The Washington times., 1916-02-08
SPEAKER Leaves Chair to Make
Plea For Preparedness As
Debate Wages.
TWO MINOR BILLS PASSED
SmaII-NaVy Men Remain Silent
and Measures Get Unani-
nous Support.

Two national defense bills, playing a
minor part in the general program of
preparedness. were sent to the Senate
by the House today after the lower
body had given a demonstration I'm fa-
vor Of making the nation ready for a
possible enemy
Both bills passed the House late yes
terday. Although they are of rela-
lively small Importance, compared with
measures soon to be considered, the
mere consideration of defense bhi
brought non-partisan support tor the
entire program. and patriotic oratory
was on tap all day.
The small navy men, for some un-
explained reason, were inactive through
out the day of debate. and refused to
vote on the final bill passed-that in
Creasing the number of midshlpmen at
the Naval Academy. This bill passed
on a rising vote, and when the noes
were called for the nti-preparedness
members kept their seats
Viva VOce Vote.
The other bill. authorizing the con-
struction of building ways at the Brook
lyn and Mare Island navy yards. which
are getting ready to turn out two new
dreadnaughts authorized last session,
passed on a viva voce vote
Significant in the days development
was the aid rendered the defense pro-
gram by Speaker Clark, The Speaker
left the chair and participated several
times in colloquies on the floor.
Late yesterday he made a prepared
ness speech and announced this bill
ought to be passed without dissenting
vote" The ringing address Of the
Speaker may have been partly respons-
ible for the passive attitude of the
email navy" men, The latter private
ly claimed. however, that the mi1ship-
men and navy yard measures bore but
indirectly on defense and were rot suf-
ficiently important to Justify an align
ment that would DC indicative of the
strength of the preparedness and anti
preparedness factions.
That Speaker Clark will lead the
fght for the Administration defense
bill Ia generally believed today. Ills In
terest In the debate yesterday and his
speech covering the entire subject of
national defanse leads to tho conviction
that the Administration will have "a
strong ally in the SPEAKER when the
"Let us put sevcnteen-inch guns. the
very best attainable, on our ships was
a suggestion made by Speaker ClarH
which was characteristic of his interest
in defense. This advice came when
Congressman Butler SAID England and
Germany were preparing to use seven
teen-inch guns.
Former Speaker Cannon said IL an
emergency existed he stood ready to
help furnish the money by my vote,
either by an increase OF taxation or by
borrowing the money" He said, how
ever, that the people desired to know
whether the program called for actual
preparation or good enough Morgan"
for the next six months.
After Mr.. Butler had criticised the
DELAY in making plans for battleships.
Speaker Clark said Congress should
ascertain the best type of battleship.
land then pass a resolution that all
the rest of the ships are to be built on
that model and shorten up this process
by six months"
The Speaker referred to his prepared
ness speech in San Francisco last July,
and announced that he would soon
make known to the House his views re-
Earding just what sort of program
should be adopted.
Should Pass Bills.
Meanwhile" he said, I'VE should
pass such bills as this proposing to in
crease the number of midshipmen. No
body can object to them on the ground
that they are very expensive.
II do not believe we will have any
war, II we attend to our own business.
as we have forced every war we ever
did have. but If we do have a war
what we will need more than anything
else will be officers. l have no doubt
that at least %, 900 men. the very flower
Of the country. died the first year of
tho civil war, not by bullets, but by dis
ease-which was unnecessary.
while the officers were good men
in q general way they did not know
anything about sanitation or how to
take care of themselves and their
mon. l would double not only the
but also the cadets at West Point.
Even though we never have an
other war, the money spent on edu-
eating these caGetp Is not tn Gown
away. They get a practical educN-
tion. II had the ingenuity and II
could be done. would draft law
that outside OF the cadets appointed
by the President and members OF
Congress every boy in the United
States with the mental. moral, and
Initted to go to these institutions and
get an education at exact cost.
Would Furnish Teachers.
II these bills pass 1 am in favor Of
making It obligatory upon. not op-
tlonAl with. the Secretary OF War
and the Secretary OF the Navy to de-
a surplus, to any school. college, or
university that vii! furnish n mini
mum of 10G boys willing TO drill"
Speaker Clark said he favored an
articulation OF the military schools
Of the country with West Point un-
der an arrangement whereby the
honor students from the military
schools would be engaged in the War
department and RiveE commissions
whenever necessity for more off
sions for every Tom. Dick and Harry
from ali over the country who can
make a good stump speech"
Speaker Clark said he believed q
shorter term OF enlistment in the
army would he advantageous. Ono
hundred thousand men. he said, woula
be turned back into the body OF the
Citisenry as trained soldiers II the