The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-01-29
NAVAL FIGHT WARM
QUESTION OF BUILDING NEW
6ATTLEsHIPs INTERESTS
CONGRESSMAN.
DIVISION is NOT PARTISAN
Underwood, Leading Opponents Of In
crease, May Be Forced to compro-
mise-one or Even Two Great Yes
sells May Be Authorized.
ey GEORGE cLINroN>

| oy 66OhGE CItN TONI
Washington.--No other piece of leg
isiation now before congress or to
come before it prior to the incoming
Oh 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, land force and a
sea force, and the signal is set for a
tight 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 a navy building program which
snail contain a provision for only one
great ship Of the line"
II Mr.. Underwood, who believed
with a 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 naEies of the world
Cannot Be Postponed.
Matters OF greater seeming impor-
lance in legislation than the naval in
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 1t must be
passed upon with the rest of the ap-
preparations If the government is TO
nave money to pay its expenses
On an average two battleships ev-
cry three years are put into the ont
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
force at the time of the opening of
the Panama canal. 1t is barely pos
sible that the dreadnought which prob !
ably is to be authorized this year AN |
join its sister ship at that time. and |
II such shall prove TO be 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 it evident that |
it Is his intention TO make his ad- |
ministraticn progressive, giving the
word the advanced meaning" which |
1t holds in latter day politics and .eg
is1ation 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
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 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 win not
threaten conservative. Democrats in
advance with retaliation If they do not
stand for his legislative recommends
ions
The Democrats say they want har-
nony in the senate ana In the house,
snd that while the great party major