Oxford eagle., 1916-08-31
SPEECH OF
HONORABLE JAS. K. VARDAMAN
of Mississippi
THE NAVAL BILL
Delivered in the Senate of the United States
on July 18th, 1916
THE NAVAL BILL

~ H8trs AII Nn4NT tttN4ttsfTtlum tNI UiI4
~. r. isst7l MAKING Appropriations ~
Tie nsval service for the nscal year end
Ing June 90. 1917. and Tor other purpose.
Mr vARDAMAN Mr. President. /
realize that what am about to say re
garding the question at issue before
the Senate will not influence the vote
OF single Member OF this body. One
might preach to the storm or reason
with despair" to some effect. but ! am
quite sure that the minds OF the Sena.
tors are made up. the conclusions
reached, and they are only waiting for
the opportunity to register their con.
ciusfons- But ] should be altogether
untrue TO myself. unlaithful to those
whom have the honor 70 represent 10
part In this Chamber. and dlsioyal TO
al the American people, were I TO re.
Train from expressing my utter and
unconditional disapproval OF this bill
l am unable upon any theory consist
ent with my sense Of obligation to my
constituents and my adhereace 20 the
principles Of free government TO lend
my approval OF the bin with its con
tents and the policy which Il inaugu
rates.
The measure ls unprecedented IN
the magnitude Of the appropriation
which Il carries, the scope Of is pre-
Visions. and the undemoerafie-I
might say. un-Anerican-spirit Of It's
purposes II marks a turning point n
the life Of this Republic ard opens up
the way which has led the republics
Of the past into the pitfalls OF inperi-
silsn- N the fighting material pro
vfded for in this bill were needed 10
defend this Republic from invasion or
to uphold the rights OF American citf-
rens IN other parts OF the earth,
shoaif not utter one word Of protest
against lt-on the contrary, It should
have ~ hesrtiest approval
Mr.. President, ! yield to no man IN
my devotion to my country and my
willingness to make any sacrifice nee
esSary for Tire defense OF the Nations
flag. And IN my own proper person IN
that rc--rd. but poorly body forth
the heroic qualities which glorily the
ehsrscterS OF the brave men and pure
women for whom | have the privilege
In this presence to speak Tire adVo-
cate, % This bin whc would undertake
10 put the odiunn of cisioyalty 20 the
Government Won these of us who
withheld eur approval Of this measure
wiil find In tire end that tire anaais1crn
and questionable patriotism, Of their
csr course will ret be corrected or
nninlnixed BY a manifest injustice to
sons ere else.
The nost enthusiastic and radical
sdsocste Of -prepareorexs- wh5 has
any respect whatever for the sarctity
o. the truth will net claim that We
really need such Navy, either fer de.
fense or otfense, as Is provided for in
this bill. at this time. Really, the
nrospscts Of thls country becoming
involved In war with any forel7n IA
ton 10 more remote today than al any
time during the last half century. We
are threatsnec with no fees from with
cut. we are happily at peace with aft
the world. ard the nations with which
We would be more likely than oil 9th.
ere to have trouble are less able 70
wage war against VI today ard less In
eiinec, believe, TO provoke war with
10 In the future than ever before IN
the history OF this government And
yet In tire face Of these facts. facts
that are admitted by the leaders Of
American thought and contra5Ected
nowhere by anyone whose opinion Is
worthy Of consideration, this Congress
proposes to appropriate money with
s.'Aieh 70 provide for the building Of
t57 ships Of war which will cost In
the neichborhood OF s4oo, ,oo0. .oo0 In
posing an average tax Of at least SOS
ger far,iiy on the people Of the United
States, regardless Of the poverty Of
the massea
This item Of taxation. added to that
which 10 already borne by the toiIers
Of this country to pay the expenses Of
wars that have been fought and to Get
ready for the possible wars In the
future, will amount to something Ike
$50 for every head Of a family In the
United States. That tax, added 10 9th
er taxes for the support OF the Ma
ttonal Government, the State. the
county, and municipal taxes. viii
amount almost 10 confscation IN the
course OF time, because the tax viii
Increase as the years go by II the tn
nuences which now control the Ma
don-domfnate the Executive and the
Congress. shall be perpetuated And
for what purpcse7 Mr.. President.
what influences demand the enactment
Of this Law at this timer What harm
would result from the postponement
Tor three or four years OF the build.
ing program provided for In this hiIl3
There are already contracts let for the
building OF battleships which will not
be completed for three years. / am
advised that the unexpected contracts
TOR the Navy amount to something like
ttzo,ooo.ooo o. Mr. President, is II
not time that Members OF the Ameri
can Senate should pause and consider
what all Of this means to the toilers of
this Republicf II would not be out OF
place for me to suggest 70 the Senate
that there are hundreds Of thousands
Of families In the rural districts Of the
United States whose inpecsnlous con-
ditiou 10 such that the small amount
a. $50 will determine the question as
to whethsr or not their children shall
have proper clothing and shoes In the
wirtertine to wear to school.
The learned Senator from Massa-
chusetts tMr. Lodgel a day or two ago
on the floor OF this Chamber referred
to the fact that some OF the instru-
r'eris o. naval warfare had been in
the course Of construction for the last
hse or ak years--since 1908, believe.
Now. the delay in the construction
-r-& IL. e.. -. Il