The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-02-01
| Enemy Of Defense

Enemy or DeTenSe
Nthe latest press dispatches II is reported that
i Congressman Hay has broken with the Presi-
'dent ON defense plans and will oppose increasing
the army. This would be quite consistent with
the past record of the member from Virginia,
who has done more to block intelligent measures
for the betterment Of the nations land defenses
than any man in congress.
Some months ago, at the close of the last ses-
sion, when the preparedness wave was sweeping
over the country, there was distinct call, an in
sistent demand, in Congressman Hays own dis
Ltrict that proper measuers be taken, and this
ton was so startling to the chairman Of the milf
tary committee of the house that he was obliged
to hurry home to repair his political fences. 1t
was reported that he gave his constituents salts
factory guarantees that he would support the
administration in its preparedness program, al
though he reserved the right to embody these
measures in bill Of his own. In Difference to this
wish of the chairman, the secretary of war, in
submitting his report at the opening OF the pres
ent session, did not present bill but merely
voiced the administrators views and left the
preparation of the bill to be made by the commit
tee along the suggested lines. r \
II this report is true, Congressman Hay has
not only repudated his promises to fiis electors
but has tricked his party leaders. His action
further means that he has abandoned his party !;
that is, the administration wing of the party,
(which be had promised to aid in pushing the de-
Tense program, VI 4 yi 81.
Mr.. Hay has long been the senior Democratic
member of the house committee on military af-
fairs and when his party came into power in the
third year of President Taft's term he stepped
into the craftsmanship by right of seniority. His
record, as chairman Of this important cofhnittee
has been distinguished by more injurious and re-
troactive military Legislation than has before
come out of the military committee room. In
spite of this record this session he was again
placed at the head of the committee, where he
could do the maximum Of harm or good by the
Democratic organization, presumably with Presi-
dent Wilson's sanction, in the belief that his sup
port could be counted on, His past unwillingness
to deal fairly and competently with the urgent
problems with which his committee has to deal
were overlooked and his promises taken seriously
in the belief that he would meet the demand of the
Nation for adequate defense and assist the adj
minisration in keeping the question outside party
lines. ~, =. 49,, 3d., ,- .#. ..sE-
His flop to the opposition is doubtless due to
his utilization with the Bryan wing of the Demo
cratic party and the time has now come for the
administration to get rid of Mr. Hay if it is to
push through the preparedness measures 1t is
congress are ready to give the Presidents pro-
gram loyal support. Congressman Hay therefore
does not truly represent his party and certainly
does not represent the popular demand for an
improvement Of our military conditions.
---st~ .:@
The hardest thing we have heard said of
Tennesseans comes from the lips of Jeff McCarn.
He says they are his kind Of folks, "A.
I@H = \ + - &8
Austria has not as yet replied to Secretary
Lansngs request for information concerning the
sinking of the Persia, but if we only wait we may
be allowed to kid ourselves. over another diplo-
matte victory. u.. ~-,..... .e.
\ 4 4 - 900.
The jubilation with which the Flpnos are re-
ported to have heard Of the Clarke Amendment
is probably cooled off little by Senator Clarke's
further comments that the effect of the amend
ment will probably be to give Japan possession
of the archipelago and that such an outcome is
greatly to be desired. .@: IA
While the elimination OF the Nawiliwili harbor
project from the Rivers and Harbors Bill is some
thing greatly TO be regretted by the Islands a
whole and particularly by Kauaans, it is somea
thing which the Territory must accept without
whimpering. AS the President remarked in his
first preparedness" speech, this is the year Of
accounting and the nation expects every dollar
that is not already pledged to be used for ma
tional defense. In this demand, as patriotic sec
ton of the Union, Hawaii should join. However,
nasmuch as the bill is said to carry a total OF
$44OO0O0o, which is twice that of last year. and
we'll above the average of the past several years,
it will not be time to point with pride to the
elimination Of pork until all is known.