The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1916-01-12
SENATOR PITTNAN A CONVERT TO
NEED Of NAVAL PREPAREDNESS


only be enforced and maintained by
sufficient force. l once believed that
there was no reason why there
should not be a court of arbitration
between nations. l sought to dis
cover the reason, and my conclusion
Is that the peaceful settlement of
differences between nations is i'm
possible SO long as such nations are
suspicious and distrustful of the mo-
tives, honor and integrity of each
other. This suspicion and distrast
is racial. 1t has been taught from
childhood and nurtured upon tales
of ancient wrongs and exhortations
to revenge.
ANY tribunal of arbitration will
be controlled by some combinations
of Powers. Would any of the war
ring nations trust their disputes to
court controlled by their enemies?
If so, why not trust their disputes to
their enemies without a court?
Would the Teutons submit the ques-
tions involved in the present war to
a court controlled by the Allies, or
would the Allies submit such ques-
tions to court controlled by the
Teutons? Would the United States
submit the maintenance of the Mon
roe Doctrine to a court controlled
by European and Asiatic Powers?
To suppose such conditions is alb
surd.
Possession of a powerful navy
by the United States, in my opinion,
does not mean war, but means pre-
vention of war;"
For forty years the peace of Eu-
rope was maintained by reason of
the supposed balance of power as
between nations of Europe. When
that balance of power was disturbed
and the contending forces supposed
themselves of equal strength war
ensued. Every European nation
stands in fear of an adverse balance
Va POWCis anu ouSh lCal, buCu
fear alone prevents war. II the
United States were possessed of a
powerful navy there would he bal
ance of power which would prevent
war, because no nation would be
willing to precipitate war with the
danger of the power of the United
Ctotpc aoo OF in tho ha1 10 ~ aiuo 81
l believe that the quicker the United
States places itself IN such a posi-
tion the better it VIII be for the
progress and peace of our country
and the entire world.
II have little patience with con-
siderations of economy when the Wit
al question of life and peace and
happiness of our people is involved
81 believe that a sufficient navy
can be constructed and maintained
without taxing our people. I believe
that those nations and those people
who are responsible for the condi-
tion that require us to construct and
maintain large navy should be com
PEELED to bear the burden of such
expense I believe that the NUM-
tions of war that are supplied to
foreign nations should be sufficient
ly taxed to in large measure pay
for the upbuilding and maintenance
of our navy. This tax would be
paid by the foreigners in the added
cost of such materials, and the JUS
tice of such a plan, in my mind. Is
unquestionable. / find no merit in
the argument that the United States
would be charged WIN making a
profit out of the misfortunes of
others.
ii the traffic is dishonorable or
improper we should stop it. We
have maintained, however, as a gov
ernment that it is both honorable
and proper. and we lend the whole
power of our government to the
maintenance of such traffic.
"Is this government to incur the
expense and burden and danger oi
maintaining such traffic and yet re.
fuse to receive any compensation
from such traffic for such services
| think not