The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-02-12
WAR EXPENDITURES !
USELESS DANIELS
New Secretary Of Navy Believes That
Conference Of All Nations Would
Result In Concerted Action
WOULD LESSEN ANNUAL COST
Not Difficult To Reach Agreement
Whereby Navies Will Be Adequate
Should Take The Initiative

From Congressman G. H. Tavenner
Washington February 12.- Uni
versal peace is still dream in spite
of the fact that the leading states
men and thinkers of every nation
are opposed to the continuation O.
the 'bankrupting race for naval ant
. military supremacy. The peace con
ferences at the Hague cause no dim
mutton of the tremendous expendi.
lures of the civilized world for ar.
mament. The cost of war in time
of peace is the heaviest burden laid
upon modern civilization.
1t has remained for our new Sec
rotary of the Navy, Mr.. Daniels, to
suggest a method which may result
in sanity among the nations. In dis
cussing the possibility of concerted
action in reducing war expenditures,
Secretary Daniels suggests a con-
ference of all nations to arrive at a
method. Here is the quotation:
"The growing cost of dread
naughts, of powder, and of every
thing that makes an efficient navy
gives reason for pause. This heavy
expense commands national and in
ternational consideration. The naval
appropriation has doubled in 10
years, and yet this country has not
joined the expensive competition
and race for over-large navies to the
same extent as have some other
great nations. .,
'"Ten years ago our largest battle
ship cost $5,382,OOO. The next
dreadnaught will cost $14, 044, 900.
When is this accelerating expendi-
ture to be reduced? Naval programs,
announced by the nations already
having the largest navies, and the
entrance into the building of dread
naughts by nations which have not
hitherto burdened their people with
the expense of large battleships, in
dictate that the end is not yet.
"No single nation, with large in
terests, can safely take a vacation
in the building of battleships. That
much to he desired vacation must
come through concerted action. If it
is not fastened by appeals for the
peaceful settlement Of national diff
ferences, the day is not far distant
when the growing burden of taxa
ton for excessive war and naval ex-
penditures will call a halt. The sug-
gestion of a vacation for one year
in battleship building has met with
hearty approval and l venture the
earnest hope that this will bear fruit
in a well-considered plan by navy
building nations not to let the un-
necessary competition go to further
lengths.
ct is manifestly not possible for
the proposed cessation in battleship
construction to be declared at once.
1t Is not a vacation we need, but a
permanent policy to guard against
extravagant and needless expen-
sions.
II venture to recommend that the
war and navy officials and other re-
representatives. of all the nations be
invited to hold conference to dis
cuss whether they cannot agree up
on a plan for. lessening the cost OF
preparation for war. 1t is recognize
ed that the desired end of competi.
tive building, carried on under whip
and spur, could not be effective
without agreement between great
nations 1t ought not to be difficult
to secure an agreement by which
navies will be adequate with out
being overgrown and without i'm
posing overheavy taxation upon tn,
industry of a nation.
II trust the tentative suggestion
for a naval holiday by the stronges
of the powers will be debated ant
the matter seriously considered b.
an international conference looking
to the reduction of the ambitious
and costly plans for navy increase.
trust that this country will take tn
initiative and that steps will be Ia
ken by conference of all tn
powers to discuss reduction of tn
heavy cost of the Army and Navy
"Soclety Butler Thnef" Jailed.