Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-30
Preparedness and Pork

ONE reason for this country military I'M
~ preparedness is known to every reader
OF the newspapers. 1t is the manner in which
the army and navy appropriations have been
suuandered on useless army posts and naval
stations established in various sections OF
the country in response to political pressure.
Millions OF dollars have been spent in this
fashion, without increasing in any degree
whatever the nations capacity to resist in
vaSiOn.
OF the worse than useless army posts, those
at Helena. Mont; Cheyenne Wyo., and Dcs
Moincs. la. are capital illustrations OF the
national! weakness as well OF the national
folly. The Montana and Wyoming establish
mcnts are tributes to tho political influence
of Senators Carter and Warren. successfully
chairmon OF the Senate Committee on Mill
tary Affairs. while the Dcs Moines post owes
its existence to Representative Hull. who
headed tor many years the Military Affairs
Committee OF the House.
The same thing is true OF the navy. The
Port smouth Navy-Nard in lis present clab-
crate development stands to they credit of
Senator Gallngcr. OF New Hampshire. aud
senator Hale. OF Maine: the League Island
Navy-Iard to that of Senator Penrosc. OF
Pennsylvania and the Charleston yard To that
OF Senator rillman. Of South Carolina 80
one of these is capable OF receiving d capital
ship OF the new navy. Meantime. the navy
yards ut Norfolk and Brooklyn. which the ey-
perts of the department have approved and
sought to enlarge have had their usefulness
hampered by Il combination OF jealousy and
inadequate appropriations.
as Il writer in one OF the current magazines
points out. the army posts for the most part
are not only useless. but positively harmful.
Negatively. the policy OF maintaining these
so-callcd forts" divides the army into small
attachments. scattered all over the country.
ana provides no opportunity to officers to
handle large bodies OF mon. Positively the
work necessarily involved i'll keeping these
parks in good condition transforms The sol
der into day laborer. and TO that extent
keeps him from learning Il soldiers duties
In the Northwestern posts outdoor training
is impossible for large part OF the year.
In the last ton years army has cost
over a billion dollars. We are planning to
spend yet more largely. and public sentiment
approves the expenditure, hut if the country
Is capable 81 learning the lessons OF cXperi-
ence, il vii! insist on changed policy. The
army and navy not maintained-or at
least ought not TO he NATURALIZATION the
purpose Of supplying one influential Senator
or REPRESENTATIVE with a navy-yard and an
Other with an army post. they ought not
to lie the sport Of politics-uscful principally
to that type oi Congressman whose chief
activity is feeding his constituents with pork
Either we need larger army and navy or
we do not. In the latter case any increased
expenditure is Il crime, and in the former il
Is equally crime 10 waste the money the
patriotism of the people insists shall be
provided.
We look to President Wilson to make a
change. lie has performed many disin-
guishcd public services since he has occupied
the White House, but if he could smash the
head OF the pork barrel and trundlc that uii-
savory receptacle into the Potomac River he
would havc'a new and great claim on the
countrys gratitude.
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Woonsockc is the latest oi Rhode Island
cities 10 take up the question Of onc-way
streets Providence, Il. l., journal. There
is one thing about such question in any
town in the fine old State: the way can't be
long.