Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-09-13

{ d
erts of Massachusetts, moved to increase
the naval establishments by building an
additional first-class battleship. This
motion was lost by a vote OF 106 to IN.
and Of the negative votes 137 were cast
/ by Democrats. The Senate adopted
! similar motion. and on that motion to
concur. made in the House. there were
/ $50 negative votes, II which l4j were cast
by Democrats.
! In the third session of the Sad
Congress. on a motion made in the
House 20 strike aNt two battleships
and insert one thaa vote being IA to
1856, of the ia yeas LAG votes were
cast by Democrats. and it should be
noted that the Democrats We're in con-
troll of that House. The Senate later
inserted two battleships in the bill.
and on a motion TO concur. made in
the House, of 16S negative votes, the
motion being lost, 146 We're cast by
| Democrats.
In the second session of The 63rd
Congress a motion was made by a
Democrat to strike out two and insert
one battleship the: vote being los
yeas to ZOE 'nay4 of the 1os yeas
96 were cast by Democrats. This
House was then controlled by that
party.
In the third session of the 63rd
Congress a similar motion was made.
the vote being 149 to 1865 and of the
149 yeas 1856 were cast by Democrats.
In this Congress both the House and
Senate were DEMOCRATIC.
"On March g. 1918. on a test, on a
test vote relating to battleships, IS
Democratic members Of the House
voted against the construction OF any
battleships that year.
Administration "Wobbes."
Therefore, 1t may be fairly con-
tended that such preparation as we
have made has been very LARGELY
against the opposition of the Demo
cratic party. This administration has
wobbled and has been as inconsistent
on this subject as it has on almost
every other important one, which
might affect its political fortunes, with
; which it has had to deal.
: when the contention was made dur
ing the session of Congress last winter
that we should consider a military re-
serve ana similar NldttclS, dl Niih0
when it would have been wise to nave
given such important questions active
consideration. this was not done, but by
the insistence of the administration the
time Of Congress was wasted in discuss
ing the shipping bill, which substantially
no one wanted passed. During that time
the President is quoted as having sald
on the question Of preparedness that 1t
was an academic question ana might De
discussed as such Later, he told the
people Of Phiiadelpha-the people of the
whole country, in fact-that we were
TOO proud to fight. Now We are told
that the administrator is considering an
i, appropriation of sSeonoo 900 for prepar-
edness. If it is an apdemic question and
if we are too proud TO fight, why waste
any money on preparation?
The secretary of the navy. who is one
of the war officers of the administration.
has very largely devoted his energies IN
> his naval policy 10 such matters as the
: instruction of seamen in the English
branches. That is simply an illustration
of the activities in which our officers and
, seamen have been engaged, and it is
charged that these courses have been
taken at the expense Of the efficiency.
, the gunnery and morale of the men.
: The New Naval Board
The secretary contended early this
summer, in a long discussion of the
matter in a letter written to the presi-
dent of Williams College, that the
navy was absolutely At in every re-
spect III case hostilities were forced
upon US. Within two or three weeks
he has subscribed to the desirability
of further naval development and up
building, presumably representing the
position taken by the administration,
that $500. 900, 900 Of Whereabouts should
be spent for military preparation.
"wednesday Of this week, however
he made speech in Philadelphia in
which he is quoted as saying that the
wars of the future would not depend
on men or munitions, but on chemis-
try, presumably urging this view to
justify the appointment Of the board,
headed by Mr.. Edison which has been
given so much publicity.
"Incidently I am glad to say that
while the activities Of such board
cannot possibly do any harm. it is
not, as | understand it. the purpose OF
the members Of this board to devote
their energies to developing munitions
or articles which will be Of value In
warfare but to pass on the PROPOSE
tiops made nv others