The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-03
TAFT IS PLEASED
Former President OngratulateS
Wilson on German Triumph.
Safety of Americans on Seas Is
Now Assured.
TAFT DAY AT FRISCO FAIR
Former Chief Executive Makes
Plea for, National Defense.
Plan to Increase Army and
Navy Is Outlined.
TAFT DAY At FRISCO FAIR


San Francisco. Cal, Sept. 3-"The
acquiescence of Germany to the
/ United States contention for the rights
of non-combatant citizens COM
mercial liners of belligerents should
be the cause of profound rejoicing by
casion for congratulation to the presi-
dent" said w. H. Taft, former presi
dent of the United States in an ad-
dress at the Taft day celebration at
the Panama-Pac exposition.
The very recent news from Wash
ington,' the former president said,
| shows that the firm attitude of Pres
:dent Wilson in maintaining the
rights of our non-combatant citizens
on commercial liners of belligerents
to be safe from drowning without
warning and an opportunity for res
cue has been acquiesced in by Ger
many
This must and should be the cause
of profound rejoicing by every patri-
congratulation to the president.
1T must relieve the strain between
the two countries. The shadow of a
serious breach passes.
Warming to Nation.
1T should not, however, lead our
people away from their duty of rea-
sonable preparation. The incident,
though closed, as we all hope, except
as to indemnity for the lives of those
already drowned, shows how near, as
/ w
that we must be careful to insist upon
our rights as such and that we ought
to be reasonably prepared to defend
ourselves against invasion by any bel
ligerent powers
After quilting the naval and military
preparations which he considers nee
essary for this country to make, Mr..
Taft estimated what the preparations
would cost, indicated how the money
might be raised and made plea for
the exclusion of politics from the ques-
ton of preparedness and for the en-
ployment of expert advice. In sum-
ming up what he regarded as neces-
sary, he said:
First an increase of our navy ton
mage as rapidly as possible by thirty
per cent and an immediate increase of
the personnel of the navy by nearly
20. 900 sailors and 900 officers.
Second, an increase il ammunition
for our great coast defense guns, the
making of a few sixteen inch guns
and the completion of the defense of
Chesapeake Bay at Cape Henry. In
addition an increase of 10000 trained
coast artllerymen and 500 officers to
man the coast efense properly.
Shorter EnIistments.
Third, an increase in our mobile
army of $4,000 troops and a quad
rupling of the supply of educated mil
itary officers, we should also add a re-
duced term of enlistment with induce
ment to the formation of reserve of
trained men,"
He pointed out, however that the
treasury of the United States is not in
lures.
The program have PROPOSED he
said, modest as it is, will certainly
increase the annual total of the army
and navy appropriation from $780,
100000 for each of three years and
probably more.
This leaves s325,OO0,O0O at least Of
necessary. income to be provided for
by new legislation of congress over
and above what taxations would prob
ably produce This could be hardly
made up by the renewal of the war
tax and of the sugar tax, yielding an
left from $3.50, 100000 to $2OO,OOO,OOO
of a deficit still to be provided for
and by cutting down expenses or by
additional taxation
Must Levy Taxes.
Mr.. Taft suggested that expenses
ity and responsibility to one body of
men to consider the whole field of
government income and expenditure.
A large sum, he said, would under any
circumstances have to be raised by
taxation. AS a Republican, he said,
he believed that a change of policy to
a higher protective tariff would serve
most satisfactorily, but that he would
not urge it because:
Il am trying to make protective
suggestions and not plea of parti-
sanship and 1 am looking to what may
reasonably be demanded of a patriotic
Democratic congress in view of the
present imperative need of our nation
al income and their anti-protection
views:
The imposition of a small tax on
small incomes asks a sacrifice from
our patriotic citizens that they will be
able to make if our politicians have
the courage to impose it and explain
the imperative necessity;
People Will Help.
THE payment of a tax, however
small, makes a man a better citizen.
To assume that the plain people are
unwilling to pay increas ed taxes in
case of national need is to distrust
them and to ascribe to them the lowest
motive fer political action.
Let US exclude politics from the
question of preparedness. Let us ac-
cept the cost. Let US ir sjst that con-
gress and the adminiStra ton manifest
the courage to incur the odium of I'M
thinking and unpatriotic men who
would resent contributing to such a
cause. Let us insist that the con-
gress and the administration shall de-
fer to the judgment of real expert
naval and army officers and boards
as to how we should prepare and shall
not allow the dangerous little knowl-
edge of committee chairmen and civil
liam politicians, ignorant of our needs.
to obstruct the work of proper ma