Barton County democrat., 1914-12-04
PUT SOFT PEDAL
ON WAR TALK.

President Wilson will not seek to
mould the position Of congress on
the resolution of Representative
Gardner for an investigation OF
the military strength Of the Unit
ed States, he will oppose the in
yestigatiOn if asked for an Opin-
ion. He thinks it untimely and
believes such an inquiry would
not disclose any information not
already known.
The presidents position was
made clear tonight by administra-
ton officials after it became
known that he had written Mr..
Gardner a letter saying he was
ready to discuss the question with
. him at any time. Mr.. Gardner will
be at the white house tomorrow
to make an engagement for an
Interview within the next few
days.
Aimed at Germany?
The position of The administra-
ton toward the Gardner reSOlu-
ton, as outlined tonight is that
thiSiS no time TO agitate the queS-
ton of the preparedness of the
United States for war. The pres
.ident is hopeful that the nation
may play an important part in
bringing the present European
war to a close, and his advisers
believe suggestions for peace
would come with bad grace from a
country in the throeS of a discus
sion Of possible war.
:. Another reason given by admin
iStratioh leaders for opposing the
Gardner resolution is that his
speech in the house supporting
the movement Mr.. Gardner at
tackled Germany and they think
the adoption of his resolution
would make it appear that the ac-
tion was directed principally at
that nation.
:. When the resolution was first
introduced the president charac-
'terized the proposed inveStiga-
ton as pleasant mental exer-
else" and said the results would
depend entirely upon the char
acter of the commission making
the probe.
Administration leaders said
tonight that the president realizes
the Importance of the military les
Sons taught by the present war
and takes the position that every
thing possible should be learned
by. the United States, though he
does not regard the present as a
proper time for military discus
lSiOnS in congress.
Small Sum Asked for Army.
Appropriations aggregating
$1O4,124,512 to carry the army
through the coming year, are pro-
posed in estimates which the war
department has just completed
for submission to congress. This
is an increase of $3,1O5,3OO over
the total carried by the army bill
for the current year, although
reductions are made in the allow
anceS for many branches of the
service. A. new item of $15O,0OO
for purchase of automatic ma
chine rifles is asked, Altogether
S2,9OO,OOO is sought for ammuni-
ton, compared with $3,OOO,OOO
carried in the current law. For
field artillery for the organized
militia $2,O9O,OOO is asked, S2,-
100000 having been appropriated
last year. For the manufactur,
repair and issuance of arms at
the national armorieS $25O,OOO is
asked as against $45O,OOO last
year.
The signal service would get
100000, of which 100000 would
be for the purchase, maintenance
operation and repair of airships.
Provision would be made for CIV
ing one years additional pay to
the beneficiarieS of men killed in
the army aviation service.
Sherman for Bigger Force.
Chicago, Nov. 3O.-Senator L.
7. Sherman of Illinois, today ad-
VOcated the building of at least
: four battleShipS a year by the
United States until the navy is
adequate to defend the coast line
He also said he favored increaS-
ing the standing army to 100000
men. Senator Sherman stated
his position in an address before