The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-03-11

can conditions.
South and New England Combine.
Judging from the signs in the case
virtually the entire southern repreSen
tation in the two houses is In FAVOR o.
keeping the literacy test in the llnlni
grafton law, and this means that ID
most all the southern representatives
will vote favOrably on the Dill aho
later, if the president vetoes IT, VII
vote in favor of overriding the veto
There is a very considerable con
tingent of northern Democrats STAND
ing in opposition to the literacy clause
Some of the Democrats from the n'!u
die West and the far West, however
are in favor of it.
In this contest there is represented
a somewhat curious spectacle Oh
combination between a good many rep
resentatives from New England ana
nearly all the representatives from the
South. 1t is not often in legislation
that New England and the southern
states stand shoulder to shoulder on
measure of high national moment.
few New Englanders, however, ana
these of old American stock, are op'
posed to the literacy test. They stano
on the ground that such a test is coun'
ter to the spirit of American instltn
lions and counter to the teachings CT
the early Americans.
1t is generally believed in Washing
ton that Mr.. Wilson again will veto the
immigration bill, provided it is passed
by congress, and there seems to be
every reason to think that it Will De
passed. The question, therefore, arises
as to whether or not house and senate
can muster enough votes to pass the
measure over the presidents i lot
| bid"
Slow With Naval Measure.
The house committee on naval al
fairs is going ahead with great delib'
Grafton with it's work of recommend
Jig the warship building program for
the future 1t is, of course. urged that
| it's deliberateness in action is due 10
| its desire to make the report worth
while. Some of the advocates OF pre-
paredness, however charge that the
committee is simply killing time and
that the hope of many of its members
is that II will not be obliged to report
out as ambitious a naval program al
was contemplated in the first instance
The navy, of course, is recognized
as the first line of defense OF the
United States. 1t is truism that l
our navy is equal to any offensive
which can be launched at us from
abroad, our coasts will be secure from
invasion. 1t is not, however, expected
that congress will authorize the con
struction of a navy which would b.
able to stand off the greatest navy nov
in existence, namely, that OF England
but the friends of preparedness eH
pect. if they do not fully hope. that tn
building program will be long enoug
and strong enough to put the Amer
can navy into second place among tn
worlds fleets.
Secretary of the Navy Daniels ha
recommended to congress what
known as a "five-year building prt
gram" For the first time, it is said
the report of the secretary OF the nav!
I, a plan is submitted which not onl
, covers the necessities of the immed
ate future, but has been extended I
cover a period of five years. The Sc
rotary says in submitting his repor
planning today what we will begi
, tomorrow in order to have 1t cor
I pleted in the future is the essence
= all true preparedness"
y What Daniels Plan Means.
J There are members of congress WI
2 do not agree with the secretary OF II
1 navy in his proposal to spread out II
D building program over a series
o wears. These opponents Of the seer
tary's plan say that building on gre
n scale should begin instantly becaus
q as they put it, the time of need for b
e ships, big guns and plenty of the
d NAV come quickly and like thief
d the night.
e The secretary's program as subm
e ted to congress is given in detail
e ships of all kinds. of ammunition, !
e serves, and of aviation resources. II
e grand total of expenditure for fl
II wears. if the plan is carried out, W
It be $500, 1924.
If If the committees on naval affairs
the two houses shall report in b
If form Mr.. Daniels plan. and If it is pr
W sible to bind future congresses IN
S. vance to carry it out, the navy In 10:
n in vessels built or building, will be
10 follows:
o. Battleships, first line .............
u Battle cruisers
,e Battleships, second line ..........
K Armored cruisers ................
III Scout cruisers ....................
C. Cruisers, first class ..............
s. Cruisers, second class ............
Cruisers, third class .............
a Destroyers =
i'll Fleet submarines .................
es Coast Submarines ................1
We Monitors ..............
n Gunboats ..................
ed Supply Ships ...................
tn Fuel ships
by Transports .........
of Tenders to torpedo vessels 1900.
Special types ...........-.......
SIS Ammunition ships ...............
,ly There is going to be a hard fight