The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-05
Uses Ridiculc in Describing
Continental Army. Saying it
10 a Roosevelt OH-Shoot
WANTS NO ARMY In
TIME OF PEACE
Says We Now Have Second
Strongest Navy in the World
and Its Only Use Is to Waste
Powder in Practice

Washington, Jan. 4.-The opening
gun OF the Democratic opposition no
the administration defense program
was fred III the House today by Rep
resentatiYe Isaac II. Sherwood, OF
Ohio.
Mr.. Sherwood. who is veteran of
tke Civil War, and prominent in Grand
Array circles for many years. waxed
sarcastic over President Wilson's ut
terances on national defense year
ago as contrasted with his position on
this question today.
Less than one year ago. when the
armies Of Europe were more power
full, more formidable, than ROW by
at least 4,p0g. 600 soldiers. the Presi-
dent, the Secretary OF War ard the
Secretary of the Navy all took strong
ground in public interviews and proc
lamations that we were fully prepared
Tor any emergency"
Mr.. Sherwood declared that the agi-
talion for defense was furthered by
these who desired ito give tone ana
polish TO our faml.oyant Washington
society" He ridiculed the continental
army plan advocated by Secretary
Garrison, saying that he understood
that IL originated in the War Colleg~.
and this college was the favorite milf
tant child of Colonel Roosevelt.
Hence the scheme has a wild and
woolly flavor" cried Mr.. Sherwood.
Mr.. Sherwood expressed regret that
he was unable TO agree with the presi-
dent on his proposed plan OF national
defense
Thinks President Mistaken.
u believe the President has mis-
taken the best popular Judgment in
his preparedness message" said The
speaker. IT believe the defeat of this
scheme for extra taxation. when the
Federal treasury IL iank and lean. will
command the approval and support
OF a majority of the people. None OF
the advocates of preparedness has yet
given Congress any valid reason Why
we should sauander more hard-earned
tax money on militarism.
an all our history from the first
proclamation of the Federal Constitu
ton no political party, no leading
statesman nor publist, has ever be-
fore advocated a great standing army
and navy In times of peace. When
tho country is liz BILE to be confronted
with an armed enemy Twill Htase fisr
as many men and as much money as
the President may demand. and, fur
thermore, will volunteer to 60 tn the
front. which ia more than any of the
powerful array of cnlpablc cur
mudseons who originated the horrible
war scare will ever do.
Wants Ia Know Of Economy Plank.
M the end of the hye-year period
for the defense program this country
will then be expanding on it's army
and navy more than any nation In
the world in time of peace ever ex-
pended. We now have the second
strongest navy In the world with no
enemy in sight and nothing to do but
waste powder In target tractiee, coz
coct war scares and give tone and pol
ish TO our hamboyant Washington So
ciety. In the name of the Great Jeho-
yah and the continental Congress. as
General Ethan Allen remarked. what
has become of that plank OF the Bal
timore platform pledgine the Demo
cratic party to economy and the abol-
ton OF useless offices"
TT Is proposed to tax patient and
tolerant people that an overpowering
army of idiers may be endowed to
consume the savings, OF the Industrial
classes: increasing the already high
cost of living. and producing nothine
but discomfort and trouble. II is a
crime against the republic without
sanity and without excuse, And. the