Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-08
CLARK AND MANN
FIGHT SIDE BY SIDE
Speaker and Minority Leader
Battle Together for Adequate
National Defense.
UNUSUAL SIGHT IN HOUSE
With Party Lines Obliterated.
Two Navy Measures Pass
Without Dissenting Vote.

WASEIINGToN February 7--Spcak "r
Clark ana Republican Leader Mann
fought side by side in Tho House to-day
for adcquat" national defense. With
party lines oblitcratcd. mos; OF the
members followed their leaders. ana
two navy measures passed without :,
dissenting vote. One. to provide FOR
adding 800 midshipmcn 20 the enter
in" class at Annapolis next Iuly. passed
l73 TO o. and the other. to equip navy
Yards for construction of ttlcshipS
Nos. i3 ana A. passed without II roll
call
Mr.. Mann tried to put the autiprc-
paredness advocates on record by call
ing for Il division on the Naval Acad-
envy bill. but there were no negative
responses.
The appearance OF Speaker Clark Oh
the floor TO champion preparedness
mcas aroused wide interest. Eu-
mors persisted that he would take
active charge of the fight to increase
The army and navy, Majority Lender
kitchin having Joined the opposition
Immediate Improvement OF the navy
hy designing new battleshipS along
the lines OF the best now in use: dou-
bling tn" membership Of both Annapolis
and West Point: creation OF many
additional regiments for the army. and
short-term enlistments TO produce "a
reserve, were among suggestions made
by the Speaker He said he expected
10 discuss the subject Of preparedness
generally soon.
REITERATES PREVIOUS PLEAS
FOR LARGER ARMY AND NAVY
Mr. Mann reiterated his previous
pleas for larger army and navy. and
aided in maneuvcring the bills to pass
age. This is not the time for crimina-
ton and rccrimination." said he. 1T
is not tho time to find fault with that
which has been. 1t is the time for all
70 join hands for that which may
come"
The debate went far afleld from the
measures under consideration. extend
ing TO the general subject of military
preparedness The unusual sight OF
the Speaker ana the minority leader
battling together for administration
measures. while the majority leader
sat silently in the back Of tho House.
attracted crowds to the galleries. and
members rushed to the floor from their
offices and committee rooms
Mr. Clark urged haste in getting new
battlcshipS into commission. He ash cd
Chairman padsett. of the Naval Com
nittcc. why il would not be IA good
plan 10 pattern the two new battle
ships. Nos. i3 and A.. after tn. best
United states ship now atoat. and get
them completed quickly
PLANS WORKED OUT
AGAINST TORPEDO ATTACK
simply because" Mr.. Padgctt said,
the chief Of the bureau Of construc-
ton told us that he had plans already.
worked out that would make decided
improvements against torpedo attacl; -
Why do they not put those plans
into operation" the Speaker continued.
They WILL" Mr.. Padgett said. las
soon as they get authority, provided in
this resolution"
We shall all die OF old age before
they are completed at this rate .hc
Speaker responded
Representative Padgc,t told the
House that three shipS-.the Oklahoma
Nevada and Observation-Disclosures os
the three best in the world AT the ti.,c
they were designed and laid down
would be- completed and put in com
mission during this ycar-two Of them
in the early summer. one in the
autumn.
IF any emergency should arise" he
added. "A very small resolution of
Congress carrying The necessary an
preparation could provide for extra
ships"
Representative Cannon. Of Illinois
created 4 stir by asking if the tall;
of preparedness was n sham pcrform
ancc for campaign purposes Later he
SAID he did not intend the remark as
"a criticism of the President
The gentleman was trying 30 put
III a nice way very nice criticism OF
the President. but he did not gc, away
with IT,. Representative Fitzgerald OF
New York. said
CANNON STANDS READY TO
HELP DO RIGHT THING
The President OF the United States"
answered Mr. caunon, lis my President
as we'll as Your President. and it
can find ont what is the proper thing
TO do--it il is necessary TO do any
thing--G stand ready 70 help him do it"
If We ever have another war, which
I do not believe we will have if wc
attend to our own business" Speaker
Clark said while advocating the Naval
Academy bill. what we will need more
than anything else will be officers.
You can get all of the volunteers you
want in thirty days
'lf tho fact could he asccr;aincd. r
have no sort Of II doubt that at least
$1,000 men. the very flower Of the
country. died the first year Of the C,viI
War, not by bullets. but by disease,
which was absolutely unnecessary. be-
cause while the officers were good mon
In general way, they did not know
anything about sanitation or how to
take care of themselves, or how to
show the men how to take care OF
themselves"
Though we never have another =!
tho money spent on educating these
cadets at West Point and Annapolis is
not thrown away. Within n limited
curriculum they get rs fine an cduca
ton az any set of men on the face OF
the earth. In addition to doubling the
number OF these cadets if | had the