The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-06-16
REPUBLICAN PREPAREDNESS
HUMBuG


While The Democrat doesn't take
much stock in the cry OF prepared
ness. believing II more mercinary
than patriotic, we can't but point out
that the Republican wall Is far fetch
ed and unbecoming in face of facts
/ that cannot be denied,
From 1865, the close o. the Civil
War. to 1885, the Republicans were
In control OF the Government at
Washington,
In those 90 years congress APP
propriated S846,365,S52.52 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 en-
gnes.
The American navy was a joke,
When President Cleveland went
out of Office four years later, the
United States had It's FIRST squadron
of modern warships, the famous
white Squadron" that carried the
American flag to Europe and once
more inspired respect for American
seapower.
In speech in the house only the
other, day, Representative Talbot o
Maryland, a member of the Naval at
fair scommittee, recalled that ROose-
welt, in his administration, invited
the Democratic members Of the Com
mittee to 90 to the White House so
that he might ask them personally to
vote for four battleships, on that oc-
casion Mr. Talbot said Col Roose-
yelt said:
Il am frank enough TO admit
that we could not have carried
on the war with Spain success
fully, except for the navy that
was furnished to the country
during Cleveland's two admin
istratiOns."
In 20 years the Republican party
in Congress had spent S4I9, 9,510,SS7.-
90 of the peoples money and had
nothing TO show for IL. or this
amount $73,145,03A57 represented
uneXpended balances from appropria-
tiOns of previous years The money
had been wasted, it had gone to make
contractors rich and to give employ
ment to men at political navy yards
to vote as their bosses dictated.
In four years, Clcvelands admin
istratiOn, the Democratic party spent
$67,354, ,2G1.50 and had a squadron
OF modern ships to show for it. The
money had been spent honestly and
not for the enrichment of cOntrac-
tors and political bosses.
A Democratic President, a Demo-
cratic Secretary of the Navy and
Democratic Congress created the
modern American Nevy and took the
first step for preparedness.
From 1897 to l9l3-l6 years
the Republicans We're again in con-
troll of the government.
They thought so little of the Navy
they let ii run down. 1t was the
same old system over again of fav-
oritism and waste.
But in these 16 years they spent
81 1,5S6, 1852, ,Sl6.56.
The Republicans admit that under |
their administrations the Navy had |
not been kept up to the high water |
mark and it was too weak to prop
~ ~ IA CA'NA NlAt I. illfN ANAdN'0 II Oill /
danger.
President Wilson came into office
March 4, 1913.
In these three years the Democrat /.
ic Congress has appropriated $543,-
SO2,77l.1S for the Navy and when |.
the program for which the appropri- |
ations have been made at this ses-
sion is completed, the American Navy |
viii be the second most powerful in |
the world.
The Republicans talk. The Demo-
Gratis act.
Republicans waste money. Dem |
ocrats spend money efficiently.
II the country wants to feel certain |
it is safe from attack and wants its |
Navy kept at the highest point of
it viii vote lor the cleo
tion of President Wilson and a Dem |
Ocratic congress.