The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-05-18
ROYAL JOHNSON
MAKES STATEMENT
Congressman Gives His Views
Upon National Legislation

Washington, d. Con- the 9th
day OF December, 1915, took the
oath of office as a Representative in
Congress. Up to Jan. s. 1916, 1851
bills and resolutions had been in
PRODUCED in the House. | was pre-
sent at every session and but three
Legislative questions v'ere presented
for a vote. On Jan. 8, in spite Of
the fact that it had been impossible
for me to either represent or mis-
represent the voters. an opponent to
nv renominatian announced him
self 1t is plain that his opposition
to me is not based on my record,
but that he simply desires to hold
the Office, o
So far as | have been able to de-
term'ne, we agree on the matter Of
rural credits, child labor, federal
aid for good roads, pension matters,
and other Legislative questions SO
far presented, except the question
of preparedness. | voted for the
passage of the Hay Bill, as did
every o,her member of the Hou@e,
pacifSt or miIitarist, except two.
| believe in a reasonable degree of
preparedness. At the present time,
the United States has three aero
planes in service The Mexican
campaign has demonstrated the fact
that we should have manv more.
In 1914 France had 400 and Russia
800. In 1915, in a test of subma-
rines, the United States had but one
submarine that would dive. In my
opinion, our coast defenses require
the building of manv more. Forty
per cert of the ships of American
Navy are either not properly equip
ped for service or are insutficiently
manned. We need greater efficien-
CIV, more transports, and a navy
that will give an adequate first line
of defense.
cannot agree with my opponent
that we ought not to have at least
a sufficient number of men IN the
American armv to successfully OPP
pose the Mexican bandits who are
making a practice of invading the
United States. and have contracted
the habit of numbering I'LL citizens.
| radically disagree with the MeXi.
can policy Of the present admins
t~ration, if in fact it can be said to
have had any,. and believe that a
firm policy adopted at the begin
ming of the present administration
would have obviated many of the
difficulties with which we are now
confronted. | do not believe that
the foreign policy of the present adj
ministrtion, If it can be said to
have one. will be sustained by the
American people.
believe IN the Republican policy
Of protection; in the Republican
policy of a tariff commission; in
standing for American rights firmly
when there is a definite American
right to stand for; and in a policy of
neutrality that will not involve us
in war with any foreign country to
sustain any vague. indfinlte. or
doubtful right. True neutrality
means the adoption of a policy that
we can advertise to the whole world
as fair and just. a policy that
does not depend on vague technl.
calities. and a policy that can be
sustained by all true Americans.
Space does not permit an Involv ed
discussion of every question refer
red to. but | hope to meet the voters
of the district face to face on the
platform, and discuss with them
the issues | ask for denomination
if nv views meet with the common
dation of a maj ority of the Republic
can voters of the district.
Royal C. Johnson.