Evening journal., 1915-08-18
DEMOCRATS Am NATIONAL prFENCr.


T is noted here that in all the talk about the
tionsl defence which is expected at the next
sion OF Congress, there is nothingo the Pres
ident definitely with anything that is under discus
sion He is said TO have written letter to Mr.. Gar
rison and to MIR Daniels calling for a, programme to
be submitted to Congress But the text Of the letter
has pot been published has there single
statement purporting be authoritative upon which
to assert that the President has really changed his
opinion since he told Congress, last December. that
"the country has been misinformed' and that I'VE
have not been negligent of national defence"
Mr. Garrison then urging Congress TO act, and
SO the General Board of the navy But the Pres-
dent then sided with Mr. Daniels and with the cheese
parers in Congress-and nothing done. With
whom will he finally side now? There is no unsn-
nifty among Democrats the subject Of national de-
fence Mr. Hay and Mr.. Kitchin already made
their views known, the latter opposing army Of
10000 And Mr. Underwood, when his turn
comes speak, will doubtless. usual be looking to
the revenue end Of the problem
For It will take money, much money 10 carry out
any adequate scheme Of military preparedness; and
Mr. Underwoods tariff BILL and his income tax and
his incorporation tax and his war taxes" all com
bned, are not producing money enough to pay the
running expenses of the now-to say moth
ing Of an enlarged expenditure for the army and navy
The money which the last Congress might have used
for the defence was in fact used for foolish and un-
necessary expansion Of the governments salary list
for the creation and maintenance Of expensive COM
missions, with thousands of unetonares and for Jun
ketng trips of all kinds. That money is now gone
money has been found to replace IT, and If ma
onal defence is to be undertaken it means more taxes
or the issue of bonds No Democrat yet been found
suggesting in other directions order to Sc
cure money for defence legislation Certainly the Pres
dent has suggested nothing OF the kind and many
people think that the President has made to no
body definite suggestion of any character on this i'm
portant subject In fact it is fair to inquire-and
many people are inquiring-are We to witness some
more "watchful waiting?"
For other there is scant hope that the next
Congress will do much for the national defence. Hay.
Of Virginia will remain at the head of the House
mittee military affairs. In the last Congress It was
Hay who introduced the bill TO cut down the regular
cavalry one-hird, proposal happily defeated; his
committee refused a greatly needed increase of field
artillery and ammunition, which however. as a result
of the Vera Cruz enterprise the Senate insisted upon
he had part in the defeat OF resolution to permit
the President 10 increase the mobile army to war
strength, small Increase supported by sound
OF military efficiency and true economy; and now wo
find Mr.. Hay laying the foundation for extension
his obstuctionis record by assuring the public
the European powers will be exhausted by the pres
ent that they viii be unable attack the strong
est nation earth,