The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-01-27

LEADER MANN
APPLAUDED
MINORITY LEADER STANDS FOR
PREPAREDNESS - ASKS NON.
PARTISAN SUPPORT OF ADMIN
ISTRATlCN PROGRAM.

Washington, Jan. 26.-Unqualified
non-partisan support of military pre-
paredness was urged by Minority
Leader Mann in ringing speech on
the floor of the house. He was heart
lily and repeatedly applauded by both
sides of the chamber.
While it has been understood that
most of the republicans favored army
and navy increases, until today none
of their leaders had spoken on the
subject Consequently, coming as it
did on the eve of the presidents
departure on a preparedness speaking
tour, Mr. Mann's address was regard
ed as particularly significant. He
remarked himself that he always had
been known as a small army and
navy man.
at seems the part of wisdom for
us to prepare ourselves for any pos
sibility of trouble that may come
was the keynote of his remarks.
at is well known that I have never
believed in a large standing army
he said, land I probably might have
been properly classed as a little army
man. But wise men ought to be able
to peer distinctly into the future and
prepare today for what might come
tomorrow"
Mr.. Mann declared the world was
in the worst condition that any living
person ever had seen it, and predict
ed that it might be many years "be-
fore it is definitely determined wheth-
er one or the other, or neither side
can become master" He also scout
ted the permanency of paper
peace"
Money Well Invested.
mo one knows he continued,
"where the aggression on either side
may lead us, perhaps not into this
struggle, but into one which is the
outcome of this. 1t seems to me the
part of wisdom for US to permanently
prepare ourselves for any possibility
of trouble that may come. We may
not have any trouble. ! hope not. We
ought to strive to maintain peace at
any hazard. but the time may come
when we have not the determining
power and then We should be pre-
pared"
The cost, he added, would be great,
but it would be money we'll invested.
1--WE can better afford he said,
"to spend hundreds of millions Of
dollars or few billions of dollars,
in ample preparation for trouble and
avoid it, if possible, than we can to
wait for trouble and then spend un-
told billions before we are finally vic
tors, as we would be,
Il know that the gentlemen are sin
cere in their belief that there will be
no trouble. | sympathize with those
who prefer to spend the money of the
people in the way of Improvements
and aiding our people at home rather
than for the support of idle armies
and navies. But when trouble does
come, if it should come, there would
be no dissenting voice against spend
ing all our means, if necessary, to
defend our country, and our homes,
and it were wise for us now, it seems
to me, to commence our preparation.
Coast Defense Urged.
81 do not intend to discuss details,
though | have reached the conclusion
myself that if it were well as an
emergency measure to increase our
regular army to 25o.OO0 or 100000
or even 100000. that we should in
crease or provide our fortfcations
SO that our coasts may be fairly and
amply protected and that we should
provide a navy which will be able to
defend us on the sea.
Il have much more fear Of war
with England than | have of war with
Germany. Events are coming rapidly
We may wait by in contentment, and
vet il is our duty. as managers Of a
great country and a powerful people
IN 1ro,idp for their protectiOn against