The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-03-07
PREPARES FOR WAR
CONGRESS is osEYING THE OLD
ADAGE TO MAKE READY IN
TIME OF PEACE.
EQUIPS THE ARMED SERVICE
Wedding the Warnings Of Colonel
Thompson and General Wood, Il
Is Putting the Army on a
Sound Basis.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

~O'S@ SGIN SNs
misunderstanding several treaties
looking to arbitration II not to actua
compacts of peace between this nation
and many others are in process of ne
EQUATION. congress is putting the Unit
ed States upon safeguarding" mill
tary footing. In one OF these Wash
nngton dispatches recently it was said
The United States is pushing to com
pletion rapidly it's Notifications in the
philippines, Hawaii and on the Pacific
coast OF the Panama Canal Zone. This
Is the only war scare story which does
not meet with either daily denials OF
daily evasion"
Recent events show conclusiyely
'hat army officers must have known
some time ago that a Democratic con
Sress intended to vote money to
strengthen the armed service by sup
plying the war material necessary to
make up known deficiencies. Probably
ane army knew also that congress in
aended to supply means to strengthen
the Notifications and to give the army
other things necessary to meet any
emergency.
III there was any war scare in the
original chapter, 1t has it's supplement
On the story of the legislative action
OF today. Probably, however. there is
no real war scare in the situation. The
case doubtless is simply one of an
awakening to the necessity Of taking
the precautions demanded by common
sense.
Heed Col. Thompson's Warning.
Not long ago the then acting chief
OF ordnance, Col. John T. Thompson,
Nm an interview let it be known that
while the United States army in many
respects was in proper condition to
meet the demands of warfare. 1t was
1amentably weak in field artillery and
In ammunition. Col. Thompson gave
This Information to the country some
time before congress had taken up the
oils for appropriations, covering for
tifcations and munitions of war. Now
the legislators have acted and have
voted large sum to be used to
strengthen the Notifications, to buy
the coast and field guns which are
necessary. and to purchase ammuni-
ton to make them serviceable.
The debates In congress on the
question Of increased appropriations
Nor war material were pointed, and as
they were held In the open everything
that was said is by this time known
I'm Europe and In Japan. The con-
gressmen did not hesitate. to talk
about other countries when they were
discussing the unpreparedness OF
their own country to meet an enemy
I'm the field or on the sea. Taking this
debate In connection with that on the
Asiatic exclusion provision proposed
Tor the immigration bill, little room for
wonder Ia left that the Japanese people
are being kept more or less stirred
mp over the doings in America
Before long Gen. Leonard Wood will
be transferred from his post as chief
of star to some other scene of COM
mand. Not long before congress turned
fits attention to the matter OF mu.
nitions Of war, Gen. Wood told the
committee on military affairs of the
deficiency In guns and ammunition. At
THAT time 1t was asked pointedly what
kind OF reasoning 1t was that put 1t in
% q congressman's head that 1t was
III right to supply money to pay the
pen OF six regiments Of field artillery
nd fhnv IN crfya 10
18th. Congress apparently saw the
pint OF the question and has pro-
eded to supply the working material
pw the first time In years the army
the United States Is to be upon
netting like a sound basis.
What Of Senator Borah7
What Of Borah? Washington Pro-
ssives and Republicans, yes, and
nocrats, too. today are discuss
the probable future political at
de OF Senator William E. Borah
Idaho. The senator, as is known,
progressive Republican. He has
made speech to the great Re-
lican club Of New York which has
to comment and speculation In
shington by the members of all the
ticai parties.
Ghen the Republican national com.
lee met in Washington last Deem
several progressive Republicans
invited to address the members.
lam Z. Borah was one Of them.
sas the only Republican of known
ressive instincts and actions who
lined in any way to mollify the
eommitteemen by intmating that he
knew whatever action they took with
reference to calling an extraordinary
convention OF the Republican party
would be actuated by hiph rnntiuos