Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-05-13
Especial correspsndence.l

whether the administration sanctioned
preparation or discouraged it.
Impetus to Legislation.
But even if there is not an extra
session and congress meets in the reg
ular routine Of its affairs on the first
Monday Of next December, unless the
international sky is much less over
cast than it has been lately, the sup
port in both houses for legislation
which will make the military and
naval systems Of the country more
effective will be powerful. It is too
early to tell whether the administra-
ton will lend itself to the support of
such legislation. Undoubtedly it will
not If the counsels of some of the
members Of the administration are fol-
lowed. Secretary Bryan is well known
to be opposed to preparedness and
there is no indication thus far that he
will change his attitude.
But there will be, on the other hand,
many powerful democrats in both
houses who will take the position that
the United States can not afford long
err to neglect such military and naval
measures as will insure its capacity to
defend itself against any nation likely
to attack it. Senator Chamberlain,
chairman Of the senate military affairs
committee. is on record in favor Of the
development Of military. system OF
much broader scope than the present
one, comprehending some adequate
plan for the development of a power
full reserve body Of men trained for
war who, tho in civil life, viii be
available for service II needed.
Military Expansion. az
The war department is now at work
for the purpose Of evolving general
bill to strengthen and expand the
military system. Circumstances will
have great deal to do with the back
ing this bill gets in house and SEN
ate but the indications are that it
will draw many votes from both demo-
Gratis and republicans.
At the instance of Secretary Garri-
son, the war college experts are to pre-
pare a report on the Swiss and Aus.
tralian systems Of training young men
for military service. The story Of how
Switzerland, at comparatively little
expense, has put itself In q situation
where II need be it can throw half a
million well-trained men into the field
on short notice and yet has negligt-
BILE standing army is well known. II
the war department should recon-
mend some modified form Of the Swiss
system for this country, there is no
doubt It would command the serious
notice of congress. In proportion as
some system is advocated which will
not mean a large standing army but
will give military training without
Withdrawing young men long from
civil life, 1t is likely to find congress
willing to consider it. A great deal will
depend on the international conditions,
as hitherto indicated, whether legisla-
ton can be had radically overhauling
the military system and materially
strengthening the navy.
Find Much Argument.
Supporters of greater preparedness
have not been slow to make use Of
such things as the Gulfiight incident,
the Lusitania case. and the helpless
condition in which China has Just
found herself before the aggressive de-
mands Of Japan to emphasize that the
United States can not afford to con-
tinue its present policy.
Indeed. some expressions are heard
from the advocates Of preparedness to
the effect that the Lusitania disaster,
much as It is to be lamented, may
prove to be the very thing that will
cause this country to take new meas
ures for defense on a broad scale and
thus, from their standpoint, will prove
to have It's beneficial side.
Other Factions Active.
The effects Of these happenings. It
seems now inevitable, wiz seen in
q number Of directions in the regular
session. OF course, II congress meets
prior to the regular session. the effects
will be accentuated.
Opponents Of the shipment Of arms
and munitions Of war to belligerents
are planning to be extremely active.
The effort to clothe the president with
power to shut on such shipments viii
proceed in part from the elements op-
posed to the allies and friendly 70 Ger
many and in part from those who
would give tho president this power in
order to enable him to use It as a
club to force the allies to remove their
restrictions from neutral shipping.
Senator Hoke Smith has spoken out
for resolution to give the president
power to shut OF war munitions from
the allies in order that concessions
for shipments Of cotton might be COM
PEELED. An element in Congress holds
that the president should be given
power to embargo war munitions for
the protection of the United Stntes
and not with the idea Of using the
power In retaliatoryt fashion.
II the present policies Of, the Euro
pean war, 30 far as neutrals are con-
+cerned. are4rigidly carried out, the
revival Of effort to provide for . gov
eminent owned merchant marine will
be marked. Senator Cummins and
Eoverman. are already quoted TO the
eReet that they expect u the present