River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-04-30
WASHING TON LETTER
FROM JAMES A. FREAR, MEMBER OF
CONGRESS-, 10Th nlST7lcT

Wilson'S eQueS Tor 10UU,UUU viii
which to care for Mexican re-
fugees went through both houses
on the same day without debate.
When he asked for $50, 000, 900 or
any other amount with which to
carry on his Mexican policy,
whether it be war OF Intervention
by some other name, he will re-
ceive all he asks for without d
quitble from any source.
AS Commander in Chief Of the
ARMY and Navy he directed the
fleet to blockade Vera Cruz and
placed an embargo against arms
going across the Texas border.
The blockade was instituted &c
prevent a cargo Of arms from
Germany reaching Huerta and in
an effort to stamp out the re-
volution. The loss of lives on
both sides makes it seem newt
able that war will be declared.
Regrets are expressed over some
of the steps which led up to it,
but now that uncertainty has
been removed, the Administration
will find no political division
when money and munitions Of war
are asked at the hands of Con-
gress.
When the resolution of endor-
sement was before the Senate pro-
baby one-half Of all the Repres-
entatives in Congress were pre-
sent in the Senate Chamber re-
naming until the last amend
ment was disposed of and resOlu-
ton passed at $50 in the morning.
The galleries were crowded With
hundreds standing until the final
act was over. A dramatic scene
occurred when a demand was made
upon the floor to know if Vera
Cruz had been taken during the
dav according to news reItrts.
and response was made tina
it had just been taken by
Admiral Fletcher. Until that time
the belief was general that wal
would be avoided. Little debate
occurred thereafter and proceed
ings were rushed to a conclusion.
Another thrilling incident oc-
Cured in the house last week
during discussion on the. naval
bill which is being rushed through
as rapidly as possible. Judge
Witherspoon of Mississippi, an OPP
ponent of the two battle ship pro-
gram, had used the term "graft-
ers" in connection with the naval
| officers. Hobson from Alabama,
the hero of the Merrimac incident
during the Cuban war, followed
him shortly ~afterward. Hobson is
an eloquent, ~forceful speaker and
an expert naval authority. After
calling attention to the term used
by Witherspoon, HobsOn demand
ed to know if he intended to say
that naval men generally, includ-
ing himself (Hobson) were graft
ers. Witherspoon made no re-
| spouse. Finally Hobson declared
that "any charge that naval offic-
ers are g~rafters, is false and that
any man who insinuated that he
CHObson) is a CRATER, simply lies"
preston of the scene. HobsOn
spoke quietly without mock he
roles, but language which under
/ ny11o0Yax nv inn ~ g r. nanC HnIl6 have
been deemed violent and unpar-
limentary, was accepted without
criticism.
Following his challenge to With
erspoon, Robson launched out in
to eulogy OF the American Navy
that moistened the eyes of Mem
bers and made nerves Jingle. In
the Revolutionary War he remind
ed us, our improvised navy cap
tured more than 800 ships with
more than 10000 seamen from the
| Mistress of the Seas. In the war
with France we defied the great
Napolean and told him that Amer
lea had millions for defense but
not one cent for tribute" Follow
ing down through history he show
ed that our wars had been Waged
by a nation of principle and OF
ioealism. From John Paul Jones
down to Dewey at Manila and
Sampson and Schley at Santiago,
he declared never before in the
history of the world had a fleet
totally destroyed another without
suffering serious loss itself, and
ours is a navy that has never
known defeat.
Hobson's speech was an argu-
ment in favor of a strong navy in
order to preserve our position
among nations with a small stand
ing army. In connection with his
address to the House he had dia-
grams which showed that while
the "Oregon" was the marvel of
the world among battle ships dur
ing the Spanish-American war,
that the modern "Pennsylvania"
was equal in fighting energy to
nine vessels of the Oregon type,
and he compared the rapid change
in vessel types and ornaments to