Arizona republican., 1916-05-26
Approve Universal Military Training, Building Pro gram to Restore Navy to Second Place and General Army Increase
Republican A. p. Leased Wire]

WASHINGTON, May 25.-Advanced steps, including universal military training, a building program that would restore the nation to sec ond place among the worlds naval powers. and an army increase that would meet the recommendations of the general staff. have been endorsed by overwhelming majorities in a ref erendum just completed among com mercial organizations throughout the country holding membership in the chambers of commerce of the United States.
 The conference, which officials of the chamber declared tonight had fur nished the first authoritative index to preparedness sentiment among busi- ness men, brought out the largest vote yet recorded in the series of canvasses made by the organization on public questions. Member bodies in forty-three states and in Alaska
 
 present.
 On the question of general pre- paredness, 97O organizations voted favorably and only eight negatively The vote for universal military train ing was SS9 to 56. The navy increase proposed in the query submitted were endorsed 952 to 10, and the army in creases 946 to 21.
 A proposal to create a board of national defense to aid in developing the army and navy along the lines of a continuous policy and to act in an advisory capacity to the president and congress was passed by a vote of 912 to 46
 Creation of a general staff of the navy was endorsed 946 to 19. while 960 votes were recorded in favor of additional officers of the regular army and an officers reserve corps and only against.
 By a vote of 935 to 29, the members approved a proposal for an adequate munitions reserve. Under another plan, endorsed 940 to 26, the price of munitions in war time would be fixed DN d DTedIIdNSeIHeIl UeiNttH Ilillu lecturers and the government
 The referendum was based on tho recommendations of a special com mittee, of which .Bascom Little O. Cleveland is chairman. In announcing the result tonight, officials of th' chamber said they would consider themselves bound by it to work for ; national defense system framed alont the lines indicated.
 All three of the administrations bii preparedness measures moved for ward a step toward enactment today The army appropriation bill, carry ing $150,000,0 900, was agreed upon b. the house military committee, demo } cratic leaders of the house prepare a special rule under which the maya , appropriation bill will be taken up i 9 the house next Monday or Tuesday [ be voted on not later than Friday af ternoon at 4 o'clock, and the Hay Chamberlain army reorganization bil already passed by both houses of con gress, was sent to President Wilso for his signature.
 Secretary Baker now is going owe the reorganization bill and as soon a he makes a report the president is ex
 pected to sign it.
 General debate on the naval bi
 will be limited to eight hours or les in the special rule to be presented t the house, but the entire measure wi
 be read and debated. The republican
 will make fight for a larger build ing program, in accordance with the minority report submitted today. Th :. democratic leaders are confident, how j ever, that the bill, with it's program
 including provision for five great bat tie cruisers. will be passed by sul stantial majority.