The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-02-07
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

extent of withholding his opposition
to a navy building program which
shall contain a provision for only one
great ship of the line"
II Mr.. Underwood, who believed
with good many Democrats that the
money spent for battleships should
be put into the improvement 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 will defy
leadership's wishes and, with Repub,
lican 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 imRor.
lance in legislation than the naval tn
crease are being showed ahead into
the future because then the Democ-
racy will have control Of the two
houses of congress and also Of the ad'
ministration. Then, they know, they
can pass such legislation as they wish
almost unimpeded. The battleship
building matter, however, Of necessity
comes up for action at every session.
for it is an integral part of an appro.
priation bill and as such It must be
szkas..--ss-.--n HtcQf 49,
have money to pay Its expen,as y
On an average two battleskas lev,
cry three years are put into the but.
of-date class. This means that with
one new battleship year the strength
OF the navy Is increased slowly, but
1t 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 building program
were to be adopted Most of the Dem.
ocrats seem to be willing that the
navy should be kept at least at its
present strength, while there are
enough Of them willing to grant a
yearly increase to keep the navy NOV
Ing forward. and to accept the aid OF
the Republicans who happen to be
of the same mind.
The dreadnought ordered last year
will be in the service in time to take
part in the naval demonstration in
force at the time Of the opening Of
the Panama canal. It is barely DOS.
sible that the dreadnought 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 will be represented at
the Panama canal celebration by two
vessels which perhaps no navy OF the
world can equal.
Wilson's Polite Attitude.
In President.elect Wilson's three
keynote" speeches, one at staun.
ton, one at Chicago and one at
Trenton. he made 1t evident that
1t Is his intention to make his ad.
ministration progressive. giving the
word the advanced meaning" which
1t holds in latter day politics and leg
islation. Democrats In Washington
construe the three speeches Of their
chieftain to mean that he will have In
his cabinet only men who are recog.
nized as belonging to the progressive
wing of the party. Some Of the Re-
publicans seem to think that Mr.. VIII
sons extreme progressive pronounce
ments mean that he will war against
the conservative element Of his party
In congress.
The Democrats in the senate Of the
progressive school, who seemingly
nave control Of the party In that body,
say that while Mr.. Wilson. al they
have known all along, is a 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.
sives In the house and the aen.ta
What the progressive Democrats mean
by this Is that MIR. Wilson will urpe
his progressive policies, but will not
threaten conservative Democrats in
advance with retaliation II thew do mot
stand for his legislative recommenda,
tons.
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 1t certain all Mr.. Wilson. voc.
concentrations will BE- aanct,ansd
there without trouble. there ara atm