Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1915-09-09
1900 sa-zEs9s - . III l5fE[ld
REPUBLICAN CRY WILL FOOL FEW
People Not To Be Beguiled By Much
Touted Issue of National Defense.

Touted Issue of National Defense.
Washington letter of H. 3. C. Bry-
ant, in Charlotte Obseryer.)
The Republicans are trying to make
an issue of National defense. They
say that we are unprepared for war.
Colonel Roosevelt would have univer-
sal military service The Army League
would force enlistment Everybody
has plan.
The Democrat Administration is
charged with failure to provide a
great army and a great navy. The
Republican, led by Mr.. Roosevelt and
Representative Gardner, both leaders
in their respective, ways, would blame
the President for all the shortcomings
of the Army and Navy.
The cry of these men will not fool
the people, for it will be remembered
that the Republicans ran the Wash
ington government for 16 years with
out let-up and the Democrats have
not had time to map out a program
of their own for the Army and Navy.
| President Wilson is going to carry out
the provisions of the Baltimore plat.
form. The demand for better prepar-
| edness naturally springs from the re-
suits of the European war.
1t is one thing to talk of large
standing army, and great navy and
another to provide funds and men for
them Thousands of the ancestors Of
men now living in the United States
ran away from compulsory enlistment
and heavy taxes levied to provide
great armies and navies in the old
countries. 1t requires large sums of
money and thousands Of men to build
| big armies and navies. There are
army and navy recruiting stations in
almost every community of the United
| State, and Uncle Sam begs with en-
ticing advertisements for recruits, but
Americans do not enlist with muci;
enthusiasm. Congress is slow to pro-
vide big appropriations for the Army
and Navy. There is a reason for that;
the constituent back home is respon-
sible, and he has not yet seen tHe
need of great standing army.
If the plans of the Roosevelts, Card
ners and Hobsons are carried out the
taxes will be largely increased, and
compulsory enlistment must follow.
No man in Congress could face his
constituents if he voted for measure
to force them to join the military or
CARNATIONS of the United States and
serve term.
The Republicans may succeed in
creating some excitement over the
lack of preparation for National de-
tense, but they cannot fix the blame
on the Democrats. Their Is years
control of Congress, just before Presi-
dent Wilson came in, carries a printed
permanent record. They did appor-
pirate large sums Of money, which
-.
hotter heads describe as Junk" now
The Republicans bought the Junk,
If such It is. ~<-+'
The allegations that SECRETARY DAN
iels is letting the Navy deteriorate is
tommyrot Mr.. Daniels has followed
the program Of the Republicans which
was mapped out in advance, and is
now preparing one for the Democrats.
He is democratic sort of man and
has offended the highbrows of the
Army and Navy social set in Wash
ington by doing some unconventional
things, but that is all that can be said
against him. Most of the criticism
heaped on him is unfair. He is about
the most democratic Secretary of the
Navy that has been here for % years.
Anybody who has a complaint or a
suggestion can see him. He is not
locked in from the public as Repub-
licans in the position he fills were
during their services there. He has
a public telephone in his home, and
never fails to answer it If he is want
ed. One of the real kicks against him
is that he does not convert himself into
snob.
Having no other Issue the Republic
cans now turn to National defense.