Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-02-04
PREPAREDNESS NOT A PARTY ISSUE

The Capital Journal has never taken kindly to the
idea of maintaining large standing army in this cOun
try 1t has been our belief that need have fear Of
invasion by any armed foreign force that would threaten
independence, levy tribute upon our people navy
of sufficient size and efficiency to protect commerce
the and our interests abroad has seemed neces
sty expensive as it has proven to maintain but regular
army larger than that required to do federal police duty
has seemed contrary to accepted ideals Of govern
ment and useless because of the wide expanse Of ocean
separating us from other world powers.
The developments of the present European war, its
sensational over-turning of oldtime military strategy
armament, and equipment, has brought about many
changes of opinion in this country in regard to our ability
to defend our country in case OF aggression Submarine
warfare long range and powerful artillery, undreamed
Of in any of the in which this nation has engaged
aeroplane and arship-as engines OF observation and
Observation-Disclosures have tended to annlhate distance and
render useless many of the natural defenses upon which
we have relied and believed in since we began to reckon
the United States as world power Moreover there are
signs of the times which to be apparent to those
high in power who are cOgnizant OF international at
fairs from the president down to the leaders OF the
national congress- that have caused these to unite IN
seeking to arouse the nation to a sense Of impending
danger if preparatory steps to meet the world crisis are
not taken without unnecessary delay. Not all these
leaders agree upon the methods of procedure but all
of accord in urging action toward common end.
This unity of sentiment seems to have botted out
political lines in the national congress, as was evidenced
by the recent utternces of Minority Leader Mann on the
floor of the lower house. Representative Mann in his
speech made his plea for support of preparedness plans
upon the ground that it behooves the United States to
prepare now for any eventuaes that may come of the
European war; He no immediate danger Of war and
hoped that peace might prevail but the danger OF this
country being drawn into the present conflict OF one that
might result from it is too great to be disregarded He
urged no particular plan but favored standing army
of a quarter million even half million men, better
coast defences and navy able to defend the country on
the seas In pleading for a non-partisan view of the
question view of it from the standpoint of patriotic
American citizenship he said: Il think that we ought to
provide these great forces that it should be considered
an emergency matter entirely apart from the ordinary
routine or expense of government without regard to
partisan or party lines He said the cost would be
millions now but Better that than billions later
Representative Mann is Republican and has been
known as fayoring small army and navy The position
he takes now is that of who sees the dangers and
would be prepared not only to ward off trouble but meet
it decsivey in the event of hostilities
1t is undoubtedly time for serious thought and
patriotic action unbiased by deepseated prejudice and
unrestricted by partisan considerations MIR. Manns
position is that of statesman and not partisan and
his frank avowa of duty first to his country does honor
to the party which elevated him to position of leader
ship.