The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-12-25
3 Massachusetts senator is n


ported in recent interview as fol
lows:
I'VE hear it said that our regular
army and militia combined we could
not at this moment get together 120,-H
900 men for our defense. 1t has been
publicly stated that we have not suf-
ficient ammunition even for such
troops as we have; that our fortifi-
cations for our great cities are very
insufficient; that we have few If any
guns of greater than those on battle
ships; that such troops as we have,
instead of being concentrated at the
points where they are needed, are
scattered through the country at diff
ferent posts in positions where there
| is no need OF troops. It is said that
We have nothing resembling reserves;
either of men or ammunition, and no
/ sufficient arrangement made for pro-
viding mines to protect or harbors.
for one would ike to know, and /
think the American people would
Ike to know, whether or not there
| is truth in these statements"
This would seem to be an accusa-
ton of somebody. 1t reads very like
An indictment. Yet, subjected to a
little analysis, it misses the mark in
| tended-that is tho democratic adj
ministratiol &C the government-be-
cause, if there be anything wanting
to our national defense it lieth not
with the democrats, but with the re-
publicans. For whatever is or is not
they are solely responsible. From
the 4th [ Tareh, 1897, to the 4th of
March, 1913-siAteen years-the gov
eminent was in the hands of the
party of which Senator Lodge is a
leader. Most, if not all of the time,
he has been member of the senate
committee on naval affairs. How
comes it that, with vast moneys ex-
pended annually and things going to
the bad as he now describes them,
this is his first warning to ''the Amer
lean people?" Why was he silent
when at any moment the despots of
Europe-having nothing else to do
might sneak into Boston and sack
Faneuil Hall, or crawl up through
Simm's Hole and cut the threats of
every mothers son of us here in
Kentucky? Was it his loyalty to Nc
kinley, his love for Taft? Or, did he
think that Teddy could brighten them
away by look? But now now that
the outer world is fighting like mad
exhausting itself, destroying itself
with nothing across the horizon to
disturb the most patriotic republican
except democrat in the White
House and democratic majority in
| congress-Senator Lodge, at once
alarmed and economical, wants to
EnoW,, you know! As if the official
reports were not both voluminous
and accessible, he uses such terms as
/ I'VE hear it said" and "it has been
Publicly stated"
And what is it that this veteran of
f1c1al-failing to inform himself
has 'heard?" That the army is short
of soldiers? Whose fault is that?
The army is what the republicans
made it. That it lacks ammunition?
For what? Is there an enemy any,
where in sight? That the troops we
have instead of being concentrated
at points where they are most needed
are scattered through the country at
IL &C..
dlHerent posts in positions where
tnere is no need of troops" Where
IS there the need of troops? New
England seems reasonably peaceable.
Since Beach Hargis was sent to state
prison the boys up in Breathitt have
| slmmered down. In spite of Hobson.
All is quiet along the Potomac"
Where would Senator Lodge have
President Wilson send the troops
even if they were in possession of adj
equate arms and sufficient ammuni-
ton?
But-horrible to relate-our cities
are undefended; the Notifications
are tumble-down and mounted with
pop-guns. Again, whose to blame If
not the republicans, and what have
they done with the vast sums of:
money they have pretended to be
spending all these years?
Senator Lodge-we are quoting
him as reported by the New York
Sun, friend and not an enemy of the
proposed inquiry-multiplie the
counts in his arraignment of his
party. The republicans have done
even worse by the navy than by the
army. Here, being of the naval af-
Talrs committee, the Massachusetts
statesman ought to be an authority.
What could Mr.. Mckinley, Mr.. Roose-
welt and Mr.. Taft have been thinking
OF when they let things go to such
rack and ruin? During the ten wears