West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-06-08
Preparedness

| FROM 1900, the close or the CIVIL
war, to 1855. the Republicans we're in
control Of the government at Washing
| ton.
In those 20 years Congress appro-
priated $346, ,S55252 for the navy.
When President Cleveland. the first
Democratic President elected since the
Civil war. took the oath OF Office on
March 4. 1885, the American navy con-
sisted of junk. wooden ships with old
guns and broken down engines.
The American navy was a Joke.
When President Cleveland went out
OF office four years later the United
States had its first squadron OF mod
ern warships, the famous white
Squadron" that carried the American
flag to Europe and once more inspired
respect for American seapower.
In a speech in the House only the
other day, Representative raibott OF
MARYLAND, a member OF the Naval
Affairs committee. recalled chat col
Roosevelt i'm his administration invit-
ed the Democratic members Of the
committee to go TO the White House
that he might ask them personally 10
vote for four battleships On that oc-
casion, said Mr.. Talbot. Col Roose-
welt said:
II am frank enough TO admit that
we could not have carried on the war
with Spain successfully except for the
navy that was furnished to the coun-
try during Cleveland's two admins
trations."
In 20 years the Republican party I'm
Congress had spent S419.5lO.SS7O9 OF
the peoples money and had nothing to
show for It, OF this amount $73,145,-
034.57 represented unexpended balan-
ces from appropriations OF previous
years. The money had been wasted;
il had gone TO make contractors rich
and to give employment 10 men at po-
litical navy yards to vote as their
bosses dictated
In four years, Cleveland's admins
tration, the Democratic party, spent
67354261.50 and had a squadron OF
modern ships TO show for IT, The
money had been spent honestly and
not for the enrichment OF favored po-
litical bosses and contractors.
a Democratic President, a Demo
cratic Secretary OF the Navy and a
Democratic Congress created the mod
ern American navy and took the first
step for PREPAREDNESS.
From 1897 to 1876 years the
Republicans were again I'm control OF
the government.
They thought so little OF the navy
they let II run down. II was the old
system over again of favoritism and
waste
They could not see the wisdom Of
being prepared.
But in those sixteen years they
spent 81 1,5S6,O52.S16.56.
The Republicans admit that under
their administrations the navy has not
been kept up to high water mark and
it was too weak properly to protect
the United States against danger
President Wilson came into ofice on
March 4, 1913
I'm three years the Democratic Con-
gress has appropriated $543,SO7 ,77118
for the navy, and when the program
for which appropriations have been
made at this session is completed the
American navy will be the second
most powerful navy in the world. with
only England superior.
The Republicans talk. The Demo
Gratis act.
Republicans waste money. Demo-
Gratis spend money efficiently.
II the country wants to feel certain
it is safe from attack and have it's
navy kept at the highest point Of EN-
cheney IL will vote for the election OF
President Wilson and Democratic
Congress-