Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-10
COMPROMISE UNDER WAY
Action of Democrats in Congress
Will Bring Harmony.
PLAN CAUCUS FOR WEDNESDAY
Vessel to Be Built, It Is Expected,
Will Revolutionize Naval
Construction.

A great gray battleShip, Superdread-
naught in type, carrying an armament Of
guns which will send destruction to an
enemy's fleet even far down the horizon.
will be the outcome of today's pact signed
by both the two-battleship and no-battle-
ship factions of the democrats in Con-
gress. This is the prediction Of Steven B.
Ayres of New York and John L. Burnett
of Alabama, who represent the different
sides Of the question, and whose actions
today brought the democrats together, SO
that harmony prevails in the ranks, and
the sore feeling growing out Of the differ
ences Of opinion is fast disappearing.
The ship is planned to be the greatest
ever built. If these predictions are car
ried out by the American navy experts
the Stars and Stripes some day will
float from battleship to which the
squadrons Of England, France, Germany
and japan will have to bow in acknowl-
edgment Of Yankee skill in construction.
Manned by Yankee tars and commanded
by graduates of Annapolis. this ship will
be steel-clad mistress of the seas that
may revolutionize ship construction the
world over.
In the agreement that has been made
the two-battleship men cheerfully con-
form to the plan to vote for a single
ship. They would vote for two ships
IL they could do SO without engendering
party strife and making i'll feeling be-
| they recognize they will have another
| chance to vote for other ships.
Democratic Senators Agree.
Not only in the House of Representa-
tives has this agreement been reached.
Representative Padgett, chairman of
| the committee on naval affairs of the
House. has conferred with senators.
and the two-battleship amendment of
| the upper House will be compromised
tcheerfully as against the no-ship hiatus
| of the House bill.
The Senate specifies also that IL one
ship alone is authorized 1t must not be
an ordinary vessel, but must be the last
| word in naval construction. Following
| this. the interested democrats conferred
with officials at the Navy Department.
The results were so satisfactory to all
that the democrats seem no longer split by
a difference of opinion on naval affairs.
Representatives Ayres and Burnett
thereupon got together for the benefit
Of the party. and Mr.. Burnett sent to Mr..
Ayres this note:
Dear Mr.. Ayres: hand you herewith a
call for q caucus, which, IL your friends
will sign. I agree to attend and will ad-
wise those who have been with me on the
battleship question to attend. and agree
to support resolution framed in con-
! iformity herewith
To Caucus Wednesday.
The caucus will be held next Wednesday
afternoon, 1t is planned. 1t is necessary
to hold this meeting to release democrats
from the previous no-battleship promise.
1t is expected, though, that some men,
bers will hold out for two ships. What
the republicans will do when the matter
is brought up on the floor Is not GER
tain. Representative Padgett will ask for
a concurrence with the conference report,
with an amendment calling for one battle
ship. After that it is expected that the
bill will pass without trouble.
Speaking Of the sentiment Cor a bigger
navy, Mr.. Ayres said today:
| 1T is marvellous when We come to real
| ize how patriotic Americans are over the
| question of an American navy. 1 don't
care where they are from, the American
people seem to have arisen during this
battleship controversy, and have demand
ed that the Stars and Stripes shall be sl-
preme in power. I have polled my ois'
trict, and have found the sentiment over.
whelmingly in favor of big ships and a
strong navy. Even men from farther
back in the country find that people stol
| them on the street and urge a big navy
1t is not a question OF politics-it is a
question of patriotism