Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-02-08
Democratic Speaker and Re
publican Floor Leader Beat
Down All Opposition in
House Of Representatives,
MTCHIN TAKES BACK
SEAT DURING DEBATE.
Missouri Statesman Is Said to
Be in Charge of Presidents S
Program for Stronger Army
and Bigger Navy,

inf hoHAiho JOURNAL bfESih- LtAelp NiRel
Washington, Feb, Speaker Clark
and Republican Leader Mann fought
side by side in the house today for nd-
equatc national defense. With party
lines obliterated most Of the members
followed their leaders and two navy
measures passed without n dissenting
vote one, TO provide for adding three
hundred midshlpmen 70 the entering
class nt Annapolis next July, passed.
l73 to o. and the other to equip navy
yards for construction of battlcshipB,
numbers 43 and A. passed without u
roll call
Mr.. Mann tried to put the anti-pre-
parcdness advocates on record by call
ing for Il division on the naval acade-
my bill, but there were no negative
responses.
speaker Lends Fight.
The appearance of Speaker Clark on
the floor TO champion preparedness
measures aroused wide interest Ru-
mors persisted that he would take ac-
tive charge of the fight to increase the
army and navy. Majority Leader
Kitchin having Joined the opposition
Immediate Improvement Of the navy
hy designing along the lines Of the
best now IN use. doubling the member
ship Of both Annapolis and West
Point, creation of many additional
regiments for the army aud short
term enlistments TO produce reserve,
were among the suggestions made by
the speaker. lie said he expected to
discuss the subject OF preparedness
generally, soon.
Mann Is Patriotic.
Mr. Mann reiterated his previous
pleas for q larger army and navy and
aided In maneuverlng tho bills to pas
sage. This Is not the time for Grim
nation and recrimination,' said he,
1T Is not the time to find fault with
that which has been, 1t Is the time for
all to join hands for that which may
come
The debate went far afield from the
measures under consideration, extend
ing TO the general subject Of military
The unusual siEht OF
the speaker and the minority leader
battling together for administration
while the majority leader sat
silently in the back of the house. at
tractcd crowds to the galleries. and
members rushed to the floor from
their offices and committee rooms.
'Htfk Urges lihSiV,
Mi Clark urged haste in getting
new battlcships into commission. He
asked Chairman Padgett. of the ma
val committee. whether it would not
be a good plan to pattern the two bat
ilcships, Nos i3 and A., after the best
United states ships afloat and got
them completed quickly.
Simply because Mr.. PadgetL said,
l.. IL.
struetion told US that he had plans al
ready worked out that would make
decided improvements against torpedo
attacks
"Why not put those plans into op-
the speaker continued.
They Will Mr. PadRett said "as
soon as they get authority provided In
this resolution"
I'VE shall all die Of old age before
they are completed at this rate, the
speaker responded.
Three Greatest Battlcshlps.
Representative Padgett told the
house that three ships--thc Oklaho-
ma, Nevada and Pennsylvania--re
5ardcd as the three best IN the world
II the time they were laid down,
would be completed and put in com
mission during this year--two of them
IN the early summer, one in the au-
.umn.
"lf any emergency should arise he |
added, "a very small resolution Of con-
srcss carrying the necessary appro'
1riation could provide for extra shps. /
Representative Cannon Of Illinois /
created a stir by asking if the talk /
Of preparedness was n sham perform /
ince for campaign purposes. Later !
he said he did not intend the remark +
As a criticism of the president
Tho gentleman was trying TO put
In nice way a very nice criticism Of /
he president, but he did not get away +
with it," Representative Fitzgerald Of 1
New York, said
Uncle Joc's President.
THE president Of the United /
States" answered MIR. Cannon, rs T..
ny president as well as your presi
lent and IL | can find out what Is
he proper thing 10 do, If IL is neccs-
AIRY TO do anything, / stand ready
% help him do it,
If we ever have another war,
which | do not believe we will have.
{ We attend 70 our own business
speaker CLARK said. while advocating
he naval academy bill. what we
viii need more than anything else
viii be Officers. You can get All the
'ountcers you want ia thirty days
III tho fact could he asccrtained
have 10 sort Of doubt that o least
5000 men, the very flower Of the !.
'ountry. died the first year Of the
'ivil war not by bullets but by disease,
which was absolutely unnecessary !
because while the Officers were good ,
neu in q general way they did not {
5now anything about sanitation or J
iow 10 take care Of themselves or
o show the men how to take care n
# themselves. e
Compliments tie Cadets. &
Even though We never have an [
,ther war. the money spent on edu <
ating these cadets at West Point and i