The Washington herald., 1914-03-05
WOMEN OPPOSE
big navy Plan
War Is in Dim Future, While
Other Evils Are Present.
They Argue.
CHILDREN NEED MONEY
Federal Bureaus Annual Expense Is
Less Than Yearly Repairs on Two
Torpedo Boat Destroyer"
CHILDREN NEED MONEY

The following appeal by women. ad-
dressed to members of Congress. has
been made public:
"Centlemen: The House Naval Commit
| tee has just heard the demands of some
of our admiraIs for four new. $4,000. 900.
battieships. instead Of one new one. which
has been the Democratic policy for the
last two years. Before action Is taken
the following considerations are COM
mended to those who have the serious
responsibility of disposing Of the hard
earned taxes OF the people and Of con-
serving our resources:
I'D We have never asked any nation
to arbitrate with US and been refused.
"(2) Except for six months war with
one weak European power, war which
We began. we have been at peace with
the whole world outside this continent
for 100 years.
CD Though for most Of our history we
had a very small navy. We have never
been attacked and have always, as In
1896. maintained the Monroe doctrine. IL
we are to reason from the known to the
unknown, we shall keep peace with the
greatest naval power on earth. as we
have for the last hundred years. with
our northern border line ungarded. Not
within the lifetime OF any bsttleship or
dered this year will II be possible for
the second naval power. hedged in by
the Russian Bear on one side, resentful
France and the first naval power on the
other. to cross the ocean and attack
people which has always been its friend.
soldier Not Fit to Judge.
"C41 The only possible danger that one
Of the experts could name was from
Japan. But japan knows that. should
she attack the Philippines. she would
commit national suicide. as she would
need half her force to protect her is
lands and her new possessions from her
old enemies. Russia and China. Presi-
dent Eliot reports that in his trip to the
Orient he found only one among our
military and naval men two years ago
who was not absolutely certain that war
with Japan was imminent. He himself
found not the slightest indication of II.
He was a statesman, and they were
technicians professionally engaged In
looking for trouble.
"(5) Is not the last man to give Impair
tial advice as to our need of guns rhe
man who sells them. or who might win
prestige by using them? Can Congress
men expect technicians 10 speak as
statesmen when the problem is not tech
nical, but is one that concerns econo-
mics, politics. history, and psychology?
Are not the military experts simply con-
juring up remote. theoretical possibili-
ties. as unlikely 10 occur as that New
York will be swept away by tidal
wave? Nations, like men. must prepare
to deal with reasonable probabilities !
not with fantastic possibilities.
Children Need Money.
"(6) In all our foreign wars combined |
we lost less than l5,000 men by foreign |
bullets; but We are losing forty times |
that number-6Do ooo-every year from |
causes over many OF which |
he Federal government has large con-
.rol. One can never tell what the case !
may be a year hence said one of the !
idmirals. Alas, We can surely tell that
l year hence another long roll OF vic |
inns. numbering about as many as per-
shed in four years of civil war, will |
lave died because of our folly in putting
,ur greatest defence where it is least
needed. leaving our greatest needs I'M
emedied. The yearly cost OF our nation
II Children's Bureau. which is trying to
prevent our awful infant mortality. is
ess than the annual repairs on two tor
edo boat destroyers. Let US. indeed. be
prepared but let us prepare for our
ertain, definite foes. and call halt on
he increase OF defence against the buga-
zoos conjured up by timid visionaries.
We women. representing many thous-
nds of our silent sisters. appeal to Con-
;ress to spend the taxes of the people.
iot in increase of last years naval pro-
ram, but in saving the lives of Amer
can citizens from preventable disease
nd accidents, so that the time may
ONE in which il shall no more be said
hat the safest nation on earth is spend
1g two-thirds of all its Federal income
\ paying for past war in preparation
or future war. while IL is far behind s
ther great civilized nations in protecting
S citizens at home.
MARY E wooLLEY.
JANE ADDAMS
IDA N. TARBELL .
MRS. PHILIP " MOORE
JOSEPHINE PRESTON PEABODY MARkS
ANNA GARLIN SPENCER .
EMILY G. BALcH
ELIZABETH McCRACEEN
MRS. J. MALCOLM FORBES
MRS. FANNIE FERN ANDREWS.
MRS. GEORGE wINSLOw PERKINS,
LUCIA AMES MEAD.
February 2.