The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-02-24
TAFT IS FOR TWO
BATTLESH|P PLAN
Comes Out Strongly For 1t
In Address 10 Navy
League
TINE S NOT RIPE
FOR ECONOMIZING
Wants Congress to Follow
Action of Congresses
Which Have Pre-
coded 1t

WASHINGTON. Feb. 23.--'It is
wrong and unpatriotic to discourage
enhstmepts in the national guard" de-
cIareo President Taft IN one speech
here today, and in another address the
president stated he was In favor OF a
srtong navy asd hoped the present
Congress would provide for two more
batiestilps.
- mere is a tendency In some quart
crs 10 discourage enutstments in the
national guard. inns is wrong and
unPatnotic. i wish to congratulate
you on the patriotic spirit wnich leads
YOU 10 give up certain pleasures that
YOU may ENJOY. and iey re yourselves
to the grill and performance of mill
tary duty"
Address Navy League.
The second speech was delivered at
the COW entlon of the May League oI
the United states, at Continetal Me-
mortal Hall, where the presIden SAID.
y don't understand tins to he ex-
actly a peace meeting, but | do not
understand 1t to he at all Inconsistent
with the objects of peace meeting.
We are apt. in the pursuit of an ideal,
sometimes to make fetch Of 1t. and
siderable distance beyond us. and
therefore to be willing to dispense
with things that are needed Incur
present condition, though We hope
they may not be needed when our
ideal Is realized.
nat is the reason why / deem It
entirely consistent to be In favor Of
universal peace. and to favor every
step In that direction. am still, while
peace does not prevail to be ready to
be feared by those who would attack
us, and TO be In condition to meet
their attack. Hence, / am in favor of
GOOD strong navy. a navy which we
are able to maintain, a navy which
VIII make our reasonable demands
upon other countries respected
Not Time to Economics.
Il do not think the time has come
for his to economic with respect 10
navy. y navy is an expensive busi-
moss; so Is an army: and SO Is war:
and the expense OF the three Is A
sood reason for aholishlng war. il
there were none other. The abolition
or war would lead to the economy in
VOWED In giving UP strong navy and
a strong army. But until war is q boil
ished, we have to meet the situation.
and we should be lacking In patriot
ism. In foresight, and In common sense
unless we do.
Il sincerely hope. therefore. that
this Congress will see At to follow the
Congresses which have preceded 1t. In
giving us at least two battIeships. Bat.
| tieships are the basis Of the navy
| There are other ships that we ough,
| TO have, but If we have the battle.
/ ships, ] think we can hustle around
| II war were TO come, and get the
! things that would be needed to make
| them useful
Why Panama Canal Built.
! 1--WE have built the Panama canal
| We have built it for two reasons: We
| nave built 1t In order that we may
| make a great avenue of commerce for
| the world. and in order that the east
| and west coasts of our country ma,
| be near together. and we may make
! one navy serve them both
"At present IL we were to follow
! the logic OF the situation. we ough,
/ to have two navies. The constructor
Of the Panama canal will double the
! efficiency of The navy we have. Wher
/ the canal Is well constructed. 80 thai
| we can see that the navy can e
! through without trouble. then we car
confer with these gentlemen who arr
! In favor of economy In the navy, anc
see how far We can dispense with tn.
| present expenditures to sustain thai
| power. but for the present we ough
/ To keep up our construction. becaus,
! battleships get out OF stvie--not quite
SO rapidly as automobiles, but still
thew do pass away and become ancien
/ certainly In a decade; ii not a de
| cade. at least In decade and a half;
and In order to keep up With the
! other nations
81 don't think that two hattieshlps
! any too great an allowance for each
/ year. am partly responsible for the
! expenditures OF the government. and
! I am entirely willing to meet that re-
| sponsibiltv ny signing a bill for tive
i more hattieshins."