Bismarck daily tribune., 1915-09-03
TAT URGES
PREPAREDNESS
IN ADDRESS
Upholds President Wilson in Re-
cent Controversy With
Germany
POINTS OUT WEAK
SPOTS IN DEFENsEs
Details Plan for Increasing Army
and Navy Appropriations
for Years

for Years
San francisco, Cal, Sept 2.The
acquiescence of Germany to the Unit
ed States contention for the rights Of
non-combatant citizens on commercial
liners of bel.igerents Should be the
cause of profound rejoicing by every
patriotic American and the occasion
for congratulation to the President =
said William Howard Taft, former
president OF the United States in an
address today at the Taft Day cele'
bration at the anama-Pacific exposi-
tiOr.
''The very recent news from Wash.
ington," the former president said,
''shows that the firm attitude Of Pres
ident Wilson in maintaining the rights
of non-combant citizens on CONNER
cial liners of belligerents TO be safe
from drowning without warning and
an opportunity for rescue has been
acouiesced in by Germany.
'This must and should be the cause
of profound rejoicing by every patriot
ic American and the occasion for con-
graduation to the President.
1T must relieve the strain between
the two countries. The shadow of a
serious breach passes. y,
Should Rejoice.
ut should not however, lead our
people away from their duty of reas-
enable preparation The incident,
though closed as we all hope, shows
how near, as neutrals we are to the
war. 1t shows that we must be care
full to insist upon our rights as such
as that we ought to be reasonably pre-
pared to defend against their unjust
invasion by any belligerent."
After outlining the naval and mill
tary preparations which he considered
necessary for this country to make,
Mr.. Taft estimated what the prepara-
tions would cost, indicated how the
money might be raised and made a
plea for the exclusion Of politics from
the question of preparedness and for
the employment of expert advice.
In summing up what he regarded as
necessary preparations, 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
10000 sailors and 900 officers.
Second, an increase in ammunition
for our great coast defense guns, the
making of few 16-inch guns and the
completion of the defense OF Chesa-
pcake at Cape Henry. In addition an
increase of 10000 trained coast artil
lerymen and 800 officers to man the
coast defenses properly.
Third, an increase in our regular
mobile army of $4,000 troops and a
quadrupling os the supply of educated
military officers. We should also
adopt a reduced term of enlistment
with induccment to the formation OF a
reserve of trained men,"
Need More Money.
He pointed out. however, that the
treasury of the United States is not
in condition to warrant such expen-
Gitures.
"The program ! have proposed he
said, modest as it is, will certainly
increase the annual total of the army
and navy appropriations by perhaps
S15O,GO0,000 for each Of three years
and probably more.
"This leaves $325, 100000 at least of
necessary income 10 be provided for
by new legislation Of Congress over
and above what existing law would
probably produce. This could be part
ly made up by the renewal of the war
tax and of the sugar tax, yielding say
s125,O00,0OO There would be left
from $150,O0O 900 to $2O0,000,0O0 of a
deficit still to be provided for either
by cutting down expenses or by addi-
tional taxation"
Mr.. Taft suggested that expenses
could be cut down by giving authority
and responsibility to one body of men
to consider the whole field of govern
ment income and expenditure.
Need Of Tariff.
A large sum, he said, would under
any circumstance; have to be raised
by taxation. AS a Republican, he
said, he believed that change Of
policy to a higher protective tariff
would serve most satisfactorily but
that he would rot urge it because:
81 am trying to make practical sug'
gestions and not partisan speech
and l am looking to what may reason
ably be demanded of patriotic Dem
ocratic Congress in view of the pres
ent imperative need of increasing our
national income and their anti-protec-
tion views.
"The imposition of a small tax on
small incomes asks sacrifice from
our ptariotic citizens that they will be
willing to make if our politicians have
the courage to impose it and explain
the imperative necessity.
Must Exclude Politics.
s'The payment of tax, however
small, makes man better citizen.
1o; rn