency of the democratic party with
reference to the continued efficiency and
upkeep of the navy, since what is pro-
posed Is nothing more than what Is al
ready required by every act of late years
making appropriations for additions to
the feet
The secretary declares that the demo-
cratic senators have knocked out the plan
for the council of national defense which
was indorsed by the democratic national
convention and asserts that should one
battleship be appropriated for this year
the United states navy would fall to ffth
place in two years.
| All acts making appropriations for the
upkeep of the fleet. the secretary says,
require that the battleship to be con-
structed carry as heavy armor and pow
| erful armament as any vessel of its class.
! and shall have the highest practicable
| nd prrq nraPflral radius OF
action.
'rne council of national defense since
the democratic convention In Baltimore
has been knocked out in the Senate by a
democratic senator. on point of ORDER
Secretary Meyer continued.
.,The country rs watching
the democratic party to learn
campaign by reputation one OF
the most important planks in its plat
form Public sentiment on this ques-
tion Is aroused and the country is wait
ing to see what Will be the final demo-
cratic action.
I'VE have had the spectacle this year
of democratic caucus of the House OF
Representatives putting a gag rule on
its members and thus preventing them
from voting for a patriotic appropria-
tion the purposes of which were national
defense and national honor Certain
democratic members under the leadership
of Mr.. Sulzer are endeavoring to have
the caucus rescnd its no battleship pro-
gramme in order to sanction each demo-
crat in the House into voting according
to his conscience. IT remains to be Seen
whether the democratic party places To-
cal interests ahead of patriotism; wheth-
er the pork barrel is TO be considered
as of more importance than the navy.
III Is well known maximum adj
United BY all that the Monroe doctrine
/ Il no stronger than the navy, that the
navy IL no stronger than the feet and
that the fleet is the navy. Should Con-
! gress appropriate for but one battleship
/ the American navy would fall into fifth
place In two years, and the nayys pres
ent position could only be recovered by
an appropriation for three battleships at
the next session of Congress.
| Many independent voters have stated
| that IL the democrats cannot be relied
upon to maintain the efficiency OF the
navy and thus be prepared TO uphold the
national honor. they intend TO show their
disapproval of the party's action by yot-
! ing against It at the next fall election.