Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-09-13

to leave nm NnndmpereQ III IepI eSellt.
ing the government in the delicate ne
"otiations which are being carried on
and which may from time to time de-
yelop. The country in this respect is
in state Of watchful. patient, SYM
pathetic and hopeful waiting. The
Constitution and practices put the re-
sp"nsijility in such emergencies on the
President
ITO sustain him means that suhstan-
TALLY every one, recognizing that re-
sponsihility and not wishing to embar-
rass him IN any way. is withholding
. and should withhold criticism and even
critical comment. If he succeeds in the
diplomatic coEtrntiuns which he is
making or may make. then the whole
country will rejoice. the credit for the
action viii he his, and no Republican
hus any desire To withhold ii from him;
hit silence now does not necessarily
mean approval and. when the war is
over or when the particular cOnten-
tions have arisen have been adjusted,
tho Presidents action will be passed
on and his success or failure be an ell
emont in determining whether or not
the Democratic party will be sustained
in the elections which ale to follow.
Time Of Reckoning
'Whcn that time comes there will be
discussed moi only his diplomatic con-
tentiors with Europe but those with
Mexico with Santa Domingo. with
Hayti, the looting Of the diplomatic
service al the beginning Of this adj
ministration by the dismissal of train
ed ministers who had grown up in the
service. the killing of American citi
zenS in Mexico on American soil, the
repeated cutrages which have been
committed in that unhappy country,
and the destruction of vast quantities
Of American property.
Il note in the discussion in which
Senator Lodge and the secretary Of
the navy have been engaged that both
agree that the question of our military
establishment should not be one af-
fected by partisan politics. | am entire
/ ly in sympathy with that view and
yet. the fact Island responsibility for
neglect should be placed where il be-
longS--that the Democratic party as an
organization has been, in the past de-
cade, either opposed to or only mega
lively in favor of any military and
naval developments.
This is particularly true in recent years.
Almost invariably, when there has been a
test vote on an increase of battleships,
for example. when the Republicans have
been in control of Congress, or any other
change which would strengthen the mil
itary establishment, great Majority OF
this has been true in many cases when
they themselves have been in control of
Congress; so that even when they have
had the power to do so they have not
made any material increases in or
STRENGTHENING of our military defences.
ITO illustrate the correctness of this
statement. it is only necessary to refer
to the record votes on providing battle
ships, taken from the Congressional Rec
ord For the 80 years between 1883 and
1913 there were 10 Republican and five
Democratic Congresses. During the five
Democratic Congresses there were au-
thorized $4,000 tons of new ships, or 14,4oo
tons annually. During the 10 Republican
Congresses there were authorized 1,oS6 900
tons of new ships, or 5o39o tons year:
that is to say, the Republicans authoriz-
ed substantially four times as much tom
mage annually as did the Democrats.
ITO give more definitely the correct
ness of this statement, l refer to votes
of record which have Aen made in re-
cent Congresses. In the second session
Of the 61st Congress the senior minor
ity member of the House naval commit
tee. Mr.. Padgett, now the chairman o,
the naval committee. moved to recon-
nit the naval appropriation bill with in
structions to strike out two and insert
one battleship and this motion was sun
ported by g Democrats. a very consider
able majority of those who voted In the
third session of the same Congress Mr..
Fadgett made similar motion and 81
Democrats voted yes"
Where Roberts Lost
In the second session Of the ed Con.