Gilpin observer., 1915-11-25
BY Edward Heating

vene. The Democrats will have a
e comfortable majority in both branch
es, and Democratic president in the
White House will further emphasize
the party's dominance in national af
fairs.
1t would be difficult to exaggerate
the importance of the questions
which will come before the approach
ing session for consideration and
decision. Some CT them are the most
momentous presented to tie repres
entatives of the American people
since secession, and later reconstruc-
tion, detracted cur nation's councils
and consecrated a hundred battle
fields with TIE best blood of Ameri-
ca.
Through the courtesy of the editor
OF this paper, and of many other pa
pers Throughout the state, l hope to
discuss tEese questions with my con-
stituents. Iurirg the long sessions
of tie 63rd congress | presented to
you a weekly report" on national
Legislation, l am new resuming that
work with the expectation of prose-
cutting it until tie adjournment of
congress next fall
National Prepare dness.
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 are the
leaders CT 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 h-American war the
appropriations fer the war and navy
departments have trebled and that
last year they reached the imposing
total Of $3.50 ,OO0,0 900. This was more
than any other country-except Great
Britain and Germany, tie 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 If we use it for
defensive. purposes alone 1t is cap
able of overwhelming any force which
either nation might send across the
ocean to attack us. They feel that
We should depend on mines. submar
ines and fortifications to defend our
ha
naughts and battle cruisers are in
struments of offensive warfare and
therefore should be sparingly con-
structed by nation seeking peace.
They would give independence to
the Filipinos and remove the Stars
and Stripes from the western shores
os the Pacific. thus affording the
world assurance that We have no am
bition fer territorial aggrandizement
They ridicule the contention that
any country could land and success
full maintain an army on cur shores.
Finally they PROFOUND this query:
If the jingoes are right in their con-
tention that the United States is
without a proper army. navy and
coast defenses, what have our mill
tary and naval authorities been do
ing with the $3.50 900 900 which we
have been giving them every year?
The Presidents Plan.
Second We have those who sup
port President Wilson's program.
Most of these gentlemen are not
alarmists. They do not affirm hat
some nation is preparing to attack
us and they do not contend that we
would fall easy victims of such an
assault
They hold. however, that half the
world appears to have gone mad and
that you can never tell what will hap
pen when you are dealing with a
lunatic.
so" they say, "let's provide a
navy which will quickly dispose of
any enemy who may approach our
country, and. as an additional safe
guard against misfortune, organize a
military establishment which would
enable us to put half a million men
at any exposed point in few days"
The presidents plan is confessed
ly n compromise, but those who ia
vor it believe 1t is sane compromise
They hold that it will not afflict us
with the evils of milltarism. but will
give us all the essentials of prepar-
edness.
This scheme will cost $3.50 900, 900
year.
Jingoes Gone Mad.
Third-We have the jingoes. who
are going up and down the land CIV
ing utterance to the most fantastic
faleehOnfs and clamOrinE for a stand