Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-07
Differences Over Battleship
Program Cause of Strife.
CHARGE OF TRlCKERY MADE
Democrats at Odds Over Provision
for the Navy.
MANY FAIL TO ATTEND CAUCUS
Advocates of Warships Declare
They Will Win-Views of Rep
resentative Sulzer.

The two-batileship men in the House
say they have won their fight for big
ger navy. while the party leaders who are
willing to compromise on a single dread
nought have no hesitancy in saying that
only one battleship will be the outcome
of the present tangle In the party. No
matter who wins. the cautious democrats
are afraid to say anything at all about
battleships. and ali hands are agreeing
that 1t is a rather ticklish time for split
10 develop in the party. Because a
quorum of democrats failed TO show at
last nights caucus. the two-battleship
men. led by Mr.. Sulzer of New York and
Mr.. Hobson of Alabama claim today that
the next move to be made must start in
the other camp.
When the matter comes up in the
House." said Representative Sulzer to-
day, MIR. Foss will introduce a resou-
ton calling for two battleships and 1t
will carry. i think the republicans will
vote solidly for two ships and we now
have enough men on the democratic side to
make the two battleshiIS a certainty. BY
staying away from the caucus last night
the rest of the democrats showed them
selves beaten. They were afraid TO at
tend because they knew that public SEN
timent had been aroused to such pitch
that they would have TO back down from
their original position and actually ask
for two ships"
Talk of Compromise.
On the other hand, the party leaders
who are willing to compromise. predict
one battleship. and in the same breath
have uncompimentary things to say
about the committee on naval affairs
which allowed the House democracy to
get itself snarled up because of the fail
ure 10 include two battleships in the
original appropriation bill
What they should have done. said one
of the leading democrats today, was to
have waited until an opportune moment
TO bring out the conference report. AS it
is. they just opened the door for
wrangle in the party.
The one-battleship men who attended
the meeting last night are of the opinion
that Mr.. Suffers estimate as to the num-
Der of democrats who will vote for two
battleships is too high, and that a caucus
will be necessary TO whip the party into
line For that reason the House leaders
are rounding up the erring ones who fail
ed to answer present last night. They
want to tell the crowd what to do to keep
from being hopelessly mired in differences
of opinion.
Sulzer PINNED for Battle.
When the caucus is held Mr.. Sulzer in
Resolved. That the action Of the demo-
cratic caucus heretofore taken on the
naval appropriation bill, regarding battle
ships, be. and the same hereby is. vacated
and rescinded. and the democratic men,
berS of the House are free to vote on the
subject matter as they deem advisable
There shouldn't be the slightest objec-
ton TO this said Mr.. SulZer. 1.-The Amer
lean people look to US to provide them
with bulwark of defense and a guar
antee of tranquility.
There should be no backward step in
our naval program or in promoting the
efficiency of the naval arm of the govern
ment- The navy is non-partisan, and every
true American. no matter what his opin-
Ion may be regarding economy in other
things, is opposed TO reducing in any way
the strength and the efficiency Of the
navy. Our naval policy must be MAIN
tanned. Not TO do so is penny wise and
pound foolish
Endorses Senate's Position.
II shall vote to sustain the Senate for
two new battleships. l have never voted
to cripple the American navy, and / never
WILL I believe in patriotism more than 1
do in acknowledgement when it
comes To the national defense. / want
every democrat to be free TO vote as he
sees fit-on this naval proposition.
Il am now. and always have been. the
consistent friend and the constant ad-
vocate of an adequate navy. l voted in
the recent democratic caucus for the
continuance of the two-battleShip-a-ye year
program, which has become a part or
our national policy. ! am glad the Sen
ate has put a provision in the naval APP
preparation bill for two more battleships.
j am in favor of that and shall vote in
the House TO sustain the Senate.
Il am gratifed that the democratic ma
tionaI convention declared for an ade-
auate navy-sufficient to defend American
policies. protect our citizens and uphold
the honor and dignity OF the nation. This
is why the democratic majority in the
House of Representatives should cease To
play peanut politics and now agree 10 the
Senate amendment for two battleships.
Release the members from caucus"
Bitterness Develops.
Much bitterness was evidenced among
the battleship proponents. Almost TO
man they expressed the belief that they
had been "tricked" and alleged "A plot
within their party which had freed them
from the binding restrictions Of the origi-
nal caucus which had declared for no big
war vessels at this time
The leaders have evolved no plan thus
far TO avoid the split but il was said that
some agreement would be reached that
would satisfy all factions. This, ii was
intimated would be the acceptance of the
Senate'S agreement 10 include one battle
ship in the bill and let the legislation go
10 the President for his approval