Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-01-07
SENATOR PITIMAN
NAVAL PREPAREDNESS
Herald Bureau.
No. 1902 n Street. N. W..
Washinetou, mr. Sunday


the committee on naval affairs, au-
thorizes the Herald to announce to-
day that his attitude toward nation
for war has undergone
a complete change as a result of care
ful study of conditions which brought
about the conflict now in progress in
europe. :
When he came to the senate three
years ago Senator Pittman believed
that all disputes could be settled by
a court of arbitration, and he was
therefore opposed to heavy armament
for the United States. He has now
come to the conclusion that peace
full settlement Of differences between
nations is impossible so long as such
nations are suspicious and distrustful
of the motives, honor and integrity
OF each other"
Senator Pittman is therefor con-
vinced that the United States
should have powerful navy to
prevent war.
In defending his position the sena-
tor advances line of argument which
has not heretofore commanded the at
tention of those who are interested In
national defence to the extent he be-
lieves 1t should be considered. HIS
idea is that the United States, by
reason of its strategic position, the
form of its government, the history,
character and ambitions of its people
must of necessity be OF dominant in
fiuence in the progress of the world,
and to such end must be so equipped
that 1t can constitute itself the bal
ance of power in world politics and
thus be able to confidently demand
and maintain the requirements of civil
lZation without the necessity of re-
sorting to war.
Is Involved Commercially.
1.-THE United States, said Senator
Pittman, while not involved In the
European war, is involved both DO,
litically and commercially by the war
and always will be so involved by
great European or. Asiatic wars.
believe that the prosperity of the peo-
pie of the country in every walk OF
life and the progress of the govern
ment are absolutely dependent upon
the maintenance of American citizens
and American commerce in every part
Of the world. have far less fear
of an invasion of this country than
have of the destruction of the lives
OF American citizens and American
commerce. am not an advocate oi
a large, Standing army.
1t is astounding that so many oi
our citizens do not realize that the
destruction Of our foreign commerce
would bring upon our country most
disastrous calamity that would extend
to every industry and every walk oi
life. The prosperity of this country
depends upon It's ability to market
its surplus products abroad. Deprive
us of that power for one year anG
the factories would close, the mines
shut down, the farms grow up II
weeds, cur vast ranges, now stocked
with fattening herds of cattle anC
horses, would be abandoned, mortgag
es would be foreclosed without means
to Satisfy and fifth of our population
would be deprived of the means o
! earning a livelihood. And yet 1t 4
within the power Of a foreign natioI
or group of foreign nations to brinI
upon us such calamity, and who cal
say, in the light of present events, tba
no nation or group of nations woul,
have the desire to accomplish such
purpose?
I'm my opinion the only way tina
such an eventuality would be prevent
ed is by the United States possessin
q sufficient navy to make such an &C
too dangerous to any foreign power o
group of powers.
when I came to the senate wa
a strong believer In the creation OF a
international tribunal for the settlin
of all International disputes. Th
pllhClpleS tuuhCidtcu ~ 1ue nbBu6 W
pecially appealed to me. AS principle
I still believe that they are correc
but experience has conclusively den
onstrated that they can only be Ell
forced and maintained by sufficier
force. I once believed that there wa
no reason why there should not be
court Of arbitration between nation
as well as within nations. sought ;
discover the reason, and my concl,
sion is that the peaceful settlement ,
differences between nations Is impo
sible so long as such nations are su
picious and dIstrustful OF the motive
honor and integrity of each other. Th
suspicion and distrust is racial.
has been taught from childhood ar
nurtured upon tales OF ancient wron,
: and exhortations to revenge.
Control Of tribunals.
ANY tribunal OF arbitration will |
, controlled by some combinations
powers. Would any OF the warning n
: tions trust their disputes to a cou
r controlled BY their enemiesf II 9
+ why not trust their disputes to the
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