The Monte Vista journal., 1915-11-27
ny EDWARD HEATING
Congressman from the Third Colo
rndo Distr1ct.)

Washington, D. Con Monday,
December 6, the first session of the
s4th Congress will convene. The
nemocrats will have a comfortable
majority in both branches, and a
Democratic President in the White
House will further emphasize the
party's dominance in national af-
fairs.
II would be difficult to exagger-
ate the Importance of the questions
which will come before the approach
ing session for consideration and de-
csion. Some of them are the most
momentous presented to the repre-
sentatives of the American people
since secession, and later reconstruc-
tion, distracted our nations coun-
ellis and consecrated hundred bat
tlefields with the best blood of
America.
Through the courtesy of the ed
itor of this paper, and of many 9TH
er papers throughout the state, 1
hope to discuss these questions with
my constituents. During the long
sessions of the Sixty-third Congress
presented to you a weekly report"
on national legislation, I am now re-
suming that work with the expecta-
ton Of prosecuting 1t until the ad-
journment Of Congress next fall.
National Preparedness.
To what extent shall the United
States become a military nation?
1t is easily conceivable that our
answer to that question will deter
mine the destiny Of the republic.
Roughly stated those who a re the
leaders Of thought on this subject
may be divided into three classes:
First, we have those who contend
: that our existing military and naval
establishment is more than ample
for our needs. They point out that
since the Spanish-American war the
appropriations for the war and navy
departments have trebled and that
last year they reached the impos-
ing total of $260.000,000. This was
more than any other coupntry-ex-
cept Great Britain and Germany,
the latter for one year only-had
ever expended for these purposes in
time Of peace.
These gentlemen argue that our
navy is fully the equal of Germany's
or Japan's and that II we use it for
defensive purposes alone 1t is cap
able of overwhelming any force
which either nation might send a.
cross the ocean to attack us. They
feel that we should depend on mines,
submarines and fortifications to de-
lend our coasts and they protest that
dreadnoughts and battle cruisers are
Instruments of offensive warfare
and therefore should be sparingly
constructed by nation seeking
peace
\ They would give independence to
The Ftlipinos and remove the Stars
and Stripes from the Western
saores of the Pacific. thus afford
ing the world assurance that we
nave no ambition for territorial ag-
Erandizement.
they ridicule the contention that
any country could land and success
'uily maintain an army on our
shores.
FINALLY they PROFOUND his query:
the 1ingoes are right in their con-
'ention that the United States is
without a proper army, navy and
'oast defenses. what have our mill
.ary and naval authorities b cen do
ing with the $260.000.0o0 which we
nave been giving them every year?
The Presidents Plan.
seeond-We have those who sup
port President Wilson's program.
most OF thse gentlemen are not
.~fmists. They do not affirm that
'ome nation is preparing to attack
A and they do not contend that we
you'd fall easy victims of such an
assault
ihey hold, however, that half the
.or'a appears to have gone mad and
Aa' you can never tell what will
l.ppen when you are dealing with a
so'' they say, let's provide q