The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-07-03


at Port Royal, S. c.. which was
abandoned as naval base; another,
the Sl.25O.O0O dry-dock at Charles
ton. S. c.. to accommodate battle
ships when 1t could only be reached
by vessels OF light draft; and SS6,-
000,O a1penod . at Mare Island,
California. for yard which cannot
accommodate any bNttleship built
within the last ten years
Similar conditions exist with the
appropriations for the army, where
worthless forts were established and
maintained for the army In the Mid
die West, when Notifications were
needed on both coasts. Our army is
scattered in forty-nine posts, locat-
ed not where they will best defend
the nation, but where they will best
promote the prosperity of local cont
munities and where they will thus
aid the political ambitions of con
gressmen. Every secretary OF war
in the last ten or twelve years has
tried to change this, but failed,
While many Americans are today
demanding the Strengthening and eff
iiciency of the army and navy, many
congressman from the South and
West have objected, Why do they
object? For example, Congressman
Mondell, of Wyoming, recently
made a speech in which he ridiCulcd
the idea Of preparedness; but he in
ssts upon maintaining two army
posts in Ills state, for the support OF
local tradesmen-arm posts which
military exeprts have declared again
and again weaken rather tan
strengthen our military efficiency.
And Congressman Sherwood, who
wants to reduce our army. and 20
scrap our battleships, recently intro
duced bill to establish a $4,000 900
munition plant in his home town OF
Toledo.
The proposed river and harbor, or
flood control bill, is another instance,
The ostensible purpose of that bill
is to protect property In the southern
states from floods, by building as n
starter, $45,000,000 worth of levees.
The real object is to reclaim with
Federal money 100000 ncres OF
river land, now owned By private per-
sons and syndicates, No wonder
Senator TiIlman denounced The meas
ure, and suggested that the sum not
actually needed for real government
Improvement be put into battleshIps,
What this country needs, in every
department Of work and ndministra-
ton is efficiency, and less pork
barrel" principles. LEGS individual
ism, and more national unity.
Some Elements Of the Solution.
The great question is: How can
the unity we all so much desire he
secured? How can our people be
made one In reality az well as In
name? What unifying forces are al
ready in operation? What new ones
may be needed?
First Of all, new missionary zeal
in behalf OF patriotism an interpre-
tatlon of America that appeals TO all.
Put the question squarely, Count
out all who have come to these
shores merely for purposes Of cx-
poltatlon; count out all who have
been lured by the false promises Of
steamship agents, and put the Ques-
ton: why did you leave Your ma
tive land and come to these shores?"
What did you expect?" why are
you here?" And the answer will be:
eve came because we could find
here what we could not have at home
freedom and opportunity-schools
for our children and advantages they
never could haye elsewhere; lard
where ones position depends upon
himself and upon no accident Of
BIRTH" That is what America
means! liberty and opportunity and
the best chance the world has yet
AFFORDED for one to make the most
Of himself! Drive It homel Pro-
claim It everywhere. We need the
lesson. Granted that the old-style
Fourth of July oratory is out Of
date; the Fourth OF July itself has
not lost It's meaning. The old indie
pendence bell may be cracked, but
the tones 1t set vibrating can never
die. It is not so much democracy
that is on trial, as it is we ourselves.
We cannot preserve the form II we
lose the spirit.