Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-12-03

won in nearly everything that he has
set out to win. Mr. Wilson may be
able TO whip his party into line on the
big navy proposition.
II at the coming session the Demo
Gratis vote for two big ships they will
be voting for one more than the navy
thought was possible. There was a
feeling that for a year at least the
ship building operations OF the gov
eminent were to cease 1t is easier.
however, to get the law makers to
10 something for the navy than it is
to get them to do it for the army.
The reason for this is that the navy
always has been more popular with
the people than the army, and this
has been true whether the time has
been one OF peace or war. I.andsmen
who never saw a ship write constantly
to their representatives in congress
urging that they vote to keep the nag
afioat
The Panama canal unQuestionably
Is responsible for the willingness of
the administration to add largely to
the naval strength. II this country
can hold It's own on the seas II will
be impossible for any enemy to get
within damaging distance of the great
waterway. AS things are today II is
probable that Great Britain is the on
ly power which could smash our
ships. and disembark forces for a
march across country to the canal.
and there does not seem to be any
danger that Uncle Sam is to have war
with john Bull. Japan unquestion-
ably is the country which the authori-
ties have in mind when they think OF
the possibility OF hostilities on the
ocean. The plan apparently Is to
give this country a sufficient number
Of war vessels to enable it to maintain
strong fighting force on both sides
OF the continent with sufficient num-
Der OF vessels In addition to give an
account OF themselves In the far east
II the occasion should arise.
For Revision Of G. o. p. Rules.
In this city on December i6.
members of the Republican ma
tional committee will meet to de-
termine whether or not they shall
issue a call for a general convention
OF their party to be held. probably
next spring. with view to revising
the rules governing national conven-
tons and TO pave the way II possible
for a complete reconciliation between
the Progressive party and the Repub-
lican party, so that three years from
now a united front can be shown to
the Democratic enemy
II has been urged by few leading
Republicans that the result OF the re-
cent elections would tend to show
that the Progressiyes and Republic
ans are getting together once more
and that convention will be unnec-
essary. Other Republicans point to
the result OF the voting in Massachu-
sets, in parts OF New York state and
in many parts OF the west where mu-
nicipal elections were held, and are
telling their brethren that there is
just as much need of convention TO
get the Progressives and old party
men together as ever there was.
1t makes little difference. perhaps.
what the members of the national
committee. in whose power II Ia to
call the convention, think about the
real wisdom of the proposal. for the
pressure from most OF the influential
members OF the Republican party has
become so heavy that 1t is apparent
the committee will call a convention
whether the majority OF the members
want to or not. Albert Il. Cummins.
senator from Iowa. and his proposal
treated lightly by conservative Repub.
licans when five months ago he urged
the necessity of a party convention.
Today It is said that Mr.. Cummins
feels that nearly ali the Republicans
are converts to hi way OF thinking.
Elihu Root. w. murray Crane and
even Boise Penrose. directly in two
cases and indirectly in one. are said
to have conveyed to Chairman Charles
w. Hllles news of their desires that
the national committee shall call to-
gether delegates Of the Republican
party and pass resolutions which Will
be counter in spirit and in effect to
resolutions which Republican conven-
lions have passed time out of mind
viii Be Peaceful Affair.
There has been a good deal OF talk
about trouble In the Re publican CON
vention: that the southern delegates
will resent being deprived of the full
strength of old time representation;
that the national committee will fight
TO the last redoubt and the last stone
wall to keep its o'd time power; that
the delegates representing the old
time conservatism will refuge to en-.
dorse anything which looks like a
yielding TO the "clamJr Of the moi"
II what Washington Republicans In
official life say about convention
which doubtless is to be held may be
taken as a guide to future events. the
next national gathering OF the party
which struck hard times fifteen
months ago in Chicago will BIO a
peaceful, amiable affair with sweet
words for the wandering Progressives
and with fat promises OF the slaughter
of fatter calves II the prodigais only
will return to the old homestead.