West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-02-10
Speaker Clark Leads Fight for
National Defense MeaSures-
Minority Leader Mann Is Also
for Adequate Defense-Leaders
Urge More Speed

WASHINGTON, Feb. Tn a mael
storm of excited debate that markeC
tnc passage OF the first national de
iense bill by the House this after
noon, Speaker Champ Clark took tn,
noor to declare his vigorous suppor
OF necessary preparedness. He Great
ed sensation when he demanded tn,
reason for the backwardness of tn,
United States In naval construction.
Later the Speaker outlined part o
his preparedness creed. embracing the
education OF more officers at Wesi
Point and Annapolis skele-
tonized army organization for train.
ing purposes and short term enlist.
ment to build up an adequate reserve
In the debate on this question, the
Speaker spoke for faster progress in
increasing the navy. He declared that
If seventeen-inch guns were being
placed on foreign ships the United
States should have them as well, OF
the best guns obtainable now, or here
after.
III we can ascertain what is the best
battleship." said Speaker Clark, then
Congress ought to pass a resolution
that all the rest should be built on
that model, and II should shorten the
process of construction month OF
more"
- The hrst preparedness field day in
Congress ended in clean sweep OF
the national defense forces with the
following result:
The bill making available $500. 900
for battleship building equipment at
Mare Island navy yard and 500, 900
for similar purposes at New York
navy yard passed without dissent
ing voice.
The bill increasing from 1,169 to
1905 the cadets at Annapolis passed
by vote OF ITO to nothing.
The anti-preparedness faction con-
fcssed its weakness by avoiding a re-
cord vote on both bills.
Uncle Joe" Cannon declared for
preparedness but ELECTED sharp re-
buke from Representative Fitzgerald,
OF New York, when he asked IL the
administration was using it for cam
paign purposes"
Representative Mann OF Illinois, Re-
publican floor leader, took a hand in
the debate at this point.
This is not the time for crimina-
tion or recrimination," he said. ut is
lot the time to find fault with what
has been done. II is the time for all
OF US TO join hands for that which is
TO come.
II believe the President is thor
oaghly sincere and patriotic in the ut
terances which he has made and in
the foresight which he has gained as
TO the possibilities of the future. Rep
resented as we are by the President
In our foreign affairs, we ought to aid
him In preparing the country for trou-
bic, which we all hope will not come,
but which may come in spite of us.
II think the naval committee may
well speed up along with other things
and the sooner we have a bill from
that committee which will authorize
additions to the navy the better OF
the country will be. am not I'm favor
of war. believe in maintaining
peace. But l am for making such
preparations as will enable us to de-
fend ourselves against any foreign ma
tion. tx,
Now that the emergency is seen by
the President and his administration
] have no doubt but that there will be
speeding mp as to the ships already
authorized"
IF we ever have another war, which
do ont believe we will have. If We
attend to our own business" Speaker
Clark said, while advocating the nava
academy BILL "what we will need more
than anything else will be officers
You can get all the volunteers yor
want in thirty days.
Even though we never have an
other war. the money spent on educat
ing these cadets at West Point an,
Annapolis Is not thrown away. Ir
addition 10 doubling the number o
these cadets. n had the ingenuity,
would draft a law to the effect tha
outside Of the cadets appointed an
boy IN the United States who had IN,
qualifications should be permitted L
90 to these institutions and get al
education at exact cost
u am In favor Of making it obliga
tory. not optional with the secretar,
Of War and the Secretary OF the Navy
n need be. to detail one OF these on
GERS, n we have a surplus, to any col
lage, school or university that vii
furnish a minimum OF 200 boys VIII
will volunteer to drill"
The debate went far aneld from tn
measures under consideration extend
ing TO the general subject of miIitar
preparedness. The unusual sight q
the Speaker and the minority leade
battling together for administratio
measures while the majority leader 80
silently IN the back OF the House al
fracted crowds 20 the galleries an
numbers rushed to the floor from tbel
ofhces and committee rooms.
Speaker lark urged haste IN sci
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