The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-08-12
NATIONAL DEFENSE
RATHER INDEFINITE
Especial Correspondence)


WASHINGTON, August SIT Is
Noted here that, in all the talk about
the legislation for national defense
which is expected at the next session
or Congress, there is nothing to con-
meet the President definitely with any
thing that is under discussion He is
said to have written letter to Mr.
Garrison and to Mr.. Daniels calling for
a program to be submitted to Congress-
But the text of the letter has not been
published, nor has there been a single
statement, purporting to be authorita
tive, upon which to assert that the
President has really changed his opin-
ion since he told Congress, last De
eember, that "'the country has been
misinformed and that "we have not
been negligent of national defense. "
Mr.. Garrison was then Urging Con
gIess to act, and so was the general
beard of the navy. But the President
then sided with Mr. Daniels and with
the cheeseparers in Congress-and no.
thing was done. With whom will he
finally side nowl There is no unanim-
ity among the Democrats On the sub
iect of national defense. Mr.. Hay and
Mr.. Kitehin have alredy made their
views known, the latter opposing an
army of even 10000 men. And Mr..
Underwood, when his turn comes TO
speak, will doubtless, as usual, be look
ing to the revenue end of .he problem
For it will take money, much money,
10 carry out any adequate scheme of
military preparedness; and Mr.. Under
wood tariff bill, and his income tax,
and his corporation tax and his "war
taxes all combined are not produc-
ing money enough to pay the running
expenses of the government now--to
say nothing of an enlarged expediture
for the army and navy.
The money which the last Congress
might have used for defense was in
fact used for foolish and unnecessary
expansion of the government s salary
list, for the creation and maintenance
of expensive commissions, with thous
ands of functionaries, and for junket
ing trips of all kinds. That money is
now gone, no new money has been
found to replace it, and if national de-
fense is to be undertaken, it means
more taxes or the issue of bonds. No
Democrat has yet been found suggest
ing economy in other directions in or
der TO secure money for defense legis-
lation. Certainly the President has sug-
gested nothing of the kind, and many
people here think that the resident has
made to nobody a definite suggestion
of any character on this important
subject. In fact, it is fair to inquire
and many people here are inquiring
are we to witness some more "watch-
full waiting"9
For other reasons, there is scant
hope that the next Congress will do
much for the national defens. Hay of
Virginia will remain at the head of the
House committee on military affairs. Ia
the last Congress it was Hay who in
troduced the bill to cut down the regu-
lar cavalry, one-third, proposal hap
PLY defeated; his committee refused
greatly needed increase of field ar
tillery and ammunition, which, how
ever, as a result of the Vera Cruz en-
terprise, the Senate insisted upon; he
had part in the defeat Of resolu-
tion to permit the President to increase
the mobile army to war strength, a
small increase supported by sound rea-
sons of military efficiency and true
economy; and now we fnl Mr.. Hay
LAYING the foundation for an extension
of his obstructionist record by assur-
ing the public that the European pow
ers will be so exhausted by the pres
ent war that they will be unable to at
tack "the strongest nation on earth. -