Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-11-16
OEMOCRATSARE
WITH WILSON ON
DEFENSE PLANS
Party's Congressman from This
State viii Back President
on Preparedness.
REPUBLICANS LIKELY TO
LINE UP ON FINAL VOTE
Congressman Eagan, of Hud-
son, Sets Forth Situation
in Concise Form.

Members of the New Jersey con-
gresslonal delegation, Democrats as
wen as Republicans. appear united In.
the belief that the president Is on tie
right track. The Republican repre-
sentatives are not ready to declare
without some qualifications that the
administrations program is satisfas-
tory, but upon the general principle
OF more adequate preparedness they
are IN full accord. The Democrats
have been uniformly with the admin
istration throughout the last year.
Letters protesting. against any
strengthening of the nations de-
fenses have been received by sew
eral New Jersey congressman
from the Society of Friends, whose
address is given as PIainfield, That
lasting peace cannot be secured
through maintaining large armed
forces is the contention, and William
Jennings Bryan's view that President
Wilson's plans are challenge to
Christian spirit is evidently shared
by the society.
Representative John ]. Eagan,
Democrat, takes sharp issue with his
party's erstwhile leader Mr. Bryan,
in the latter's fears that the country
Is rushing into milflarism and war.
Giving Mr. Bryan full credit for sim
certify, Mr.. Eagan, who represents the
end of Hudson county, including
aorthern Hofoken, declared today:
i do not regard the Strengthening of
our land and sea defenses as a stsp
toward mllltarssm or as preparation
Tor war. Rather, regard 1t is an
insurance again war Mr.. Bryan
means well, as he has meant before,
but he Is Impractical. IN the opinion
of the Hoboken schoolmaster.
He further declares it should be re-
naemhered that the country viii not
DO placed nnpil an axaet war footing.
simply be effered against possible
eyentualities. Mr.. EHgan, whose dis
trict comprises a vast German and
irish constituency, believes that there
Is no more danger of trouble wIfis
one country than with another.
Why should Ne expect trouble with
Germany. for instance, any more than
with England2 On the contrary. we
have always. been at peace with the
one. while the other we have had to-
hght twice in 135 years.
Germany's navy, he does not be-
lieye. was ever built with thought OF
foreign conquest.
For Administration Program.
II am for the program as outlined
by the secretaries of war and the
navy Mr.. Eagan announces. Con-
tinuing. he says: THE navy. Of
course, must always be our first line
Of defense. ] believe 1t should be-
strengthened sufficiently to secure us
from attack upon our thousands OF
miles OF seacoast and to protect
Panama and our insular possessions.
also believe there should be an in
crease in our standing army, such as
proposed by the secretary of war, and
that provision should be made for an
adequate reserve.
The diplomacy of the Wilson ad-
ministration has maintained an
honorable peace. Mr.. Eagan declared,
and he believed that this condition
would be continued, so far as was in
the administration power. Mr..
Eagan did not believe that Bryan or
anyone else would attempt to block
President Wilson'S denomination, and
os his reelection he was likewise con-
fident.
From the Camden district comes
word that Representative William J.
Browning, Republican. does not be-
lieve that the administration program
is extensive enough. In my opin-
ion," Mr.. Browning declares, the
department plans do not go far
enough in some directions: several
additional types of vessels should be-
to round out our navy |
cannot say to what extent Congress
will uphold the administration.
Representative Dow II, DrulSker of
Passaic. representative from the
seventh district and also a Repub-
lican, stated today that he was
thoroughly In sympathy with the
proposition that the conntry's de-
fenses must be strengthened. For the
same reason that one insures his.
property against fire. he believed that
the country should be placed upon
a better military footing. Oppor-
tunity to analyze the adfninistration's
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