The Monte Vista journal., 1915-12-04
BY EDWARD HEATING.
Congressman from the Third Colo
RADIO District.)

Washington, D. C.,-In last week s
letter pointed out that those who
publicly discussed the question of
National Preparedness" might be
fairly divided into the following
classes:
First-Those who believe our
army and navy are big enough.
Second-Those who accept Presi-
dent Wilson's plan which falls for
an increase of about 100000 900 a
year in our appropriation for army
and navy.
Third-The militarists-or cling
oes"-who insist that we must have
standing army of $50, 900 men and
navy at least as large as Great
Britains These men would have an
increase in our appropriations from
$500, 100000 to 100000 O,OOO-sums
which is impossible for the finite
mind to grasp.
This week We will consider the ar
guments advanced by the champions
of Proposition No. l. Next week we
will hear the president and his
friends and the following week the
jingoes will be given the stage
A Distinguished Opposition.
The men who oppose an increase
in the army and navy do not make
as much noise as the militarists but
they lack nothing, either in num-
bers, influence or ability. A cause
which numbers among the support
ers William ]. Bryan, David Starr
Jordan, General Isaac R. Sherwood,
hero of hundred battles, Congress-
man Claude Kitchen, Henry Ford
and scores of other men whose names
are known in every hamlet in the
land, cannot be dismissed without a
hearing. No sane man will question
of these gentlemen.
Congressman Claude Kitchen is re-
lied on to present their cause to
Congress and therefore we will per-
nit him to speak for them now. But
first, word about Kitchen. He is
from North Carolina, is 46 years old,
has been in Congress fourteen years,
is great lawyer and charming Or
ator and only few months ago was
unanimously designated as floor
leader by the Democratic majority
in the House of Representatives
He is by no means little fellow.
Congressman Kitchens Views.
The Presidents proposal" says
Kitchen, "is so sudden, radical and
stupendous as to shock Christian
dom and force the world once more
INTO an armed camp. And, at that,
the Presidents program is mild com
pared with what the jingoes are de-
manding.
Our navy today is twice as large
as Japan's and is far superior to that
OF Germany. 1 canno. listen with
patience to this talk that we are not
prepared, because I know from long
experience in Congress nd careful
study that such is not the case.
Admiral Fletcher supports this
statement. Secretary Daniels says
ne would rather have Fletcher's
opinion on any question affecting our
navy than the judgment of any other
man in the world Well, Fletcher in
us testimony before the naval COM
mittee his year said our fleet was
superior to Germany's and to that
VI every other nation except Great
Britain.
snail we accept the views Of the
eaoer OF the Atlantic fleet or the
eamors of patriotic" defense leag-
Nes mat are now playing the game
VI the war-traffickers and the people
'no want to make their millions by
'''nns munitions to the government?
Coast Defenses ImpregnabIe.
hhgiand's navy is two and one
w." umes as large as Germany's.
'neh why can't England's navy de-
Ivy Germany's navy and lombard
V , herman coast cities. Why the
ines failure before the defenses of
Dardanelles? The answer is to
.ound in the submarine, the mine
'"u coast fortifications.
"hy have the German warships