Evening journal., 1915-04-10
Congressman Miller Speaks
on Necessity for an
Adequate National
Defense
PLEASING PROGRAM
OF STORY AND SONG


cluding Congressman Thomas W. Mil
Ter and many members of local patri-
otic societies took part. 1t was an
imressiye sight to see the veterans
of the great struggle between tho
North and the South, who rejoiccd
when General Lee surrendered TO
General Grant fifty years ago. which
event marked the close of the war,
permitting the survivors TO return TO
their homes and occupations and take
up lifes routine once more. Tho REM
iniscenses of many battles. and ospe-
cially at AppomattOX at the time of the
surrender were listened to with much
interest by the veterans. as well as
their guests Col Harlan Cause who
was member of General Gwynn's
staff, read the letter of the terms of
surrender submitted by General Grant
to General Lee, and accepted finally,
by that Confederate commander-in-
chief.
Captain Richard Buckingham, the
chairman, introducing Congressman Mil
Ter, said that in 1861 the country haG
called upon young men to come TO its
aid and remarked that last fall the pco-
pie of Delaware had likewise called upon
young man to represent the State in
Congress
In opening. Mr.. Miller said that when
he was called upon by the committee and
invited to attend and make few re-
marks ne had very gladly accepted the
privilege of being present. but had cX-
pressed the desire to be excused from
speaking To Veterans who knew more
about the Civil War than anyone else.
Mr.. Miller said: "The lesson of Apo
mattoN is probably not appreciated by
the present generation. After four years
of civil war. the bloodiest that this ma
tion has ever engaged in, onc-half of our
country was impoverished and devas-
tated. the other half, although vctors.
had spent billions of dollars and sacri.
feed thousands of lives
IF the National government had
been prepared TO handle the situa-
tion that finally developed into the
Civil War there would have been no
war in the sense that we considered
II in referring to the great conflict
which commenced I'm 1861 When
n President Lincoln issued his first call
for troops he only asked for $4,000
u men for three months service. If the
United States had possessed an army
4 commensurate in a slight degree with
a the wealth and importance of the ma
tion at that time the North would
81 have been able to quash the rebellion
at the start and thereby. save the
n country from the four years of horror
N that followed.
"The question of national defense is
"a TO the fore at the present time and
u fifty years after .he close of the great
conflict we are in many ways less
a prepared for war than We were in
81 1861. ! am not war propaganda;
81 neither am ! an advocate of peace at
any cost A business man always sets
aside a certain sum. for insurance.
81 and the same principle should hold
for a nation in providing protection
In case Of war When the public is
aroused it usually obtains what il de-
sires and the question of national de-
fense is one upon which | think the
public should become aroused today.
You will note that ! have not advo-
81 Gated in my foregoing remarks an
increase in our expenditures upon the
army and navy. because it is my opin-
ion, after studying the matter con-
siderably. that IT would be best for
8 US TO learn how to spend the money
that is annually appropriated in the
most judicious and profitable manner
IS AT the present time our army con-
81 tains I'm round numbers about 10000
within the boundaries of the conti-
rental United States OF course It is
necessary to garrison posts in Alaska
as we'll as the Canal Zone, Hawaii, the
Philippines and our smaller island
possessions, but il Is the manner in
l which the regulars remaining in the
States arc handled that is open tc
criticism. Those in the United States
are scattered throughout fifty army
posts, a survival of the days when il
M was necessary to have a number o.
posts throughout the West in order
20 handle the Indian trouble. There
az Is not one post in the country thai
81 can take care of brigade or thre'
regiments, and very seldom do on
officers ever have an opportunity &c
handle large bodies of men even "
maneuvers. When attempts have beer
made to do away with this small pos
|5 system thereby saving money ans
IA bringing about efficiency. opposition
has come from members of Congress
or Senators who desire TO keep thcs'
small posts where they are, gcner
X ally because considerable trade dc
& vclops IN the localities where thesl
posts are situated. The people Il
W this country should at least be mad
familiar with these-conditions becaus
if they we're rectifed the efficiency o
H. our army would be increased ant
thereby bringing about better militar'
protection without eXpending addi
tional funds.
"lhe same may be said of the nav
yards in the country, of which over la
are useless when it comes to haudlin
the big ships that now make up OF
navy. Millions of dollars are eXpendt
annually ON obsolete navy yards becau'
z the members of Congress or the senator
W in whose districts the yards arc situate
arc able TO command sufficient strengt
90 vote down legislation that wou
change the system
81 have dealt with the subject of M
tional defense from this standpoint, f,
although | am firm believer in an adj
quate army and navy, ! think. our pre-
Ont system of military and naval eXpel
diturcs should be thoroughly revised b
fore we talk of increasing these annu
expenditures. | have chosen this meal
of bringing the matter TO your atte
tion because if there are any people wi
should appreciate it, it is you men vi
fought through The great war of the T
bcllion.
Sergeant Major r. G. Buckingham
was POSTMASTER. Messages of regr,
were read from Governor Miller. Sens
ior DUPONT and Senator Saulsbur,