The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-07-29
DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND Ma
TlONAL DEFENSE.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND Ma
TlONAL DEFENSE.
Mr.. Roosevelt's speech at the Pan
ama-Pacitic exposition-to which N
gave the picturesque title OF 'Daml
the Molly -coddles"-is thorough!
characteristic effort. 1t is marked
by all the bombast, the self-satisfac
ton, the savage partisanshlp and tht
inaccuracy-to use no shorter ant
uglier word-which the public is &C
customed to look for in his addresses
He congratulates himself on hls
own perfect Righteousness, and the
country on having had the priceless
privilege of his guidance and d1rec
ton. He utters some venerable
truths-Well mixed with error, as
usual-concerning China, race sui
eide, The Hague treaties, popular
songs and related topics. But, while
running true to form in style, Mr.
Roosevelt has been less happy than
usual in his subject matter.
His object-plain on the surface
is to make a partisan issue OF the
question of national defense, and to
pillory the democratic party IN
general and the Wilson administra-
ton in particular for having neglect
ed that defense. He intimates that
the United States is almost as unpre-
pared for war as China, and here ne
makes a blunder of the largest di-
mansions.
For if this charge were true, the
blame lies at the door of the repub'
lican party, and especially and par
ticularly at the door of Mr.. Roose-
welt The republicans had absolute
control of the national government
from 1897 to 1913-siXteen very I'M
portant years. For nearly half thai
time-seven and one-half years
Mr.. Roosevelt was in the white
house, preaching to the country anc
bullying congress into doing what
ever he wished. For four years
more, up till two years ago, his
hand-picked successor, Mr.. Taft, was
head of the nation.
If the national defenses are not in
a satisfactory state, the republican
party is responsible for the short
comings, and a good three-fourths OF
that responsibility rests on the
shoulders of Theodore Roosevelt
The mere matter of dates likes tha'
blame beyond any chance OF shifting
Mr.. Roosevelt, as president, per
mitted the army to be Warrenlzed
to be used as a means for getting
government money" distributed IN
the states and districts of republican
congressman and senators. Mr.
Roosevelt, as president, made no pro-
test against having the army scatter,
ed among useless petty posts. Mr.
Roosevelt, as president, did nothing
to give the higher army officers
practice in commanding large bodies
of men.
Mr.. Roosevelt, as president, never
used his tremendous influence to Sc
cure the adoption of the Swiss mill
tia system, concerning which he no"
talks so glibly, nor did he provide
the country with a trained reserve
graduated from the regular army
His interest in the navy was a oil
more practical, but even there 1T was
manifested chiefly in arranging spec
tacular stunts" and signing ap-
preparation bills; and the neglect be.
gun by Roosevelt was continued by
Taft.
ord and see how remarkable the con-
trast.
Grover Cleveland began his first
term March 4, 1885, the first demo
cratic president inaugurated-
though not the first. elected-since
the civil war. He made William G,
Whitney secretary of the navy; and
Whitney proceeded to galvanize that
neglected service into life. He sent
ships to sea to show their worth.
He asked and got new and service
able vessels. He hustled the chair
warmer brigade on shipboard to
take it's share of wind and weather
and learn and pratice its business.
In all this, he was backed up by
Cleveland, and though the improve
ment slackened in the four years OF
Harrison, it went forward again in
Cleveland's second term.
Cleveland and Whitney found the
navy a collection of tubs. They left
it a fighting fleet. They built the
ships that freed Cuba smashed the
Spanish fleet at Manila, and ended
four centuries of colonial history in
twenty minutes down by Santiago.
Nor has the Wilson administration
failed to follow the Cleveland pre-
cedent. 1t has passed the volunteer
bill, which provides for the organiza-
ton of newly enlisted men in time OF
war, enables the military command
ers to plan ahead, and makes i'm
possible the blunders and confusion
which have marked the beginning of
every previous struggle in which this
country has been engaged.
But it is with the navy that the
Wilson administration has done
most. Perhaps a table contrasting
the first two years of Wilson with
the last two years of Taft will make
the matter clear.
u. Money snent on CONSTRUCTION, last