Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1913-12-03


who never saw ship write constantly
to their representatives in congress
urging that they vote to keep the flag
afloat.
Story of the EattIeship Program.
There is quite a story in connection
with the building program of the
navy and the relation of congress
thereto. Eight years ago a Republic
an congress voted one battleship, but
went on record with a promise that
two should be built each succeeding
year thereafter until the Panama ca
nal was opened. More strictly speak
ing, it was the house only which made
this promise, but it was held TO be
binding, although the representatives
had no right at all to make the prom
Use, because they had no authority to
bind any coming house of represen-
tatives to a promise made by enc of
it's predecessors.
Prior to the time that the Repub-
leans in the house of representative
had expressed their willingness to
build two battleships a year until
1915, Theodore Roosevelt, who then
was president, was anxious that the
navy should be strengthened at the
rate of at least two great vessels
each year. He knew human nature
pretty we'll and so he asked congress
for four battleships. He had an idea
that the law makers would compro
mise by giving the country two ships
and this was just what he wanted
Instead, however, of authorizing two
ships, congress slapped him little
by giving only one, but with the gift
gave the promise that two should be
built each year thereafter.
The Panama canal unquestionably
is responsible for the willingness of
the administration to add largely to
the naval strength. If this country
can hold its own on the seas it will
be impossible for any enemy to get
within damaging distance of the great
waterway AS things are today it is
probable that Great Britain is the on
ly power which could smash our
ships and disembark forces for
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 wlpen 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
a 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
if the occasion should arise
For Revision of G. o. p. Rules.
In this city on December 16,
members of the Republican ma
tional committee will meet to de-
termine whether or not they shall
issue call for a general convention
of their party to be held, probably
next spring. with view to revising
the rules governing national conven-
lions and to pave the way If 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.
1t has been urged by few leading
Republicans that the result OF the re-
cent elections would tend to show
that the Progressives and Republic
ans are getting together once more
and that a 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 a 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 it is to
call the convention, think about the
rear wisdom of the proposal for the
pressure from most of the influential
members of the Republican party has
become so heavy that it is apparent
the committee will call a convention
whether the majority of the members
want to or not Albert B. Cummins,
senator from Iowa, and his proposal
treated lightly by conservative Repub-
licans when five months ago he urged
the necessity of party convention.
Today it is said that Mr.. Cummins
feels that nearly all the Republicans
are converts to his 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. Hilles 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-
tions have passed time out of mind
Will Be Peaceful Affair.
There has been a good deal of talk