New-York tribune., 1912-01-31
DEMOCRATS ARRA!GNEO
BY SECRETARY MEYER
Vote Against BattIeships can
other Illustration of Govern
ment by Snap Judgment
SHAM ECONOMY EXPOSED
Danger of Reactionary Policy
Shown-Much Alarm in
Senate-Caucus May
Reconsider Action.
From The Tribune Bureau.

Washington. Jan. 3O.--The Secretary
of the Navy I'm statement issued to-
right arraigns the Democrats Of the
House for attempting to cover up their
extravaCanCe by ovcrturning the naval
policy of the country i'm refusing to
authorize the construction Of two battle
ships this year.
Mr.. Meyer points out the danger OF
such rcactionary policy. which is ac-
centuated by the fact that number Of
the battIeships now included in the fleet
are all bu! obsolete and will he useless
for modern warfare by the time the tw"
new Dreadnoughts recommended could he
built He also calls attention to the in
consistency of the Democrats IN plan
ming TO oconomize by weakening the
naval defCnces OF the United States and
at the same time refusing to authorize
the abandonment Of utterly useless navy
yards. which are the cause Of continuous
expense. The statement follows:
The Democratic party by it's action last
night took step backward and gave an
other illustration of government by snap
judgment
Even with a continuous programme of
two baJtlcshipS a year the United states
would fall a little behind its present et-
feCtive strength. for the reason that IN
another year four Of our hattleshlps, punt
during the same period, Will become non
effective.
The Dreadnought type is the warship or
the present day one Dreadnousht ls
easily the superior OF half dozen OreGons'
and one Dreadnought built 10y a foreign
power i'm excess of the number butt by
ourselves is equivalent TO wipng OF our
list at one stroke the Indiana. the MdSsd-
chusetts, the Oregon, the Iowa. the hcar-
sarge and the Kentucky. All the nations
that are building battleships are oulldihs
DreadnOughtS.
No nation can exist commercially ana
exert it's proper political influence among
the nations Of the world without navy
strong In proportion 10 Its wealth anu
the commercial interests OF It's population
In the history OF natiOi.s the loss OF power
may generally be said to have been due
10 the loss Of naval power, although occa-
siondlly due 10 other causes but is
certain that the existence OF an ehcleht
navy Is sure sign OF national power anu
a safeguard against war.
We have an enormous extent OF coast
line: we have Alaska. Porto Rico ha"an
and the Philippines. and We have the 90,
legation to guard and protect tuha ana
maintain her neutrality. To perform these
obligations satisfactorily We must nave Il
strong scaCoing feet. The only sure dt-
fence OF tho country and the only assur-
aDcc Of safety is for the fleet TO DC apic
10 seek out it's enemy on the hlgh seas
and 10 cripple or destroy II. II does not
eufica eimpIv TO drive tho enemy few
miles away from our coast and then await
the uncertainty Of another attack. Saiety
can only be assured by the destruction VI
We have guaranteed the neutrality ot
the canal and must be prepared to main
tain A. 80 ,ho
navy and no bigger. ,-
England has authorized for the year
I911-'l2 FIVE Dr,aduoughts. Germany mas
authorized three Dr'adnoughts ana ono
arn0red cruiser. Japan has authorized hNe
capital ships Of the latest ptcadnouGhl lEpe
i'm the last year: scvcnty-nine million doI-
lars have been author ized by her TOT ne"
construction between 1911 and 1871
The Democrats. on the other hand. might
have brought about real economy, lasting
and farreaching. II they had the cour-
age to abolish needless navy NaiuS' Wnitiom
are costing the government several miiloh
dollars \ wear for maintenance alph'.
These expenditures are an outrageous dIaln
on the resources Of 'he country anu navy
burden on the taxpayers. To ah"lSh uh-
necessary navy wards would not I"du'"
the expenditure Of money FOR one year as
In the case Of refusal 10 approWiat" I"I
battloships but for years 10 come. ana
without decreasing IN" cU'l'h'F "l '''
navy for the nation. and not for local
interests. IS what should be sought
In the Senate the report Of the action
Of the Democratic caucus aroused ap-
prehcnsion little short Of alarm. 1t was
roiuted ou. that the first essay Of Dem
ocr,tir leaders i'm the field Of foreign
relations all but led 10 break with
Euseia. which was prevented only by the
timely Interference Of President Tai''
and that The present attempt 10 cut down
the naval strength Of the United Stats
was an even more dangerous innovation
ir view Of the fact that the Panama
Canal is nearing completion.
The action Of the caucus also caused
activity i'm the Democratic ranks ~ Con-
gIcss. with the result that another caucus
To ~ecousidel the question will probably
bo raIl,d