Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-04
DISMISS RESOLUTION
AS TO PREPAREDNESS
House of Delegates Fails to lndorse
stand Taken by President
Wilson.
GORDON LEADS OPPOSITION
Republican Members, Solid for Pre-
parcdneSs, Vote TO Dismiss ReSo-
luton. Prcfcrring To Leave Wilson
Administration Unhumpcrcd

Following the longest debate that
scmbly has developed. The House OF
Delegates yesterday, by vote Of IS
TO 40. dismissed from the calendar the
Lecdy preparedness resolution. de :
clarinS thereby a hands-on policy in
the national defense program that IL
now engaging the attention OF the
President Of the United States.
In vain Colonel X. +. Lecdy. OF Page.
commander Of one of the three Virginia
militia regiments. and militiaman OF
. hftecn years standing. pleaded will,
! tho incinbers to give their moral sup
mort to the administrations prepared
ness program. pointing ont the folly of
rrma'ninS blind TO the inadcuuatcncs IS
OF the country's military. naval and
coaS; defense forces when all around
her are powerful and envious neigh
bors whose armament and battle
strength are constant menace
ON the opposite side argued Delegate
Gordon. Of Louisa. patron of Il rcsoiu-
tion declaring it 10 be the sense OF
the people OF Virginia that they are
opposed to the increase OF national
taxation for the purpose OF increasing
growth Of the navy under the Demo
cratic administration is adequate for
the country'S needs.
MOSS WANTS PRESIDENT
LEFT UNIA MPERED
y dozen members took the floor To
voice sharply differing views on the big
national Issue. In the number, notably
Delegate Moss, Of I.ynchburg. were
those who believed that it was the
part OF wisdom TO lot Congress and
the President work out the problem,
themselves without advice from the
General Assembly of Virginia. whose
members could not have the intimat C
knowledge OF national and interna
ilonal affairs necessary TO guide them
Alright in their Judgment.
When the debate had stretched
already three hours old. the issue was
abruptly brought to decision by II
motion for the previous question.
Thcrcupon Delegate Moss offered IA
substitute for the Gordon resolution.
declaring the Virginia Legislatures S
abiding faith in the wisdom and judg-
mcnt OF President Wilson and it's be-
lief that the great question now be-
fore the nation will be wisely and
adequately met by him and his ad-
viscrS.
The Moss resolution was killed hy Il
vote Of 5S TO IL. Delegate Musgravc
here moved that the Gordon anti
preparedness resolution be dismissed.
and the motion was carried by IA vote
of - to s. Only the I.ccdy resolution
and Il committee amendment were now
before the body. Mr.. Moss now offered
his resolution, which was defeated Il
few minutes before. as Il substitute
for the whole, and again il was de-
fcatcd.
LEEDN RESOLUTION FAILS
on RECORDED VOTE
The House approved the committee
amendment to the I.redy resolution
recommending the enactment OF "A Fed
eral law under which arms and in
struction could be furnished the
students OF public high schools who
organized themselves into battalions
for this purpose. With the adoption
Of the amendment. the vote came up
now on the amended Lcedy resolution.
which Endorsed the Presidents effort
to secure proper and adequate plan
OF national defense, recommended the
streng gthening OF the coast defenses,
and upheld the militia increase plan OF
Chairman James Hay. the House
Committee on Military Affairs.
Delegate MusGrave moved that the
amended Lecdy resolution he dismissed,
and an aye and no vote showed it's
apparent defeat by a vote OF 46 to 45.
Opponents of the Leedy resolution,
however, called for II recorded vote
This was taken, and the motion to
dismiss was carried by the narrow
vote Of IS to 45. the Republican minor
ity voting in n body to strike the pre-
paredness" resolution from the calen-
dar.
Republican Floor Leader Lowry ex-
Continued on Fifth Page.)