The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-12-10
WILSON OPPOSED
TO DEFENSE QUIZ
Action Might Create Bad impress
sion Abroad.
SENATOR LODGE ASKS INQUIRY
Special Body to Probe Conditions OF
the Defenses of Continental Uni
ted States-leWis Would
Trace Waste.

Washington, Dec S.-President Will
son placed himself in formal opposi-
ton to the inquiries into army and
navy preparedness proposed by Rep
resentative Gardner of Massachusetts.
At the conclusion Of the conference.
which the executive held with the lat
ter, the White House issued this state
ment:
1.-THE president told Representative
Gardner that he was opposed to the
method Of inquiry proposed by Mr..
Gardner, because he thought 1t was
an unwise way Of handling question
which might create very unfavorable
international impressions. He stated
to Mr.. Gardner that he was entirely
in favor Of the fullest inquiries by the
committees Of congress and that there
were no facts in the possession of the
executive department which were not
at the disposal of those committees"
Representative Gardner, at the con-
clusion Of the conference, declared
that he would fight for an inquiry
regardless of the presidents opposi-
ton. He propounded two questions
to the president, as follows:
There are two ways of defeating
my resolution. 1t can be defeated on
square yea and nay vote, or 1t can be
pigeonholed in the committee on rules.
Which course do you adviser"
"Will you authorize army and navy
officers to testify before the rules
committee on my invitation, either
with or without explicit instructions?"
The reply of the president to these
interrogations were not made pubic.
Lodge Urges inquiry.
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts In
troduced in the senate resolution
creating special committee of three
senators, three members of the house
and three civilians to make an invesd-
cation of the condition of the defenses
of the continental United States.
Senator James Hamilton Lewis OF
fered a resolution direction the senate
committees on naval and military af-
fairs to investigate all expenditures on
the military arm of the government
since 1895, the last year Of Democratic
administration until President Wilson
assumed office.
Lewis Would Trace Waste.
The Lewis resolution recited that
hundreds Of millions had been eX-
pended on the army, battleships, navy
equipment and munitions of war since
1896 and that the national defenses
should be strong and adequate. If
they are defective and inadequate Sen
ator Lewis wants the two senate com
mittees to find out where the money
was wasted and who were the contrac-
tors who unloaded on the government
antquated guns, armament and war
ships.
His resolution was sent to the mill
tary affairs committee.
Would Buy Modern Guns.
Representative Ware Of Philadelphia
introduced in til house bills appropri-
ating $7,00O,000 for purchase of mod
ern guns and war machinery for the
purpose Of strengthening the army,
navy and coast defenses. He asserts
that the European war has revolution
lied methods of warfare and has dem
onstrated that this country is lacking
in the most approved implements Of
war
The regular navy construction pro-
gram announced contemplates two bat
tleships, six torpedo-boat destroyers
and eight submarines, all Of the latest
type.