Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1913-12-04

Always mas Deen more popular with
tho people than the army, and this
has been true whether the time has
been one OF peace or war. Landsmen
who never saw ship write constantly
to their representatives In congress
urging that they vote to keep the flag
afloat.
Story Of the BattIeship 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 promise that
two should be built each succeeding
year thereafter until the Panama ca
nal was opened. More strictly speak
Ing II 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
ise, because they had no authority to
bind any coming house of represen-
tatives to a promise made by one Of
Its predecessors.
Prior to the time that the Repub-
licans in the house of representatives
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 well 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 a 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. II this country
can hold Its own on the seas II will
be impossible for any enemy to get
within damaging distance of the great
waterway. AS things are today 1t 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 sufficient number
of war vessels to enable 1t to maintain
strong fighting force on both sides
of the continent with a 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 16,
members OF the Republican ma
| tional committee will meet to de-
termine whether or not they shall
issue a call for 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 q 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 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 Ii
Just as much need of a convention Il
get the Progressives and old party
men together as ever there was.
It makes little difference, perhaps
what the members of the nationa
committee, In whose power 1t Is t
call the convention, think about thu
real wisdom of the proposal, for tn
pressure from most of the Influential
members of the Republican party ha
become so heavy that 1t is apparen
the committee win call a convention
whether the majority OF the member
want to or not Albert B. Cummins
senator from Iowa. and his propose
treated lightly by conservative Reput
licans when five months ago he urge
the necessity of party convention
Today it is said that Mr. Cummin
feels that nearly all the Republican
| are converts to his way of thinking.
Elihu Root, w. Murray Crane an
| even Boise Penrose. directly in tw
cases and indirectly in one, are sal
to have conveyed to Chairman Charlie
, w. Hilles news of their desires tina
the national committee shall call Il
} gether delegates OF the Republica
party and pass resolutions which wi
, L. tn. on