The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-09-08
TAFT ADVOCATES DEFENSE,
FORMER PRESIDENT CALLS FOR
PREPAREDNESS.
Suggested That Tax on Small Incomes
Might Meet New Needs OF Govern

for war today, illustrated it's necessity
and detailed the means to that end
in an address at the Panama-Pacific
exposition delivered at Taft day
exercises.
THE very recent news from Wash
ington." the former president said,
shows that the firm attitude of Pres
ident Wilson In maintaining the rights
OF our non-combatant citizens on
commercial liners of belligerents to
be safe from drowning without warn
ing and an opportunity for rescue has
been ascquiesced in by Germany.
This must and should be the cause
of profound rejoicing by every pa
triotic American and the occasion for
congratulation to the president.
1T must relieve the strain between
the two countries. The shadow of q
serious breach passes.
1T should not. however. lead our
people away from their duty of rea-
sonable preparedness. The incident,
though closed. We hope. except in
demnity Of the lives Of those already
drowned, shows how near, as neutrals,
we are to the war. We must be care
full TO insist on our rights and we
ought to be reasonably prepared to
defend against their invasion by any
belligerent powers"
Mr.. Taft made a plea for the ex-
clusion Of politics from the question
OF preparedness and for the employ
ment Of expert advice. In summing
up of what he regarded necessary
preparations, he said:
First. an increase Of our navy ton
mage as rapidly as possible by 80 per
lcent. and an immediate increase of
the personnel Of the navy by nearly
10000 sailors and 900 officers.
Second. an increase in ammunition
for our great coast defense guns, the
making Of a few 16-inch guns and the
lcompletion of the defenses of Chesa-
peake bay at Cape Henry. In addition,
an increase Of 10000 trained coast ar
tillerymen and 600 officers to man
the coast defenses properly.
Third. an increase in our regular
mobile army Of $4,000 troops and a
quadrupling Of the supply of educated
military officers. We should also
adopt a reduced term of enlistment,
with inducements to the formation of
a reserve Of trained men,"
Mr.. Taft pointed out, however, that
the treasury Of the United States is
not in condition to warrant such ex-
penditures.
THE programme I have proposed"
he said. modest as 1t is, will certain
ly increase the annual total of the
army and navy appro opriations by per-
haps s15O.OOO.OOO for each of three
years. and probably more.
This leaves 1926, 200, 900 at least
OF necessary income to be provided
FOR by new legislation by congress
over and above what the existing law
probably would produce. This could
be partly made up by the renewal of
the war tax and Of the sugar tax.
yielding, say. $4,000, 900. There
would be left from $3.50, 900, 900 to
s20O.O00.000 Of a deficit still to be
provided for either by cutting down
expenses or by additional taxation"
Mt. Taft suggested expenses could
be cut down by giving authority and
responsibility to one body of men to
consider the whole field of govern
ment income and expenditure.
"A large sum. he said would, under
any circumstances, have to be raised
by taxation. AS Republican, he
said. he believed that a change of
policy of higher protective tariff would
serve most satisfactorily, but that he
would not urge 1t because:
Il am trying to make practical sug-
e''' hOl a speech,
and l am looking to what may rea-
sonably be demanded Of a patriotic
Democratic congress in view Of the
present imperative need Of increasing
our national income and their anti
protection views.
The imposition Of a small tax on
small incomes asks a sacrifice from
our patriotic citizens which they will
be willing to make II our politicians
have the courage to impose it and
explain the imperative necessity.
The payment of a tax, however
smaii, makes man ~ better citizen.
To assume that the plain people are
unwilling to pay increased taxes In
case of national need Is to distrust
hn nd