The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1914-12-29
President WOULD
MBzzLE GARDNER
Although Administration Does Not
Favor investigation, Con-
gresham Persists


wcll-wishefs Of Congressman Gard
nor Of Massachusetts, Whose resolution
calling Tor congressional insestiga.
iipn Of the preparedness Of the United
States for war, offensive and defensive,
hns been sat on" BY the President,
while not dishcartened at the opposi.
tion Of the administration towards the
scheme, have been making Inquiry ihto
the reason for this attltude o. the
President and many OF his party lead
efs.
n appears that one Of the Influences
that Is putting the brakes on this move.
ment Is the fact, carefully remembered
in official circles, that IN offering has
resolution in the closing days OF the
last session, Congressman Gardner ae'
companied II with personal statement
bitterly hostile TO Germany. This state
ment, which seems TO have been for.
gotten BY many Of his hearers and by
the thousands Of readers Of his Inn.
pressive speech, Is now being cited az
Simplifying ground for the infercnce that
II the administration should encourages
the Gardner inquiry and find In its
disclosures a reason for increasing the
military strength Of the county, the
suspicion might be created that the
United States Is arming against Ger
many.
Old spssch Il quoted
F, A search through the back files OF
the t'nH0ressional Record brings the
original speech 10 light, and on TINS
DO ~ Mr.. tiardner said;t ott etgI
cit Is true that with respect TO the
present European war my views are
not those Oh d neutral. am entirely
convinced that the Germah cause ~
unholy, and, moreover, menace TO the
principles of democracy. Furthermore,
! eheVe that the god Of battles win
visit defeat upon the Germans. But
no matter which side wins, we must
remember that since the beginning o.
time victorious nations have proved
and hieh-handed. We must
begin at once to reorganize our mill.
tafy strength IL we expect TO be able
to resist high -handedness when the day
Of necessity comes. OF course, all this
il unpopular doctrine IL is far easier
for me to declare that all is well and
that our present military establish
rheDt. coupled with our national guard
and our naval militia, is TO be depend.
cd on for our defense. Unfortunately.
cannot bring myself to believe any
such thing. 800 49, aeass,.,.
Remarkable Statement n,
This was remaFkable uttcranec
from the lips Of iafniembers Of congress
Of the Ugiied States, following the
request Of President Wilson that all
Americans should refrain from inter
anees hostile or Irritating 20 any Of
the bellieorents Of llurope, but ID should
he Remembered that it is one thing 70
ontfol the utteranees Of army and
navy officers, Of whom the President IA
the eomma bdcr,in-chief and quite an
pther thing 10 control q member OF
congress .wh0a has the courage to dis
Iinguish himself among bis fellow Nom
bers eby confageously announcing that
congress alone is responsible for an
forewar, and that only
through congress can theaneeessary az
lion ne taken 10 save the country from
possible invasion Congressnian GeFll,
per nav have mixed bis cohrake with
but his sincere belief that
Inc country is, not we'll defended will
Be accepted as sufficient excuse for the
expression Of his views on the present
war ils 81 aI}ss ftl fs .S tisl
Friends Of tho standardization and
he peace societies are pointing out in
this cohrectibn that when the present
sOnAiet ends, and however il ends, a
tate Of latent hostility to the United
States will exist throughout Germany,
md that to take any official steps that
night stimulate unkind sentiments TO-
wards the United States would DO I'M
wise. The logic Of this point of view
ioes not appeal TO Congressman Gard
ier or to the thousands of Americans
who are convihced that the sentiment
lhouId be given no weight in a discus
ion Of the ability Of the United States
% resist foreign attack.
American weakness Notorious
The weakness Of the American mill
airy establishment In eeftaiu vital re-
Ipeets is so notorious that no Gardner
Investigation Is necessary to disclose
I. The real utility Of the proposer
INQUIRY will be to awaken American
public opinion to a live interest in |
which are frankly admitted |
throughout the army and navy and
ave been described in every annual
eport bearing on military Subjects for
he past ten yesfs.
The Boston papers report, a speech |
made In that city by Secretary Of the
Navy Daniels. on Thanksgiving Day,
n which he Indicated indirectly that
ne administration considered Il iin;
.oistie's 70 discuss war plans ri thii
line, and ihtimated that the country
Vas pretty wen prepared for ANYTHING |
Since that date the President has
ent 10 congress his message Ia which |
,e states the same thing. Now there
M In Washington, as well as elsewhere |
n the country, extremists for prepared
less and extremists for Bo-pScpareds
less. The President, however, seems
o represent the group which believes
n trying 10 avoid evil by shutting tho
yes to II or to the possibilities Of it.
wilson Relies on Treaties
II seems TO be the belief in Wash
ngton that unless President Wilson is
eonsammate sctor and has mp to date
lissimulated his real views, he is pay
~ no attention whatever to tho ques
ion Of national defense. He appar
nifty places his reliance for peace on |
scraps Of paper, 2 rather than on ma
iOnal Dhv.iea fitness In othor wordS l