Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-01-11
CONGRESS ALMOST CERTAIN TO
STRENGTHEN STATE MILITIA
At PRESENT SESSION.
PARTY MEN MAY JOIN
FOR PREPAREDNESS PLAN
Republicans May Assist Senate Conn
nittee Believed to Be Planning 70
Vote Approval to Wilson's Osfsnss
Measures-strons Sentiment For In.
Creased Navy.
Especial Correspondence


Washington, Jan. 11.-Altho the op-
ponents of preparedness are continu-
ally declaring they are making progress
against army legislation and that the
country Is being more and more stirred
up against preparation, things are
gradually shaping up in both houses
for determined efforts to add to the
military strength of the country and
to provide for large increases in the
navy.
Significant in this connection Is the
decision of the house military commit
tee to begin hearings about the middle
of this week. Senator Chamberlain.
chairman. of the military committee or
the senate, feels the committee ought
to cover a wide field in the hearings,
without entire reference to the action
of the house committees. tho it may
later be decided not to duplicate some
of the testimony before the house COM
mittee. However, the members of the
senate committee have developed
disposition to hear and question high
authorities on army matters and mill
tary matters in general themselves.
While this Is going on, there Is grow
ing talk of a coalition among repub-
leans and some of the democrats in
the house military committee to report
out the recommendations of the adj
ministration for army legislation. This
coalition may not reach to the contin-
entail army as proposed by the admins
istration but it promises to reach at
least to the increase in the regular
army asked for by the president and
secretary Of war. Chairman Hay Of
the house committee Is not In much
sympathy with plans for increase Of
the regular army and may find himself
in minority If the expected coalition
develops.
To Strengthen Guard.
It Is becoming more and more plain
that the national guard is to be greatly
strengthened and this without much
reference to whether the continental
army plan prevails or otherwise.
In the marked display of interest by
Senators Of the senate military COM
mittee in military legislation, there Is
seen growing evidence that before pre-
paredness legislation Is finally shaped
the senate will play a big part. The
opinion grows in WELL advised quarters
that the senate will take hold of the
national defense question In a broad
| way and try to work it out on broad
lines, as it has some other great legis-
lative problems in recent years, such
as the federal reserve measure and
others that might be cited.
Meantime there is clearly a stronger
sentiment in congress for a greater
navy than there is for large mill
tary force or an up-to-date military
system. No reason appears to doubs
that the navy will be heavily strength
ened
Sentiment For Navy.
The situation was illuminated today
| by western member who said he was
getting an increasing number of let
tiers from church people and other op-
ponents of preparedness against en-
larged army legislation but that many
of the same persons were expressing
willingness for larger navy.
Government manufacture Of war ma
| terial Is discussed everywhere under
the surface. hat the movement is a
strong one MY be inferred from the
fact that ar1nor plate concerns are
about to breach to the navy depart
ment o plan whereby it would purchase
armor under q fve-year contract the
| theory being the armor can be sold
more cheaply If that plan is followed
Senator Tillman and other advocates Of
o government armor plant see in this
an effort to head off legislation for a
government armor plate factory.