New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-11
Mr.. Gardner Accuses Pres
ident of Setting Up a
Man of Straw.
ASSERTS SHORTAGE
OF MEN AND GUNS
Challenges Committees to Quiz
Army and Navy Officers on
National Defence.

Washington, Dec. lO.-AccuSing the
President Of setting up fantastic
man of straw which he proceeded TO
destroy with the grapeshot Of has
scholarly eloquence," Representative
Augustus P. Gardner. Of Massaehu-
sets, made a caustic speech in the
House to-day in reply TO that part OF
the Presidents message relating 10 the
Gardner demand for an investigation
OF the nations preparedness Tor war
ARE. A LULLABY policy" Mr.. Gardner
termed that Of the administrator
Mr.. Gardeners speech resulted IN
verbal free-for-all battle, several DEM
ocrats rushing to the defence OF the
administration. When Mr.. Gardner
challenged Chairman Hay of the Mill
tarv Affairs Committee 70 summon
General WotherspoOn on the question:
of the national defence, Mr.. Hay said
he would not summon any one, uh-
less ! think it necessary
let me reconstruct the fantastic
man of straw which the President
erected and then proceeded TO destroy
with the grapeshot OF his scholaTiy
elouuence," said Mr. Gardner. we
will not says the President, ask our
Young men to spend the best years oil
their lives making soldiers oil thenl,
selves Who, pray, says the contrary
surely. not Far from dreaming OF
swcb a thing. / am proposing peace
ful investigation by an Independent
commission which shall be charged
with the duty Of recommending TO tne
country exactly what we ought 10 90
10 insure our national safety
"Surelv II is not such nervous and
excitable' persons as former Secretary
Never. former Secretary Stlmson' 1or-
. mer Secretary Wright, former Secretary
Dickinson and former Secretary Bona
narte who are opposing compulsory mil
itarv service. All these gentlemen nave
nubiicly signihed their intention OF
testifvinp the immediate necessity
nj a rigid investigation. -Four OF them
already have made public utterances
Of the strongest kind, and in not one
of these utterances has the faintest
suggestion Of compulsory military
service beea bresthed.
Two Courageous Officials.
an fact. can recollect only one
recent public address which even re-
motely suggests compulsory military
service for our young mem Nnat al
dress, by the way, was Delivered py
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt AZ the
meeting of the National Civic Federa-
ton in New York City. The president
mas the power to discipline Mr' hoose
,elt for his temerity, but he should
not rely on MIR. Roosevelt's words for
stufing his man of straw. Mr. Roose-
yelt-wisely, in my oainion- suggested
that we ought TO examine into the Sys-
tenn of compulsory military training
which the Labor party has instituted
for the people Of Australia. His audi
ence seemed 70 agree with him, by the
fright here let me take off my hat
20 the superb courage which Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt has shown IN
choosing this time to tell the country
that the navy is $4,000 men short OF
the number requisite TO man even our
modest feet-lS,000 men now, and
greater deficiency to come, by the way.
"Roosevelt's pluck IS equalled, but
not surpassed. by that Of Secretary
Garrison. In the teeth Of the Presi-
dents message he has advocated an in
crease of 10000 men and 1000 ofheers
for the regular army. ! have just IN
troduced a bill TO enact that recon-
mendation into law
1--WE have only $4,000 men at pres
ent available for the far-hung battle
line Of our field army, or, in other
words, body OF men. as the Secretary
Of War points out. only twice as large
as the police force Of New York City.
Does the President think that there IS
no need for an investigation along
those lines?
short of Militiamen.
Does the President realize that there
are only 10000 miltiamen IN this
whole nation, IN spite OF all the efforts
which the states and the United States
have been rskiug? Does he under
stand that $4,000 Of them did not ever
show UP last year for annual inspec-
ton? Does he know that 81 900 dc
not appear at the annual encampment
Is he aware OF the fact that $4,000, Of
nearly half Of this eitizenry, never ap
peared at the rifle range during the
whole course Of the last year?
"But where is this citiZenry TO &c
the weapons Of war? According to the
last report of the Chief of staff W
are short $40 field guns and 1922 ,3S
rounds OF ammunition necessary 4
eouip our militia I'm time Of war.
"If war were TO break out to-day
would be found that our coast defence
have not sufficient ammunition for al
hours fighting"
Discussing the navy, MIR. Gsrdne
said the General Board admitted tina