The Washington herald., 1916-05-21
.TILLMAN urges
WAR STANDING
Tells Senate Country Should
Hurry Work on $780,
100000 Navy.
SCORES PORK GRABBING
South Carolina : Senator Denounces
$43,000.000 Rivers and Harbors
Bill as Criminal"

| Senator Tillman. of South Carolina.
chairman of the Senate Naval Affairs
committee. yesterday urged a $500. 900, 0ot
appropriation ito begin at once-as
though We expected war Immediately
the construction OF the necessary ships
OF the most improved types to give US a
really iirst-class navy"
| Senator Tillman made this statement In
stirring speech on the Senate floor vio-
ientiy denouncing the rivers and harbors
Dill. carrying an appropriation of s43, 600 :
! 600, which he described as "criminaI''
waste in view of the condition Of the
navy. He pointed out that two battle
cruisers of the latest type could be built
with the s43.CO0.OOO,
You vote for my steal and I'll vote
for your steal" has become the popular
slogan in Congress, Tillman declared.
rms policy of urging a rivers and har-
oors bill of this kind is inexplicabIe," he
SAID. 1T Is as though men were WILD
ana crazy over local affairs and have no
broad national grasp at all. Why should
he spent all this money in the face Of the
tact that we are compelled TO greatly in
crease our taxes in order to get money
TO run our government this year?
would spend $500, 100000.
Il cannot understand such a policy at
feelinss. or wound sensibilities. but TO me
this expenditure would be criminal under
tne circumstances which now exist
nave not the figures. or even the approxi-
mate data, and can only guess: but 7
would be willing to vote 500, 100000 n
necessary, to begin at once-and hurried
~ as though We expected war immedI-
ateIy-the construction of the necessary
ships Of the most improved types to give
US really irst-class navy"
The Senator charged that the taxpav-
ers were not getting their moneys
worth in the army and navy expendI-
lures, and pointed out the inefficiency OF
the army aviation corps and the de-
hciency or the navy in submarines IN
support his statement.
am not panic-stricken, nor frighten.
ed but when l consider the possible dan
gers that may confront US as a peopIe
"hen this European war is over. with
,hliiohs OF trained soldiers. veterans. anJ
uanKrupl treasures throughout Europe
and defenseless America the richest ma.
tion now on the globe with accumuIa I'd
billions brought to our shores bv tbi,
war l tremble at the thought of what
could happen. Armies are not created ir
day II takes six months or a wear
to drill men and familiarize them wit;
the. use Of arms so that thev know how
10 hsht and defend themselves. Other
WISE they can be slaughtered like 5,
many sheep. And a navy is even Of slow.
er growth.
should Prepare Now.
1t takes from two to three wears r.
! build modern ships of war. dependins
on the size; and they have become suct
complicated machines that it takes q
long while to drill the officers and mer
to handle them efficiently. 1t is far bet.
ter-even an ignoramus will admit this
TO Keep men from landing on our shore,
ana doing us damage than 1t is to have
to night them after they do land.
II believe religiouslv that the texnsye-,
! of the United States are not only VIII.
ing but anxious to put their hands ir
their pockets to create and maintain a
navy SUFFICIENT to protect us from in,
vasion. III