Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-01-30
NAVAL FIGHT WARM
QUESTION OF BUILDING NEW
BATTLESHIPS INTERESTS
CONGRESSMEN.
DIVISION is NOT PARTISAN
Underwood, Leading Opponents of In
crease, May Be Forced TO compro-
m;se-Cne or Even Two Great Yes
sells May BE Authorized.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Washi1gton.-No other piece of leg
IslatiOn now before congress or to
come before it prior to the incoming
Of the new administration stirs the
personal interest OF the members so
much as the question of the increase
IN the strength Of the navy by the
building OF one. two or three battle
ships Congress in a way is divided
into two forces, a land force and a
sea force, and the signal is set for
fight between the two.
Representative Oscar w. Under
wood, the Democratic leader, is not
in favor Of adding another battleship,
let alone two or three, to the navy at
this session. 1t seems likely, how
ever, that Mr.. Underwood may com
promise as he did once before to the
extent of Withholding his opposition
to navy building program which
shall contain provision for only one
great ship Of the line"
If Mr. Underwood who believed
with a good many Democrats that the
money spent for Dattleships should
be put into the impro cement of riv-
ers and harbors and into public build
ings, does not agree to with hold his
opposition there seems to be a strong
chance that the Democrats who are
kindly disposed to the navy viii defy
leadershiD's wishes and, with Repub-
iican aid, sanction an appropriation
for one ship and possibly for two
ships Whether it be one or two. it
is certain that with the new vessel
authorized last year and now under
construction the next dreadnoughts Of
the American sea service will out
class in fighting abilities anything now
afioat in the navies of the world
Cannot Be Postponed.
Matters Of greater seeming impor-
tance I'D legislation than the naval in
crease are being showed ahead into
the future because then the Democ-
racy viii have control of the two
houses of congress and also of The ad-
mi1istraion. Then, they know, they
can pass such legislation as they visa
almost uuimpeded. The battlesh!p
building matter, however, of necessity
comes up for action at every session
for it is an integral part of an appros
priatton bill and as such it must be
passed upon with the rest of the ap-
preparations if the government is to
have money to pay its expenses.
On an average two batJlesEips ev-
cry three years gre put into the out
of-date class. This means that with
one new battleship 4 year the strength
Of the navy is Increased slowly, but
it marks progress and that is what
the sailors are after. One ship every
two years would send the navy back.
and this country would soon drop be
low France if such a building program
We're to be adopted. Most of the Dem
Ocrats seem to be willing that the
navy should be kept at least at it's
present strength, while there are
enough Of them willing to grant
yearly increase to keep the navy NOV
ing forward. and to accept The aid Of
the Republicans who happen 10 be
of the same mind.
The dreafn0ugnt ordered last year
will ba i'm tbe service in dme to take
part I'M the naval demonstration in
force at the time o. the opening of
the Panama canal 1t is barely pos
sible that the Greadn0ugbt which PROB
ably is to be authorized this year can
join its sister ship at that time. and
if such shall prove to be a fact the
United States viii be represented at
the Panama canal celebration 1y two
vessels which perhaps no navy of the
world can equal
Wilson's Politlc Attitude.
In Presideutelect Wilson's three
keynote speeches, one at Staun-
ton. one at Chicago and one at
Trenton. he made it evident that
it is his intention to make his ad-
ministradcn progressive, giving the
word the advanced meaning" which
it holds in latter day politics and leg
isIation. Democrats in Washington
construa the three speeches Of their
chieftam to mean that ne viii have in
his cabinet only men wbo are rec0g-
nized as belonging to the progressive
wing of the party. some OF the Re
pubGcans seem 10 thiaE that Mr. Will
sons extreme progressive pronounce
ments mean that he VIII war against
the conservative element of his party
in congress.
The Democrats in the senate of the
progressive school, who seemingly
have control of the party in that body
say that while Mr.. Wilson, as they
have known all along. is progressive
and intends to continue to be a pro
gressive he will not take sides" in
matters which are at issue between
the conservatives and the progress
siyes in the house and the senate
What the progressive Democrats mean
by this is that Mr.. Wilson will urge
his progressive policies. but will not
threaten conservative Democrats in
advance with retaliation if they do not
stand Tor his legislative recommended
lions
The Democrats say they want har-
mOny IN the senate and in the house.
and that while the great party major
ity in the house at the next session
makes it certain all Mr.. Wilson's rec
concentrations Will be sanctioned
there without trouble, there are still
The Colonel and the Bottle.
The interesting statement Of the
earl Of Cromer in your number of
November 80 that there was "a to-