The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-06-13
PREPAREDNESS

From 1865, the close of the civil war,
to 1856 the Republicans were in CON
troll of the government at Washington.
In those 20 years congress appro-
priated $346,365, ,852.52 for the navy.
When President Cleveland, the first
Democratic president elected since the
civil war, took the oath of office on
March 4, 1885, the American navy
consisted of junk, wooden ships with
old guns and broken down engines.
The American navy was joke.
When President Cleveland went out
of Office four years later the United
States had it's first squadron Of mod
ern warships, the famous white
Squadron" that carried the American
Rag to Europe and once more inspired
respect for American seapower.
In speech In the house only the
ether day, Representative Talbot of
Maryland, a member of the naval af-
fRirs committee, recalled that Colonel
Roo~evelt In his administration in
Vited the Democratic members of the
committee to go to the White House
that he might ask them personally to
vote for four battleships. On that oc-
casion, said Mr.. Talbot Col Roose.
welt said:
~ am frank enough to admit
that we could not have carried on
the war with Spain successfully
except for the navy that was fur
nished to the country during
Cieveland's two administrations"
In 20 years the Republican party in
congress had spent $419,51O, 7.09 of
the peoples money and had nothing to
show for 1t. OF this amount, $73,145,.
SS4-57 represented unexpended bal
'Rnces from appropriations of previous
years. The money had been wasted
it had gone to make contractors rich
and to give employment to men at po-
Etical navy yards to vote as their
bosses dictated.
In four years, Cleveland's admins
'tratiOn, the Democratic party spent
367 1854 ,26l.50 and had squadron of
modern ships to show for it, The mon
'ey had been spent honestly and not
for the enrichment of favored contract
s.ors and political bosses.
A Democratic president, a Demo
cratic secretary of the navy and
Democratic congress created the mod
aUrn navy and took the first step for
PREPAREDNESS
From 1897 to 1876 years-the
Republicans were again in control of
tho government.
They thought so little of the navy
t0hey let 1t run down. 1t was the old
Eystem over again OF favortism and
waste.
They could not see the wisdom of
bbing PREPARED.
But in those sixteen years they
sSpent 81 ,5S6, ,052 ,S16.56.
The Republicans admit that under
thear administrations the navy had
sst been kept up to high water mark
and 1t was too weak to properly pro.
t~ct the United States against danger.
President Wilson came into office
son March 4, 1913.
In three years the Democratic con.
gress has appropriated S543S02, ,771.1S
tor the navy, and when the program
Tor which appropriations have been
made at this session Is completed the
American navy viii be the SECOND
MOST POWERFUL NAVY IN THE
WORLD, with only England superior.
The Republicans TALK. The Dem
-Ocrats ACT
Republicans waste money. Demo.
Gratis spend money efficiently.
the country wants to feel certain
AZ rs safe from attack and have its
navy kept at the highest point of eff
Aciency it will vote for the election of
President Wilson and Democratic
0oagress.