The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-03-05
HOBSON OPPOSES FIVE YEAR
ENLISTMENT CLAUSE AND
ATTACKS GENERAL AINSWORTH

neither in his annual reports nor in
communications to the Secretary OF
War.
Mr.. Garner. Does the gentleman
undertake to state to this House that
an army officer has had sufficient in
fiuence in the House TO make and IN.
make legislation
Mr.. HoDson. / do. make that
charge, and if you would consider this
legiLlation on this report, if you would
bring in a bill here and give us a
] chance to deliberate on il, | would
prove it. ! ask my colleagues that
they do not put this legislation upon
an appropriation, but allow the House
full time for its consideration.
This is the same legislation that the
chairman of the Committee on Military
Affairs laid before a Democratic eau
Gus and our caucus declined to take
1t up. Much more should we not take
it up now as a rider on an appropria-
ton bill, l further charge that a
majority of the Committee on Military
Affairs is opposed to this legislation,
and that the caucus of the majority
members, eliminating various PROPOSE.
tions by compromising, was all that
bound the Democratic members as a
body to stand for the five-year en-
listment.
/ claim that the whole thing is iF-
regular, and our great party, in con-
troll of this House now for the first
time in many years, should not tribe
with these vital questions of national
defense. Since they threw out the
battleships l have had clippings that
have seen gathered, and find but
one paper in the United States-and
that Republican paper-has Endorsed
the action.
The deepest thing in a nation il
the instinct of self-preservation. Mat.
teTs pertaining to defense are at least
entitled TO serious consideration.
Mr. Taggart. Can you cite any in.
stance where that instinct of self-pre-
servation has not manifested itself in
a volunteer army in this country?
Mr.. Hobson Il always has. The In
stinct is as deep in America as in any
nation in the world Politicians need
not think that they can trihe with II.
The efficiency of the army and the
navy are worthy of the best considera-
ton on the part of the House, and es-
pecially from our side Of the House.
And | ask whether you believe in the
merits of the proposition or not7 II
Is the most unmeritorious thing
have ever seen. Let US not put this
increase upon this appropriation bill
against the judgment of the President
the Secretary of War, the Chief Of
Staff the Army War College, abe Army
School of the Line, the Mounted Ser
vice School, the Coast Artillery
School, the Military Academy, and the
bulk of the officers and all the enlisted
men of the army
Mr. Fitzgerald. Does the gentleman
charge that information has been fur
nilhed to this committee from source
Mr.. Hobson. would make many
more charges If this we're deliberately
considered.
Mr.. Fitzgerald. would like to know
If the gentleman from Alabama had
this information which he is disclosing
to the House
Mr. Hobson. II the gentleman will
arrange so that We can consider this
measure deliberately, will prove my
statements, and more.
Mr.. Fitzgerald. l desire to know IL
/ the gentleman had this information
upon which he bases his charge, that
/ this House has been furnished with
information which was to be in return
! for something, reward-if he had it
before today, why he waited until the
closing hour or minute of the debate
/ to furnish this information to the
/ House? There was no limit placed
upon the general debate on this bill
Mr.. Hoblon. do not charge that
there was any understanding between
the Adiutant General and the chair
man that the former was to get a
reward. My charge of conspiracy is
that the Adjutant General conspired
to get the position of lieutenant gene
raj irrespective Of his methods, and
that the chairman cons pired to realize
economy and to do something
Mr Fitzgerald. That does not an.
swer my question, because even if the
gentleman from Virginia had received
improper information, or had received
accurate information in an improper
way-and that is the basis OF the gen
tlemans charges-it does not justify
him in Withholding from the House the
information which he claims to have
when he had the opportunity % fap-